Identifying Patterns and Predictors of Early Adulthood Gun Ownership, Gun Carrying, and Crime.

Data from the Rochester Youth Development Study, a longitudinal panel study, are used to investigate the trends in gun carrying and gun ownership among boys from adolescence to early adulthood. This paper assesses the impact of early and late adolescent risky behaviors, such as delinquency, gang membership, and illegal gun carrying on the likelihood of carrying and owning guns and on continued involvement in crime as young adults. Adult predictors including peer delinquency and dynamic life events, and the relationships between early behaviors and reasons for adult gun ownership will also be examined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]