Blacks and Latinos are more in favor of gun control than whites
A new study aimed at examining gun policy preferences across racial groups found that blacks and Latinos are more in favor of gun control measures than whites.
An analysis run by scientists from Chicago University wanted to highlight the different gun policy preferences across racial groups. They looked at blacks, Latinos and whites in order to see if there is a racial difference when it comes to being in favor or against gun control.
“This is the first study that provides analyses for each of the two minority groups separately,” says Alexandra Filindra, associate professor of political science and lead author of the study. “Previous studies have analyzed aggregate public opinion or white public opinion.”
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The study found that while there is a large support for gun control regulations, the percentages are higher among black and Latino communities than in white ones. 74 per cent of blacks and 61 per cent of Latinos said they support a ban on assault weapons while only 55 per cent of whites agreed.
When it comes to creating a federal database to track firearms sale, 86 per cent of blacks and 78 per cent of Latinos, but only 62 percent of whites gave their support.
The scientists also found that perceptions of danger such as fear of crime or being scared of walking down the street had no impact when it comes to supporting or opposing gun control.
“This suggests that perceptions of danger and concerns about the likelihood of becoming a victim are not a key driver of gun policy preferences,” Filindra said. “There is some evidence that experience with criminal victimization dampens support for gun control among African-Americans, but not the other two groups.”
On the other hand, racial prejudices do have a sway, the researchers say.
“Racial prejudice, even though it is no longer a dominant attitude among whites, still influences their gun control policy attitudes,” said Filindra.
The results undermine the current position held by gun rights activists that say that fear of violence and crime determines views on gun policies.
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According to the research, for white and Latinos, their political convictions are also a powerful motivator when it comes to supporting gun related policies. The same is not true in the case of blacks.
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