An Assessment of Alternative Explanations of Adolescent Weapon Carrying

• In Event: Research on Health-Risk Behaviors among Adolescents: Drug Use and Weapon Carrying

Abstract

Youth weapon carrying has received considerable attention since the early 1990s. Sparked in part by the “youth violence epidemic,” scholars attempted to document who was at the highest risk of carrying and/or using weapons—particularly guns. Additionally, efforts were focused upon why some youth were involved in carrying weapons while others were not. Using data from a large multi-site panel study of youth, the following questions are explored to add to this growing body of literature. First, who are the youth most likely to carry weapons for protection? Second, what are the weapons most likely carried by youth? Third, what are the major theoretical factors associated with youth weapon carrying? We assess three main explanations as to why youth carry weapons. The first focuses on youth vulnerability to victimization. The second perspective argues that youth carry weapons because weapons are part of a deviant lifestyle. The third argues that youth carry weapons because it is associated with adherence to the tenets of the code of the streets. Findings from this study will help inform both theoretical efforts to understand weapon carrying, as well as help inform policy efforts aimed at preventing such behavior among youth.

Authors

• Terrance J. Taylor, University of Missouri - St. Louis

• Chris Melde, Michigan State University

• Finn-Aage Esbensen, University of Missouri - St. Louis