9781422273531

A survey of gang members revealed that handguns were the weapon of choice for over three-quarters of all members.

A study in 1975 found that just half of all gang members owned a gun. By comparison, the Gangster Disciples members interviewed in 2018 reported owning as many as a dozen guns each, mostly handguns. The Disciples’ respect for their arsenal indicates how handguns aren’t just tools for violent crime, they’re also status symbols. The biggest, most powerful, or most exotic handguns all indicate that the owner is a person to be feared and respected. Handguns are so prevalent in gang life that it’s quite rare to find a member who doesn’t own one. The longitudinal Rochester Youth Development Study found that just 7 percent of teenagers who were members of a gang did not own a handgun.

Handguns

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