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DOES GUN PREVALENCE AFFECT TEEN GUN CARRYING AFTER ALL?
Cook PJ, Ludwig J
Criminology 2004;42(1): 27-54.
Previous research suggests that American adolescents tend to have ready access to guns, and that the extent of adolescent misuse of guns is not much affected by local gun prevalence or regulation. This “futility” claim is based on one interpretation of survey data from several cities, but has not been tested directly. Here we test it using micro-data from a nationally representative survey, the 1995 National Survey of Adolescent Males. Using the restricted geo-coded version of these data, and conditioning on an extensive set of covariates, we find (among other results) that the likelihood of gun carrying increases markedly with the prevalence of gun ownership in the youth’s community. The most plausible mechanism behind this pattern is that for some adolescents the decision to carry a gun is affected by the ease of obtaining one, which in turn is related to their general prevalence in the community. We also analyze the propensity to carry other types of weapons, finding that it is unrelated to the local prevalence of gun ownership. The prevalence of both gun and other-weapon carrying is positively related to the local rate of youth violence (as measured by the robbery rate), confirmatory evidence that weapons carrying by youths is motivated in part by self-protection. STATE AND LOCAL PREVALENCE OF FIREARMS OWNERSHIP: MEASUREMENT, STRUCTURE, AND TRENDS
Azrael D, Cook PJ, Miller M
Journal of Quantitative Criminology 2004;20(1) March: 43-62.
Of the readily computed proxies for the prevalence of gun ownership, one--the percentage of suicides committed with a gun--is most highly correlated with survey-based estimates. It is the best choice for use in cross-section analysis of the effect of gun prevalence on crime patterns across states and larger counties. Analysis of this proxy measure for the period 1979-1997 demonstrates that the geographic structure of gun ownership has been highly stable. That structure is closely linked to rural tradition. There is, however, some tendency toward homogenization over this period, with high-prevalence states trending down and low-prevalence states trending up. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND SUICIDE ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2002;13: 517-24.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide. For Northeast states, where suicide attempt data were available, even after controlling for rates of attempted suicide, states with more guns had higher rates of suicide. In the Northeast, state case fatality rates range from over 90% for firearms to 2%-3% for the most common methods of attempted suicide--drug overdoses and cutting and piercing. Hospital workers rarely see the type
of suicide--firearm suicide--that is most likely to end in death. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND SUICIDE ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2002;13: 517-24.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide. For Northeast states, where suicide attempt data were available, even after controlling for rates of attempted suicide, states with more guns had higher rates of suicide. In the Northeast, state case fatality rates range from over 90% for firearms to 2%-3% for the most common methods of attempted suicide--drug overdoses and cutting and piercing. Hospital workers rarely see the type
of suicide--firearm suicide--that is most likely to end in death. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND SUICIDE ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2002;13: 517-24.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide. For Northeast states, where suicide attempt data were available, even after controlling for rates of attempted suicide, states with more guns had higher rates of suicide. In the Northeast, state case fatality rates range from over 90% for firearms to 2%-3% for the most common methods of attempted suicide--drug overdoses and cutting and piercing. Hospital workers rarely see the type
of suicide--firearm suicide--that is most likely to end in death. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND SUICIDE ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2002;13: 517-24.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide. For Northeast states, where suicide attempt data were available, even after controlling for rates of attempted suicide, states with more guns had higher rates of suicide. In the Northeast, state case fatality rates range from over 90% for firearms to 2%-3% for the most common methods of attempted suicide--drug overdoses and cutting and piercing. Hospital workers rarely see the type
of suicide--firearm suicide--that is most likely to end in death. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND SUICIDE ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2002;13: 517-24.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide. For Northeast states, where suicide attempt data were available, even after controlling for rates of attempted suicide, states with more guns had higher rates of suicide. In the Northeast, state case fatality rates range from over 90% for firearms to 2%-3% for the most common methods of attempted suicide--drug overdoses and cutting and piercing. Hospital workers rarely see the type
