|
Abstract
|
From 1980 through 1989, more than 11,000 persons died in the United States as a result of homicides committed by high school-aged youth using firearms, cutting instruments, or blunt objects (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reports, Supplementary Homicide Report Files, unpublished data, 1980-1989). Firearm-related homicides accounted for more than 65% of these fatalities. Immediate access to a potentially lethal weapon, especially a firearm, may increase the likelihood that a lethal event would result from a violent altercation. This article presents the prevalence and incidence of self-reported weapon-carrying among high school students in grades 9-12 in the United States during 1990.
VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of this article by the Centers for Disease Control was to provide the prevalence and incidence of self-reported weapon-carrying among high school students (grades 9-12) in the U.S. during 1990.
METHODOLOGY:
The authors employed a quasi-experimental design by adding two questions to the 1990 national school-based Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). One question asked for the number of times in the past 30 days that the student carried a weapon for self protection or because it might be needed in a fight. Another question asked what kind of weapon was usually carried. A three-stage sample was drawn to obtain a representative sample of 11,631 students.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Nearly 20% of the students had carried a weapon at least once during the 30 day period (males: 31.5%, females:8.1%). Among the male students, 41% of the hispanics had carried a weapon, 41.1% of the blacks had carried a weapon, and 39.4% of the whites had carried a weapon. Of those who had carried a weapon, 25% had done so only once, 32% had done so two or three times, 7.4% had done so four or five times and 35.5% had done so six or more times. 71 weapon-carrying incidents occurred per 100 students per month, with 116 incidents per 100 males and 27 incidents per 100 females. Those who reported carrying weapons four or more times (8.7% of all students) accounted for 70.9% of weapon-carrying incidents. Knives or razors were carried more than clubs or firearms. Random locker searches, metal detectors, curricula/counseling programs, and legal sanctions for carrying a firearm were some of the suggestions for reducing the prevalence of weapon-carrying youth.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
To reduce the number of weapon-carrying youth the authors suggested that efforts be directed at frequent weapon carriers, with the greatest reduction of fatalities coming from the reduction of firearms. Also, because the fear of assault was often claimed as the reason for carrying a firearm, the author argued that programs should be implemented which address the risk of victimization.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Grade 9
KW - Grade 10
KW - Grade 11
KW - Grade 12
KW - Late Adolescence
KW - Early Adolescence
KW - Senior High School Student
KW - 1990s
KW - Juvenile Weapons Carrying
KW - Juvenile Firearms Carrying
KW - Weapons Carrying Incidence and Prevalence
KW - Firearms Carrying Incidence and Prevalence |