Behavioral Indicators of Legal and Illegal Gun Carrying.

摘要

Law enforcement personnel use a variety of behavioral indicators to identify persons carrying legal and illegal firearms. This report specifically focuses on behavioral indicators of persons carrying either a revolver or a semi-automatic pistol. There are two general types of behavioral indicators of gun carrying. First, those related to the mass and size of the weapon and how it is carried. Second, those related to the situational and environmental awareness of the individual carrying a firearm and their reaction to perceived threats. In total, we have identified six behaviors associated with weight and carrying, and eleven behaviors associated with situational awareness and reaction to threats. The frequency and intensity of these behaviors are moderated by the way the gun is carried and the presence of a perceived threat. Further research is needed to identify the reliability and validity of the findings documented in this report.