Blades or Bullets? Neighborhood Factors, Victim Characteristics, and Type of Weapon Use in Violent Crime

• In Event: Communities and Place: Neighborhood Dynamics, Violence, and Social Control - Exploring Crime, Reentry, and Racial Contexts

Abstract

Research on weapon use in violent crime, including incidents involving firearms and knives, has primarily focused on individual-level factors such as age, sex, and adverse childhood experiences. However, less attention has been given to neighborhood-level influences, such as residential stability, the presence of young populations, and the size of immigrant communities, which may uniquely shape both patterns of weapon use and victimization. This study investigates how neighborhood context influences the use of guns, knives, and other weapons, with particular attention to the characteristics of victims. We examine qualitative differences in weapon-involved violence across neighborhoods and assess whether patterns of weapon use vary based on victim demographics, including sex, race, and ethnicity. By exploring the intersection of neighborhood conditions and victim characteristics, this study provides a more nuanced understanding of how context shapes the nature of violent crime.

Authors

• Alyssa W. Chamberlain, Arizona State University

• Lyndsay Boggess, University of South Florida

• Lexi Gill, The University of Tampa