1. Passion for guns and beliefs in a dangerous world: An examination of defensive gun ownership.
- Author
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Bélanger, Jocelyn J., Leander, N. Pontus, Agostini, Maximilian, Kreienkamp, Jannis, and Stroebe, Wolfgang
- Subjects
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FIREARMS ownership , *MASS shootings , *CHRISTCHURCH Mosque Shootings, Christchurch, N.Z., 2019 , *PREJUDICES , *ANTI-Black racism , *FIREARMS , *RACISM - Abstract
This research examines the notion of defensive gun ownership using the Dualistic Model of Passion. We hypothesized that an obsessive (vs. harmonious) passion for guns would be associated with a belief in a dangerous world (BDW). We expected this relationship to intensify in threatening contexts, leading to a more expansive view on defensive gun ownership. We tested this hypothesis across three threat contexts: a gun‐control message (Study 1, N = 342), a live shooting simulation (Study 2, N = 398), and the aftermath of the Christchurch mass shootings (Study 3, N = 314). In the experimental Study 1, exposure to a gun‐control message increased the intention to purchase guns among those with an obsessive passion (OP) for guns. Study 2 revealed that BDW mediated the relationship between OP and assertive modes of protection, the desire to purchase high‐stopping‐power guns, and anti‐Black racial bias in a shooting task. Study 3 showed that knowledge of the Christchurch attack intensified the link between OP and BDW, leading to increased support for gun access, a willingness to act as a citizen‐protector, and prejudice against Muslims. Comprehending these dynamics can assist policymakers in crafting messaging campaigns for firearm regulation and public safety measures that are more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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