Mixing Shots: Assessing Self-reported Drunk Hunting and Target Shooting in a Young Adult Population

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

Although the literature presents many provocative studies generally relating gun ownership and the use of intoxicants to numerous unfavorable outcomes, few studies have explored deviance in the form of extremely negligent use of firearms. The current study explores the use of firearms for hunting or target shooting while under the influence of alcohol and/or marijuana utilizing self-report data from a random sample of 2,349 students at a large university in the Southeastern United States. Findings indicate that males, those closest to the minimum legal drinking age, and those with Greek (sorority/fraternity) memberships were significantly more likely to utilize a firearm while impaired. Additionally, gun operation was significantly more common among respondents reporting a substance use related arrest. Gun operators that self-reported these types of arrest were far more likely to have used a firearm while impaired and having a substance use related arrest was the most related factor in utilizing a firearm while impaired.

Authors

• Bryan Lee Miller, Clemson University

• John M. Stogner, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

• Matt R. Nobles, University of Central Florida