Differences Across Majors in the Desire to Obtain a License to Carry a Concealed Handgun on Campus: Implications for Criminal Justice Education

Abstract

The current study examines whether students' course of study is related to their desire to carry a concealed handgun on campus. This analysis is motivated by a growing number of studies that have explored differences between criminal justice (CJ) and other majors in the areas of personality, attitudes, values, and career expectations, and also by discussions of the issue of concealed handguns on campuses following recent shootings on college campuses. Using data from over 3,100 students who completed an online survey instrument, results revealed that CJ majors were in fact more interested in carrying a legally concealed handgun on campus, if it were allowed by university policies. These results held even when controlling for other significant predictors of the desire to carry a concealed handgun. Implications for CJ education and the wider debate about concealed weapons on university campuses are discussed.

Acculturation and Campus Carry: Examining the Effect of Mexico Versus United States Cultural Orientations on College Students’ Support for Campus Carry

“…Personal victimization, on the other hand, increased support for campus carry in at least one study , but generally fails to reach statistical significance (Satterfield & Wallace, 2020;Wallace, 2019). College students with a personal history of victimization, however, were more likely to intend to obtain a conceal carry license for campus carry (Bouffard et al, 2012).…”

“…Research shows that confidence in both campus (McMahon-Howard et al, 2020) and community police (De Angelis et al, 2017;) is negatively associated with support for campus carry. Bouffard et al (2012) discovered, for example, that college students who displayed less confidence in the police were more likely to intend to obtain a conceal carry license for campus carry. Similarly, among the U.S. public, low opinions of police effectiveness were associated with support for relaxing conceal carry laws (Dowler, 2002).…”

A Qualitative Analysis of the Vulnerability Narratives of Student Gun Rights Advocates

“…Recent studies on undergraduate firearms ownership suggests students possessing CHLs are a ‘high risk’ population engaging in chronic risky behavior, trouble with the police, and possessing a history of binge drinking and illegal drug use (Douglas et al, 1997; Miller et al, 1999, 2002). Others have observed undergraduates with CHL’s disproportionately express authoritarian or dogmatic personality types (Bouffard et al, 2012; Cavanaugh et al, 2012). These findings are significant in that they highlight the subtleties that make student gun owners distinct in the way they experience and interpret their world.…”

Human trafficking: as viewed through the eyes of criminal justice students

“…However, they are also more trusting of other people and consider themselves to be unlikely to engage in unethical behavior (Bjerregaard and Lord 2004). Students majoring in criminal justice may be more conservative than other majors based on research that suggests they are: more likely to not support gun control (Payne and Riedel 2002), more likely to desire the opportunity to carry a legally concealed gun (Bouffard et al, 2012), and more likely to hold anti-gay views (Cannon, 2005;Miller and Kim, 2012).…”

“…Because many criminal justice students are interested in pursuing careers in the criminal justice system, criminal justice students are more likely in their future careers than other majors to find themselves in a position of authority, where they may make decisions about whether or not a victims of human trafficking is a victim or offender. While there is research that explores criminal justice student's attitudes and beliefs in regards to convicted offenders (Falco and Martin 2012;Makey and Courtright 2000;Ricciardelli et al 2009;Ricciardelli et al 2012) and student's beliefs and attitudes in regards to social issues (Bjerregaard and Lord 2004;Bouffard et al 2012;Cannon 2005;Courtright et al 2007;Miller and Kim 2012;and Payne and Riedel 2002), there is a lack of research that explores criminal justice student's perceptions of crimes.…”