"The cops didn't make it any better": Perspectives on police and guns among survivors of gun violence. (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Neill, Kathleen M.; Salazar, Michelle C.; Vega, Cecilio; Campbell, Anthony; Anderson, Elijah; Dodington, James
• Is Part Of: Social science & medicine. Volume 284(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Gun violence -- Racism -- Police violence -- Trauma -- Qualitative methods; Social medicine -- Periodicals; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; Public health -- Periodicals; Psychology -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine sociale -- Périodiques; Anthropologie médicale -- Périodiques; Santé publique -- Périodiques; Psychologie -- Périodiques; Médecine -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.105
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.114197
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0277-9536

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Survivors of gun violence in the United States (US) are twenty times more likely to be re-injured with a firearm and three times more likely to be arrested under a violence or a weapons-related charge. The mechanisms for these outcomes are multifactorial and remain largely understudied. We aimed to examine perspectives on both the police and guns among survivors of guns violence. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of qualitative data from a study that examined the post-hospitalization recovery experience of survivors of firearm violence. Using a conceptual framework derived from sociology literature and a coding team made up of researchers, community members and former police officers, we used directed content analysis to construct themes. Results: The data set included interviews with 20 survivors of gun violence that were all Black males, aged 20–51 years. The recurring themes around the police included: (1) Legal cynicism: "I don't like police, none of them"; (2) Interactions with the police in a medical setting: "The cops didn't make it any better" and (3) Ambivalence around police presence within the community: "That's their job to protect me, too." Themes related to guns in the community encompassed: (1) The availability of guns: "Getting a gun is about as easy as buying a pair of sneakers"; (2) Symbolic meaning: "Guns give them courage"; (3) Social meaning: "I just let them know: I have a gun, too." and (4) Strategic meaning: "It's just for protection." Conclusions: Survivors of gun violence describe distrust for the police and an ecology of guns that confers symbolic, social and strategic meaning to owning a gun. Interventions to decrease gun violence should address the cultural value of a gun as well as focus on improving police relations with the community. Highlights: A qualitative study of 20 Black, male survivors of gun violence. Participants recount traumatic experiences with police while receiving medical care. Participants describe a distrust for police in their communities. There is ready access to guns in their communities. Owning and carrying a gun has symbolic, social, and strategic meaning.