Gun violence as a global public health, sociological, and criminal justice crisis: A multi-level research analysis

Abstract

Gun violence is a global public health, sociological and criminal justice challenge, with individual, community, structural, cultural and policy-level factors interacting in complex ways that contribute to this problem. A multi-level research analysis is given here of gun violence, specifically psychological processes involved in gun related aggression, factors that increase engagement in gun violence, warning signs, consequences, international differences, and strategies for gun violence prevention. Based on empirical research, theoretical analysis, and policy research, the paper reviews the roles of firearms availability, perceived threat, aggression, masculinity and power, mental health vulnerabilities, substance use, social networks and poverty, social disorganization, and cultural acceptance of firearms. There is evidence that firearm availability may make fights more lethal and suicidal behavior and social networks and structural disadvantage may lead to the focus and spread of violence. This relationship, however, is not consistent across studies and is dependent on context and causality, however, so it is important to conduct studies that are both causal and context-sensitive. There also is significant variation in firearm violence across the countries, with the United States having the most civilian firearm ownership and the highest rate of mass shooting and other episodes of firearm violence and countries like the United Kingdom and Canada having much lower rates of civilian firearm ownership and firearm homicides. Key elements of prevention identified in the analysis include threat assessment, safe storage of firearms, child access prevention, domestic-violence firearm restrictions, background checks, improved enforcement, violence-interruption programmers, and enhanced public-health research. Gun violence demands a comprehensive approach, not a single intervention, and should involve a broader framework of public health, criminal justice, community engagement, social policy and sensible firearm laws. Future studies should focus on longitudinal designs, impact assessment of firearm policies, more accurate measurement of rare events, cross-national comparisons of the effectiveness of firearm prevention programs and evidence-based firearm prevention frameworks, the paper concludes.