The impact of poverty, fear of crime, and crime victimization on keeping firearms for protection and unsafe gun-storage practices - A review and analysis with policy recommendations

This article reviews the literature with regard to firearms accidents among low-income, urban children younger than 13. The tendency of low-income fam ilies to keep unsecured protection guns may contribute to the higher rare o f firearms accidents among low-income children. The evidence suggests that the decision to keep a gun for protection is largely a practical response t o the conditions a person perceives in his or her neighborhood. Reducing th e consequences of risky gun behavior among low-income families requires pol icies and programs that eliminate experiences associated with such behavior and that train children to recognize and avoid risky gun situations.