The Spatial and Temporal Dimensions of Repeat Criminal Gun Use

• In Event: Homicide and violent crime: Risk factors and weapon use

Abstract

High rates of lethal gun violence in large American cities have inspired a growing body of empirical research on the etiology of gun crimes, guns in crime hotspots, and the spatial and temporal factors of gun violence. This study contributes to this literature by leveraging National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) data to explore the spatial and temporal dimensions of repeat criminal gun use. We use ArcGIS mapping and NIBIN hits from 1156 pairs of gun crime cases in a large Texas city to answer three research questions: 1) How far do repeat-use firearms travel? 2) How many days elapse before a gun is used again in a crime? 3) Is there a relationship between time and distance for repeat-use guns? The results of our analysis have direct implications for research, policy, and practice.

Authors

• Jonathan Reid, Texas A&M University

• Jennifer Clausen, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

• William King, Boise State University

• Yan Zhang, Sam Houston State University

• William Wells, Sam Houston State University