of suicide--firearm suicide--that is most likely to end in death. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND SUICIDE ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2002;13: 517-24.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide. For Northeast states, where suicide attempt data were available, even after controlling for rates of attempted suicide, states with more guns had higher rates of suicide. In the Northeast, state case fatality rates range from over 90% for firearms to 2%-3% for the most common methods of attempted suicide--drug overdoses and cutting and piercing. Hospital workers rarely see the type
of suicide--firearm suicide--that is most likely to end in death. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND SUICIDE ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2002;13: 517-24.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide. For Northeast states, where suicide attempt data were available, even after controlling for rates of attempted suicide, states with more guns had higher rates of suicide. In the Northeast, state case fatality rates range from over 90% for firearms to 2%-3% for the most common methods of attempted suicide--drug overdoses and cutting and piercing. Hospital workers rarely see the type
of suicide--firearm suicide--that is most likely to end in death. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND SUICIDE ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2002;13: 517-24.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide. For Northeast states, where suicide attempt data were available, even after controlling for rates of attempted suicide, states with more guns had higher rates of suicide. In the Northeast, state case fatality rates range from over 90% for firearms to 2%-3% for the most common methods of attempted suicide--drug overdoses and cutting and piercing. Hospital workers rarely see the type
of suicide--firearm suicide--that is most likely to end in death. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND SUICIDE ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2002;13: 517-24.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and suicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, across the United States, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of suicide, particularly firearm suicide. For Northeast states, where suicide attempt data were available, even after controlling for rates of attempted suicide, states with more guns had higher rates of suicide. In the Northeast, state case fatality rates range from over 90% for firearms to 2%-3% for the most common methods of attempted suicide--drug overdoses and cutting and piercing. Hospital workers rarely see the type
of suicide--firearm suicide--that is most likely to end in death. HOUSEHOLD FIREARM OWNERSHIP LEVELS AND HOMICIDE RATES ACROSS U.S. REGIONS AND STATES, 1988-1997
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
American Journal of Public Health 2002:92: 1988-93.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and homicide across 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: After controlling for poverty and urbanization, for every age group, people in states with many guns have elevated rates of homicide, particularly firearm homicide. AVAILABILITY AND UNINTENTIONAL FIREARM DEATHS, SUICIDE, AND HOMICIDE AMONG 5-14 YEAR OLDS
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Journal of Trauma 2002;52: 267-75.
We analyzed the relationship between firearm availability and unintentional gun death, homicide and suicide for 5-14 year olds across the 50 states over a ten year period. Major Findings: Children in states with many guns have elevated rates of unintentional gun deaths, suicide and homicide. The state rates of non-firearm suicide and non-firearm homicide among children are not
related to firearm availability. ARE FIREARMS STORED SAFELY IN HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN? IT DEPENDS ON WHOM YOU ASK
Azrael D, Miller M, Hemenway D
Pediatrics 2000; 106(3).
URL: http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/106/3/e31
We analyzed gun storage practices from data obtained from a 1999 national
random-digit-dial survey of adults conducted under the auspices of the Harvard Injury Control Center. Major Findings: Prior studies found that women appear to underreport household gun ownership. This study indicates that women, when they report a gun in the home, often incorrectly believe that it is stored unloaded and locked up. FIREARMS AND COMMUNITY FEAR
Miller M, Azrael D, Hemenway D
Epidemiology 2000;11: 709-14.
We analyzed whether perceptions of safety might be affected if more people in a community acquired firearms, using data from a national random-digit-dial survey of adults conducted under the auspices of HICRC. Major Findings: By a margin of more than 3 to 1, Americans would feel less safe, not safer, as others in their community acquire guns. Among women, but not among men, those who have been threatened with a gun are particularly likely to feel less safe. BUYING A HANDGUN FOR SOMEONE ELSE: FIREARM DEALER WILLINGNESS TO SELL
Sorenson SB, Vittes KA
Injury Prevention 2003;9(2): 147-50.
