CRIME, CULTURE CONFLICT AND THE SOURCES OF SUPPORT FOR GUN-CONTROL - A MULTILEVEL APPLICATION OF THE GENERAL SOCIAL SURVEYS

National survey data were combined with information about the cities i n which urban respondents lived to determine whether support for gun c ontrol is increased by exposure to high crime rates, prior victimizati on, and fear of crime, or is a product of membership in social groups with cultures hostile to ownership and use of guns. Results indicate t hat support for gun permits is generally unrelated to crime-related va riables but is heaviest among those social groups regarded as most hos tile to gun ownership and its associated cultural traits. That is, sup port ir stronger among liberals, higher-income persons, those with mor e schooling, Jews, and those who do not own guns or hunt. The results support the view that gun control support is more a product of culture conflict than a response to crime. Results for contextual variables a lso indicate that support is stronger in cities with more police and f ewer gun owners per capita.