NCJ Number
62631
Journal
Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 3 Dated: (NOVEMBER 1979) Pages: 331-339
Date Published
1979
Length
9 pages
Annotation
THE OWNERSHIP OF HANDGUNS CAUSES A STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN THE FEAR OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION YET THE FEAR OF CRIME HAS NO SIGNIFICANT EFFECT ON INCREASING HANDGUN OWNERSHIP.
Abstract
THIS STUDY ATTEMPTED TO TEST FOR CAUSAL EFFECTS AMONG LEVELS OF HANDGUN OWNERSHIP AND THE FEAR OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION THROUGH THE USE OF A NONRECURSIVE SIMULTANEOUS EQUATION MODEL TO ANALYZE DATA FOR 1,818 MEN. RESULTS INDICATED THAT SIX EXOGENOUS VARIABLES - RELIGION, REGION, INCOME, SIZE OF PLACE OF RESIDENCE, POLITICAL ORIENTATION, AND AGE-INFLUENCED THE ENDOGENOUS VARIABLES IN THE WAYS ANTICIPATED, WHILE THREE EXOGENOUS VARIABLES - MARITAL STATUS, VICTIMIZATION, AND RACE - HAD NO STATISTICALLY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS. IT WAS ALSO FOUND THAT THE PRESENCE OF HANDGUNS IN THE HOME HAD THE INDEPENDENT EFFECT OF REDUCING THE TENDENCY TO FEAR CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION. THE FINDINGS PROVIDED NO SUPPORT FOR THE POPULAR BELIEF THAT THE FEAR OF CRIMINAL VICTIMIZATION ACTS INDEPENDENTLY TO INCREASE THE OWNERSHIP OF HANDGUNS IN THE POPULATION, YET SHOWED THAT HANDGUN OWNERSHIP PROVIDES SOME MEN WITH A SENSE OF PERSONAL SECURITY. REFERENCES ARE GIVEN. (MJW)