208: Examining Racism Against the AAPI Community and Gun Ownership

Does experiencing racism or discrimination make you more likely to buy a gun? Does being worried about being a target of hate make you more likely to carry a firearm with you? Evidence seems to suggest yes, as increased rates of hate crimes against members of the AAPI community in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented rise in Asian American gun ownership.

To examine how firearm behaviors (how guns were stored, carried, and thought about) were impacted by racism and discrimination experiences, Dr. Hsing-Fang Hsieh (University of Michigan) and Dr. Tsu-Yin Wu (Eastern Michigan University) launched a new, landmark study, which they joined the podcast to share with hosts Kelly and JJ.

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Further reading:
Asian Americans are buying guns in record numbers. What's Caused This Surge? (the Guardian)
'I've Never Seen This Level of Fear.' Why Asian Americans Are Joining the Rush to Buy Guns (Time)
Gun Industry Targets Asian Americans as First-Time Gun Owners and Future Pro-Gun Advocates (Violence Policy Center)