About half of the estimated 7.5 million new gun owners that emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic were women, a sharp departure from established gun ownership trends (40-43 percent of men report owning firearms compared to 20-25 percent of women). New research suggests this surge in female gun ownership is driven, at least in part, by a desire to protect others, especially family. And compared to men, female gun owners take the responsibilities of firearm ownership more seriously, investing in training and practice and learning safe handling techniques. In a new blog from the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium (RGVRC), authors Justin Sola, Margaret Kelley, and Tara Warner argue that, while centering women's care-focused approach in our gun debates won't solve our gun violence crisis, capitalizing on the duty to care for others may help encourage the firearm safety practices that can reduce and prevent firearm-related harms. Continue Reading... |
