NCJ Number
87725
Date Published
1981
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Single urban women who are Protestant, live in the South, favor using force in social control, have been victims of crime or violence, and have a pessimistic view of people are the most likely to own guns.
Abstract
Data for this study were obtained by the National Opinion Research Center as part of their general social surveys. In 1973, 1974, 1976, and 1977, the surveys included a question on possessing firearms in the home. By combining these surveys, this study identified a subsample of 822 single urban females (35.9 percent widowed, 21.1 percent divorced, 11.6 percent separated, and 31.4 percent never married). The dependent variables were owning any gun and owning a pistol. Independent variables were religion, region of residence, age, race, education, occupational prestige, view of gun laws, crime victimization, pessimism about others, view of the death penalty, approval of the use of force, and alcohol abuse, as well as attitude toward court dispositions, fear of walking alone in the neighborhood, and sociability. The strongest predictors of 'any gun' ownership were attitudes toward gun laws, having been a crime victim, religion, and pessimism about others. The weakest of the significant predictors were age and sociability. Region of residence, view of the death penalty, use of force, alcohol abuse, and view of court dispositions were also significantly related to gun ownership (moderate association). The strongest predictors of pistol ownership were religion, view of gun laws, alcohol abuse, and pessimism about others. Tabular data and 27 references are provided.