Punishment and Perspectives: Do Retributive Views and Gun Policy Align?

• In Event: Perspectives on Technology in Criminal Justice

Abstract

Retribution perspectives are deeply intertwined with American criminal justice philosophy and human behavior. These influence how individuals and our system of justice judge, punish, and react to violations of law. Retributive views may influence perspectives on gun policy by emphasizing personal responsibility, self-defense, deterrence, and the restoration of justice. People who adopt a retributive view may support more permissive gun policies, seeing firearms as essential tools for protecting oneself and ensuring justice is served in the face of crime. They might advocate for fewer restrictions on gun ownership, argue for harsher penalties for gun crimes, and promote policies like "Stand Your Ground" laws that allow individuals to take matters of justice into their own hands. The current study seeks to examine the overlap in retributive views and perspectives on firearms policy using data collected in 2017 from a large online survey. Multivariate regression is used to examine the effect of retributive views on support for gun policy reform. Findings suggest this area of research is complex, and views on both punishment and gun policy reform are far from simple.

Authors

• Nicole Hendrix, Radford University

• Michael D. Bush, Northern Kentucky University