How are guns used and viewed by criminals? Where do criminals obtain guns? And how do laws make firearms more or less accessible? Confronting these contentious questions, Guns, Violence, and Criminal Behavior offers a comprehensive exploration of the social processes surrounding illegal firearm use and criminal behavior.

The authors draw on in-depth interviews with felons convicted of gun-related crimes and previous quantitative studies to offer a fresh look at the key issues of gun violence. Highlighting the overlooked symbolic power of guns in criminal situations, their findings underscore the influence of social and cultural forces in affecting gun use.

CONTENTS: Foreword—Jay Corzine. Introduction: The Gun Offender’s Perspective. Motives for Criminal Gun Use. Guns and Street Gang Culture. How Incarceration Shapes Views and Use of Guns. Changing Concealed Carry Laws. Conclusion: Limiting Gun Violence.