Examining Characteristics and Experiences of LGBTQ Firearm Owners

Objective: 

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) people represent a unique group of firearm owners. Limited extant work provides some information on LGBTQ firearm and household ownership in state and national samples, which tend to be lower than those observed in non-LGBTQ and general populations. Interviews with LGBTQ firearm owners highlight the dissonance experienced by owners between the perceived pro-gun control discourse of the mainstream LGBTQ movement and their status as owners. While prior work provides information on the motivations to acquire firearms and firearm behaviors among LGBTQ owners, to our knowledge, additional questions on how culturally specific factors relate to acquisition and firearm behaviors among LGBTQ people remain unexplored. Yet, LGBTQ people experience a unique constellation of risks, such as disproportionate victimization by violence and hate crime, structural violence, and suicidality, which may relate to ownership, motivations to acquire, and firearm behaviors. The proposed study aims to contribute to the literature by characterizing the population of LGBTQ owners and non-owners and examining factors related to ownership, including those previously unexplored, such as the experiences and consequences of marginalization.

Funded By:
New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC)

Project Status:
In progress

Principal Investigator (PI):
Chris Collins, PhD

Amount Awarded:
$47,700.00