A recent study conducted by Oregon State University has revealed that American consumers tend to base their judgment of the morality of civilians using guns to protect themselves from crimes on their understanding of gun rights, with this assessment varying based on specific scenarios. The study aimed to analyze how consumers’ understanding of the Second Amendment, which is the only constitutional right that entitles individuals to a consumer product, plays a role in determining which gun-related behaviors are deemed morally acceptable.
The study found that individuals have different opinions about what should and should not be deemed acceptable with regards to guns, but their viewpoints are generally influenced by a desire to do the right thing, such as ensuring the safety of their loved ones or others. According to Michelle Barnhart, one of the study’s authors and an associate professor in OSU’s College of Business, “people are very complex in the way they think about gun rights and armed protection in America…When people think about whether or not it is moral to use a gun for protection, they make judgments based on specific factors and characteristics of the situation.”
In particular, people will consider the location where the gun is being carried or used, the nature of the perceived threat, and the background and experience of the person carrying the gun, which includes whether they have a permit, have undergone training, and have a criminal history or a history of mental illness.
Overall, the results of the study offer new insights into Americans’ complex views of gun rights. Co-authored by Inara Scott, Michelle Barnhart, and Aimee Huff, the paper shows how consumers’ perspectives of the Second Amendment can vary widely with some viewing it as secular, while others view it as sacred. Moreover, consumers could view their rights under the Second Amendment as a bundle of rights, including the right to protect oneself, one’s family, and one’s property.
According to the researchers, the understanding of the Second Amendment can be shaped by various factors, including court decisions that affirm acceptable uses of firearms for self-defense as well as new laws regarding gun carry and ownership. The researchers found that recent messaging from pro-gun lobbying groups, some U.S. courts, politicians, and others presented protecting oneself, family, and community from crime as an individual responsibility, shifting responsibility for addressing a social problem away from the state and to the individual.
The researchers argue that understanding why people believe armed protection is necessary and responsible is essential as widespread gun use for protection against perceived criminals can have negative consequences. For instance, the study cites the recent spate of shootings of innocent people by gun owners who mistakenly believed they were protecting themselves from criminal activity.
The study also highlights how consumers’ understanding of the Second Amendment may occasionally not align with existing laws, putting them in legal jeopardy. For instance, some participants in the study believed that the Second Amendment gave them the right to use force to protect against property theft, which U.S. law generally does not recognize as lawful. Hence, the researchers advocate for the need for more training for gun owners to educate them on the laws in their state and appreciate differences in other states’ laws, which could help safeguard gun owners who want to abide by their state’s laws.
More information:
Michelle Barnhart et al, Morality Appraisals in Consumer Responsibilization, Journal of Consumer Research (2023). DOI: 10.1093/jcr/ucad032
Citation:
U.S. consumers judge morality of armed self-protection on case-by-case basis, research shows (2023, June 12)
retrieved 13 June 2023
from https://phys.org/news/2023-06-consumers-morality-armed-self-protection-case-by-case.html
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