“Nobody Asked Us”: Illegal Firearm Acquisition, Ownership, and Storage Among Black and Brown Individuals in Newark, New Jersey

Abstract

The qualitative study utilized a community-based participatory research approach to leverage a partnership between academic researchers and the Newark Community Street Team to examine the experiences of those who own and have access to illegal firearms in a sample of 28 Black and Brown participants in Newark, New Jersey. The findings affirm the reasons why illegal firearms owners acquire firearms, including protection. We found that participants did not store their firearms securely and firearms were accessible through multiple avenues. The study findings provide insights on what participants identified as prevention and intervention efforts for addressing illegal firearm ownership, including changing community social norms and providing healing groups for youth.