HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS REGISTER		Author Keyword(s) Vol Page [Advanced]

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Hemenway, D Articles by Miller, M Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Hemenway, D Articles by Miller, M

National attitudes concerning gun carrying in the United States

Harvard School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA

Correspondence to:
Dr Hemenway
hemenway{at}hsph.harvard.edu

Objectives—To determine public attitudes in the United States concerning gun carrying.

Setting—In the past 15 years, many state legislatures have passed laws making it easier for United States citizens to carry concealed firearms, not only on the street but into various locations, including churches and government buildings.

Methods—National random digit dial telephone surveys conducted in 1996 and 1999 asked questions concerning the public's feelings of safety as more people in their community carry firearms, and whether, in the language of the question, respondents believe "regular" citizens should be allowed to carry guns into public or government buildings.

Results—Americans feel less safe rather than more safe as more people in their community begin to carry guns. By margins of at least nine to one, Americans do not believe that "regular" citizens should be allowed to bring their guns into restaurants, college campuses, sports stadiums, bars, hospitals, or government buildings.

Conclusions—The public believes that increased gun carrying by others reduces rather than increases their safety. Overwhelmingly, the public believes that in many venues gun carrying should be prohibited.

Keywords: firearms; gun carrying; attitudes; surveys

This article has been cited by other articles:

				N. P. Unnithan, M. Pogrebin, P. B. Stretesky, and G. Venor Gun Felons and Gun Regulation: Offenders' Views About and Reactions to "Shall-Issue" Policies for Carrying Concealed Weapons Criminal Justice Policy Review, June 1, 2008; 19(2): 196 - 214. [Abstract] [PDF]

				Minerva BMJ, October 6, 2003; 327(7418): E100 - 100. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M Muir Hygieia J Epidemiol Community Health, July 1, 2003; 57(7): 544 - 544. [Full Text] [PDF]