A Qualitative Examination of (Non)Compliance with Gun Law in High-Violence Communities

• In Event: Factors in Violence and Homicide

Abstract

Despite numerous studies demonstrating the disastrous effects of gun violence on urban communities, few studies have deeply examined why people living in these communities choose to obey or disobey gun law. Understandably, studies that have examined individual motivation to violate gun law have focused on either active gun offenders or those who have been recently incarcerated for gun-related offenses. Collectively, findings from these studies suggest numerous factors that help explain individual non-compliance with law, including experiences of victimization, safety concerns, legal cynicism, and gang affiliation. On the other hand, scholars have yet to examine why most individuals living within high gun-violence communities choose to comply with gun laws. Drawing on 37 qualitative interviews with individuals having direct experience as gun-violence perpetrator, victim or both, this paper asks: What factors influence individuals’ compliance or non-compliance with gun law? Preliminary analysis suggests that while early exposure to gun violence and access to guns was common to nearly all respondents, those who reported recent gun use described some degree of current gang affiliation and fear for safety, while those who abstained from gun use discussed the protective influence of family and employment, fear of repercussions, and other mediating factors.

Authors

• Melissa Barragan, University of California, Irvine

• Kelsie Chesnut, University of California, Irvine