Community Firearm Violence Exposure and Weapon Carrying

Join the National Collaborative on Gun Violence Research for this webinar focused on community violence prevention, examining the complexities of firearm violence through the lens of recent research funded by NCGVR. Specifically, this session zeroes in on urban gun violence, the leading cause of death for young Black men.

In the first presentation, Charles Lanfear, Ph.D, discusses a longitudinal study of Chicago residents that exposes stark disparities in the experiences of firearm violence and firearm carrying based on race, sex, and birth cohort. Highlighting the varying ages of first exposure to gun violence and onset of gun carrying, the study emphasizes changing societal conditions over time and their impact on individuals’ encounters with gun violence and gun carrying over the life course. Next, Elise White, Ph.D., offers an intimate look at the lives of young gun-carriers in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. Through personal narratives, the research uncovers the pervasive fear driving these young individuals—predominantly Black men—to arm themselves, amidst a backdrop of limited economic opportunities and mistrust of law enforcement. In the final presentation, Dorothy Dillard, Ph.D, discusses the environmental factors influencing gun possession decisions among young Black men in high crime cities. By examining the lived experiences of these individuals, the presentation highlights a need for community-centric approaches to safety and prevention.

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