From Drugs to Firearms: The Shifting Landscape of Mass Incarceration Among Black Men

• In Event: Complexities of Firearm Use, Violence, and Enforcement

Abstract

African American men in the 1990s United States faced significant arrest and incarceration for illegal substance possession, contributing to a massive 1100% increase in the prison population due to mass incarceration (Maya, 2014). While efforts have been made to rectify these injustices, such as legislation aimed at reducing sentencing for drug possession (Provine, 2011), many states, including Illinois, are witnessing a troubling trend: a rise in arrests of African American men for illegal firearm possession, despite a decline in other crime rates (Smith, 2021). This raises concerns about a potential second phase of mass incarceration, this time with a focus on gun-related offenses. The paper delves into the challenges faced by African American men in Chicago who feel compelled to carry firearms for protection despite strict gun laws due to the prevailing sense of insecurity in their communities. It highlights the distrust in law enforcement, the hurdles in obtaining Conceal and Carry permits, and the perceived need for self-defense in high-crime areas. The study seeks to understand why these men carry firearms and how strict gun laws and distrust affect them. This qualitative study involved interviews with 34 low-risk men in Chicago, IL, charged with unlawful use of a weapon (UUW).

Author

• Aaron Mallory, University of Cincinnati