CARRYING AND USING WEAPONS - A SURVEY OF MINORITY JUNIOR-HIGH-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN NEW-YORK-CITY

To explore weapon carrying among young, inner-city adolescents, a surv ey was administered in fall 1993 to 2005 predominantly Hispanic studen ts (mean age = 12.8 years) in three New York City junior high schools. The survey revealed that 21% of students reported personally carrying a weapon; guns and knives were the weapons most commonly carried. Mos t of those who carried guns reported that they bought them. Forty-two percent indicated that they had a family member or close friend who ha d been shot. Boys and older students were more likely to report carryi ng weapons. Preventive efforts may need to begin before or on entry in to junior high school rather than high school.