Race and pistol access: Variations among poor males

Abstract

We examine factors related to pistol access among urban, low income, males. Because of the high usage of pistols in homicides, robbery and assaults within the African American population; one might suspect that this population has greater access to pistols than their white counterpart. By highlighting differences between poor urban African American and white male pistol owners, we hope to better understand racial variation in lethal violence. The data for this study were gathered by the National Opinion Research Center as part of their General Social Surveys. Several surveys conducted between 1973and 1987 were combined for this analysis. From these surveys 410 low income urban males who had access to a pistol were isolated for analysis. It is from the population this sample represents that the highest percentage of gun related violent aim is concentrated. Our findings show that low income, urban, African American males were more likely to have easier access to pistols than their white counterparts. This relationship persisted in all of the variables examined. African American males who used alcohol were twice as likely as whites to own pistols. Among those who frequently socialized in places where alcohol was served, African American pistol access, in their households, was eight times higher than it was for whites.