What’s the Difference Between Me and You? An Examination of Causes and Correlates of Gun Violence Among Youth Who Actively Carry Firearms

Abstract

Despite a growing body of research examining the causes and correlates of gun violence, less attention has focused on examining these factors among actively gun-carrying youth. This study addresses this gap by assessing the role of individual and environmental predictors of gun violence among a sample of adjudicated youth and a subsample who actively carry firearms. The results revealed that environmental and individual factors were associated with gun violence in the full sample. However, only perceived rewards of crime and callousness were significant predictors of gun violence among actively gun-carrying youths. This pattern suggests that while environmental and individual factors differentiate firearm noncarriers and carriers, the difference between those who carry and those who engage in gun violence are primarily individual factors. The findings highlight the need for more theoretical development on causal pathways linking risk factors to gun violence, where carrying is considered a mechanism rather than a covariate.