Gun Ownership and Gun Control: Biased Attitudes in US Whites May Influence Policy Decisions

#whiteprivilege

Racism is related to policies preferences and behaviors that adversely affect blacks and appear related to a fear of blacks (e.g., increased policing, death penalty). This study examined whether racism is also related to gun ownership and opposition to gun controls in US whites.

The most recent data from the American National Election Study, a large representative US sample, was used to test relationships between racism, g un ownership, and opposition to gun control in US whites. Explanatory variables known to be related to gun ownership and gun control opposition (i.e., age, gender, education, income, conservatism, anti-government sentiment, southern vs. other states, political identification) were entered in logistic regression models, along with measures of racism, and the stereotype of blacks as violent.

Outcome variables included; having a gun in the home, opposition to bans on handguns in the home, support for permits to carry concealed handguns.