This article summarizes recent research on juvenile access to firearms, juvenile weapon carrying, variables associated with juvenile weapon carrying, and the unlawful use of weapons by juveniles. Although weapon-associated juvenile violence has declined since the mid-1990s, research indicates that juveniles have easy access to firearms and that delinquent juveniles are more likely than nondelinquent juveniles to own and carry guns and other weapons. However, there are no empirical data that indicate that the majority of juvenile gun owners or weapon carriers are delinquents. Thus, for purposes of policy and program development, a distinction should be drawn between (a) juveniles who own and carry firearms and other weapons for legitimate reasons and (b) juveniles who own and carry firearms and other weapons for crime-related reasons.
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