PREFACE -- SUMMARY -- Focus of this research project -- Perceptions that might influence gun- related behaviors -- Each set of perceptions could lead to a different policy -- Methodology -- Structure of the survey -- Demographics -- Most of the youth were in gangs, but many expressed intent to get out -- Delinquent acts -- Exposure to community-level violence -- Personal and vicarious victimization -- Justifications for gun use -- Perceived choice to carry a gun -- Justifications for carrying a gun -- Negative future expectations -- Expectations of future gun victimization
Protection from victimization -- Perceived aversion to probation or incarceration -- Positive future expectations -- The scenario -- Values and choices under scenario assumptions -- Average perceived risks under scenario assumptions -- Sensitivity to context -- Characteristics of shooters -- Shooters endorse more justifications to shoot -- Shooters predict a future they cannot control -- Not unaware of future consequences -- Complex influence of friends -- Concluding observations
