Gun Visibility on Campus and Fear of Crime

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

The news is filled with stories of school shootings, and politicians frequently debate policy attempting to reduce gun violence in the United States. In the shadow of this debate is the issue of fear of crime. The role of civilian gun visibility in shaping fear of crime has been largely unexamined. Does seeing guns on campus symbolize an erosion of social control and trigger fear of crime, or do guns symbolize protection from the threat of school violence? This paper explores the relationship between gun visibility on campus and fear of crime using a 2013 sample of college students attending an HBCU. A variety of relevant controls will be included in the models.

Authors

• Sarah Britto, Independent Researcher

• Dahlia Dawn Stoddart, Prairie View A&M University