In an experimental design in which 120 firearm dealers from 20 large U.S. cities were randomly assigned to one of three purchase conditions, over half of the dealers were willing to sell a handgun under the intentionally ambiguous condition of when the buyer’s boyfriend (or girlfriend) “needs it.” Gun dealers have been given primary responsibility for keeping guns out of the hands of people whom society has decided should not have them. Education is needed for some; enforcement is needed for those who are willing to skirt, if not openly violate, the law. HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' ATTITUDES ABOUT FIREARMS POLICIES
Vittes KA, Sorenson SB, Gilbert D
Journal of Adolescent Health 2003;33(6): 471-8.
A national survey of 1,005 U.S. high school students indicated that most favor more restrictive firearms policies. Opinions varied little by demographic variables with the exception of gender--females were significantly more likely than males to support more restrictive measures. Adolescents' attitudes about firearm policies generally parallel those of adults.
WEAPONS IN THE LIVES OF BATTERED WOMEN
Sorenson SB, Wiebe DJ
American Journal of Public Health , in press. ADOLESCENTS AND FIREARMS: A STATEWIDE SURVEY
Sorenson SB, Vittes KA
American Journal of Public Health 2004;94: 852-8. MORTALITY AMONG RECENT PURCHASERS OF HANDGUNS
Wintemute GJ, Parham CA, Beaumont JJ, Wright MA, Drake C
New England Journal of Medicine 1999;341(21): 1583-9.
This study compared risks of death between recent handgun purchasers and other persons, using data on all purchasers of handguns in California in 1991 with follow-up through 1995. Suicide was the leading cause of death among handgun purchasers, accounting for 24.5% of all deaths in that group and 51.9% of deaths for women 21-44 years of age. The increased overall risk of suicide was accounted for entirely by an increase in gun suicides; risk remained elevated for at least five years following gun purchase. Risk of death from homicide was also increased among women who purchased handguns, but was decreased among men. SUBSEQUENT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY AMONG VIOLENT MISDEMEANANTS WHO SEEK TO PURCHASE HANDGUNS: RISK FACTORS AND EFFECTIVENESS OF DENYING HANDGUN PURCHASE
Wintemute GJ, Wright MA, Drake CM, Beaumont JJ
Journal of the American Medical Association 2001;285(6): 1019-26.
This cohort study evaluated California’s law, effective in 1991, prohibiting the purchase of handguns by persons who have been convicted of a violent misdemeanor. It compared rates of subsequent criminal activity among between two groups of violent misdemeanants: persons who purchased handguns in the year before the new law took effect, and persons who applied to purchase handguns after the law took effect—this group’s purchases were denied. Denial of handgun purchase was associated with a decrease of approximately 25% in the rate of arrest for crimes involving guns or violence, after controlling for other risk factors such as age, sex, and extent of prior criminal history. WHERE THE GUNS COME FROM
Wintemute GJ
Future of Children 2002;12(2): 55-71.
This article focuses on the structure and function of both legal and illegal gun commerce, with particular reference to practices that facilitate the availability of guns for children. It summarizes existing evidence on the effectiveness of policies to prevent gun violence among young people. THE LIFE CYCLE OF CRIME GUNS: A DESCRIPTION BASED ON GUNS RECOVERED FROM YOUNG PEOPLE IN CALIFORNIA
Wintemute GJ, Romero MP, Wright MA, Grassel KM
Annals of Emergency Medicine 2004;43(6); Forthcoming
This surveillance study traces the histories of 2,121 firearms recovered from persons 25 years of age or younger during 1998-1999 in California. Small-caliber handguns made up 41% of handguns recovered from persons < 18 years of age, but only 25% of those recovered from persons ages 21-24. A “time to crime” < 3 years, suggestive of deliberate gun trafficking, was observed for 35% of guns recovered from persons ages 21-24. Ten retailers, out of approximately 3,600 in the state, accounted for 13% of all recovered crime guns. The utility of the data was enhanced by linking federal trace records with state sales records to identify each gun’s most recent sale. | 
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