Title : Public support for gun control, gun laws, and gun homicides: A U.S.-Canada comparison
Abstract:
Gun control laws in Canada are more restrictive and stringent compared to U.S. laws regulating gun possession and use. In the U.S., citizen perspectives on gun rights are often politicized, contributing to gun homicide rates that are among the highest of any developed nation. In contrast, Canada has less politicized views on gun rights and experiences less than 14% of the per capita gun homicides seen in the U.S. This quantitatively-driven secondary data analysis employs mixed methods to explore variations in public support for gun control laws in these two countries. It examines the relationship between public support for gun control measures and the strictness of gun laws in each country, as well as whether stricter national gun laws are associated with fewer gun homicides. These previously unexplored connections could inform strategies to address the gun homicide epidemic. This study uses data from 2021–2023 Canadian and U.S. public opinion surveys on gun control measures from reputable sources. The Cultural Theory of Risk is applied to highlight major contributing factors, including the influence of U.S. gun culture, while Routine Activities Theory explains patterns of gun-related deaths and crimes. Statistical analyses assess the relationship between gun law strictness and gun homicides in each country, along with the influence of historical, sociocultural, political, and governmental factors. Time-series quantitative tests suggest potential pathways for reducing the high incidence of gun homicides in the U.S. Both countries could benefit from the U.S. adoption of gun control measures similar to those implemented in nations with lower gun death rates, such as Canada.
