Firearm Violence Across the Rural-urban Continuum in Sweden

• In Event: Advances in Rural Criminology: Crimes Against People in Rural Communities

Abstract

In this article, we investigate situations involving firearm violence in Sweden. The spatiotemporal distribution of records is assessed in different contexts across the country and linked to land use, demographic, and socio-economic characteristics by area and by street segment. Most shootings were mostly in the evening, from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Shootings were more likely in economically disadvantaged areas, in locations where young people spend time. These areas include playgrounds and parks as well as places with poor supervision and escape opportunities, like public transit areas. Although two-thirds took place in urban municipalities, gun violence was not homogeneously distributed across the rural-urban continuum.

Authors

• Vania Ceccato, KTH Royal Institute of Technology

• Ned Levine, Ned Levine & Associates

• Manne Gerell, Malmö University, Sweden