Citizen-Driven Firearm Safety Policies in a Rural Pennsylvania County

Bibliographic Data

ID21309168
AuthorsRichard Stansfield (0000-0003-0172-3545, Rutgers University—Camden, NJ, USA, corresponding author), Catherine Heitz (Rutgers University—Camden, NJ, USA), D C Semenza (0000-0002-3843-9559, Rutgers University—Camden, NJ, USA), Michael D Anestis (0000-0001-8738-8877, New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center, Rutgers, Piscataway, USA)
Year2024
Publication date2024-08-18
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueCrime & Delinquency (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0011-1287 • E-ISSN: 1552-387X
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/00111287241271214
OpenAlexW4401682867
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited47

We explore data from focus group interviews ( n = 25) and community surveys ( n = 630) to examine resident support for policies to reduce firearm injuries in a rural Pennsylvania county. The data highlights overwhelming community support for integrating firearms safety education for persons under the age of 18 years. Support for expanding safe storage options and safety training varied significantly based on a resident’s own firearm ownership, concealed carry license, age, gender, and prior exposure to firearm injury. We offer a discussion of realistic policies and programs within the purview of county government that could receive widespread community support in rural areas. This includes the selection of effective preventive interventions targeting firearm safety at an early age that includes knowledge of and access to mental health resources

Business · Environmental health · Focus group · Government (linguistics) · Injury prevention · License · Occupational safety and health · Poison control · Political science · Psychological intervention · Rural area · Suicide prevention · Gun Ownership and Violence Research · Human Factors and Ergonomics · Marketing · Medicine · Nursing · Public Health Policies and Education · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies

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