God and Guns: Examining Religious Influences on Gun Control Attitudes in the United States

Abstract

Mass shootings in the United States have generated significant media coverage and public concern, invigorating debates over gun control. Media coverage and academic research on gun control attitudes and reactions to mass shootings have paid little attention to the role of religion. Recent research sheds light on the complex relationship between religion and guns, including higher rates of gun ownership and stronger opposition to gun control among white evangelical Protestants. Using nationally representative survey data, this study examines the relationship between religious identity, gun ownership, and support for a range of gun control policies, including proposed remedies for preventing mass shootings. Compared with individuals from other religious traditions, evangelical Protestants are most opposed to stricter gun control laws and enforcement, even with statistical controls for gun ownership and demographic characteristics. Rather, they favor individualistic solutions and putting more emphasis on religious values in their social surroundings. I discuss how these findings reflect the cultural tools evangelical Protestants use to construct their understandings of social problems, including gun violence, and the broader implications for gun policy in the United States.

Firearm Ownership, Defensive Gun Usage, and Support for Gun Control: Does Knowledge Matter?

“…Due to this mixed support, an array of proposed gun control measures and policies have faced backlash amid American constituents (see Giffords Law Center for a review of state-specific measures). Generally, though, this work has found that men (Ellison, 1991 ; Kauder, 1993 ; Livingston & Lee, 1992 ; Marciniak & Loftin, 1991 ; Merino, 2018 ; O’Brien et al, 2013 ; Pederson et al, 2015 ; Tyler & Lavrakas, 1983 ), whites (Filindra & Kaplan, 2017 ; McClain, 1983 ; Merino, 2018 ; Secret & Johnson, 1989 ), those who are politically conservative (Filindra & Kaplan, 2017 ; Merino, 2018 ), those who live in rural communities (Brennan et al, 1993 ; Parker et al, 2017 ) and gun owners (Filindra & Kaplan, 2017 ; Merino, 2018 ) are less supportive of more-restrictive forms of gun control than those in reference groups. Additionally, there is evidence suggesting that those who have greater exposure to, and familiarity with firearms (Ellison, 1991 ; Hill et al, 1985 ; Kruis et al, 2020 ; Rosen, 2000 ; Tyler & Lavrakas, 1983 ) favor more-permissive forms of gun control.…”

“…Other researchers have found that men, generally, are less supportive of more-restrictive forms of gun control (see Ellison, 1991 ; Merino, 2018 ; O’Brien et al, 2013 ; Pederson et al, 2015 ; Tyler & Lavrakas, 1983 ). Some scholars have suggested that guns and pro-gun attitudes serve as a way for men to demonstrate masculinity and to bond with other men.…”

“…Prior research has attempted to examine correlates of attitudes toward gun polices. Generally, this work has found that those who are the least supportive of more-restrictive forms of gun regulation are those who identify as politically conservative (Kruis et al, 2020 ), whites (Merino, 2018 ), males (O’Brien et al, 2013 ), and gun owners (Merino, 2018 ), as well as those with greater familiarity with firearms (Rosen, 2000 ). A recent article published in the American Journal of Criminal Justice shifted this discussion to the relationship between gun knowledge and support for restrictive forms of gun control (see Kruis et al, 2020 ).…”

The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Gun Ownership

“…Those that have explored this question have found that Protestants are not only more likely to own guns, but they are also less likely to support gun control. Merino (2018) finds that white evangelical Protestants are more inclined to address gun violence with policy interventions, such as expanded concealed carry laws, better mental health screenings, and a greater emphasis on God in public schools and society. A distinctive form of Christian nationalism––i.e., the belief that America was founded as a Christian nation and enjoys a special covenantal relationship with God––is associated with decreased support for gun control (Whitehead, Schnabel, and Perry 2018).…”

The Impact of Emotional Responses to Public Service Announcements: The Case of Gun Violence in Schools

“… 22. In earlier analyses, we included control variables known to influence views on gun control, including gender, race (i.e., white or non-white), religion (i.e., Protestant or other), income, and gun ownership (e.g., Mencken & Froese, 2019; Merino, 2018). Each of these variables fails to reach statistical significance in each of the nine models presented in this paper.…”