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Weapon carrying among inner-city junior high school students: Defensive behavior vs aggressive delinquency

Author

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  • Webster, D.W.
  • Gainer, P.S.
  • Champion, H.R.

Abstract

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to estimate associations between beliefs and experiences hypothesized to be related to weapon carrying among youths. Methods. Students in two inner-city junior high schools completed anonymous questionnaires. Logistic regression models were fit for having ever carried a weapon for protection or use in a fight and were stratified by sex and weapon type. Results. Among males, 47% had carried knives and 25% had carried guns. Key risk factors for knife carrying were being threatened with a knife, getting into fights, and disbelief that having a weapon increases the carrier's risk of injury. Gun carrying was associated with having been arrested, knowing more victims of violence, starting fights, and being willing to justify shooting someone. Among females, 37% had carried a knife; knowing many victims of violence and being willing to justify shooting someone predicted knife carrying. Conclusions. Knife carrying was associated with aggressiveness but did not appear to be related to serious delinquency. Gun carrying within this nonrandom sample appeared to be a component of highly aggressive delinquency rather than a purely defensive behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Webster, D.W. & Gainer, P.S. & Champion, H.R., 1993. "Weapon carrying among inner-city junior high school students: Defensive behavior vs aggressive delinquency," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 83(11), pages 1604-1608.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:1993:83:11:1604-1608_1
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    Cited by:

    1. Park, Nan S. & Lee, Beom S. & Sun, Fei & Vazsonyi, Alexander T. & Bolland, John M., 2010. "Pathways and predictors of antisocial behaviors in African American adolescents from poor neighborhoods," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 409-415, March.
    2. Crifasi, Cassandra K. & Williams, Rebecca G. & Booty, Marisa D. & Owens-Young, Jessica L. & Webster, Daniel W. & Buggs, Shani A.L., 2022. "Community perspectives on gun violence and safety: The role of policing in Baltimore City," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    3. Cao, Liqun & Zhang, Yan & He, Ni, 2008. "Carrying weapons to school for protection: An analysis of the 2001 school crime supplement data," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 154-164, May.
    4. Kai Thaler, 2011. "Weapons, Violence and the Perpetrator-Victim Nexus in South Africa," Research Working Papers 51, MICROCON - A Micro Level Analysis of Violent Conflict.
    5. Kai Thaler, 2010. "Weapons, Violence and Personal Security in Cape Town," HiCN Working Papers 85, Households in Conflict Network.
    6. Smith, M. Dwayne, 1996. "Sources of firearm acquisition among a sample of inner-city youths: Research results and policy implications," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 24(4), pages 361-367.
    7. DAVID McDOWALL, 1995. "Firearms and Self-Defense," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 539(1), pages 130-140, May.
    8. McCluskey, Cynthia Perez & McCluskey, John D. & Bynum, Timothy S., 2006. "Early onset offending and later violent and gun outcomes in a contemporary youth cohort," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 34(5), pages 531-541.

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