Women Gun Owners Questionaire

[student88]

Hi everyone I'm a university student graduating with a degree in Criminology, for one of my assignments I have to conduct a survey questionaire on women gun owners. The criteria for the women is as follows you have to have purchased your first firearm between 2005-2013. Recently in the past couple of years the amount of women gun owners has risen as some of you probably already know. The purpose of the assignment is to study a group of people that do not have alot of data on them already, there is plenty of data on men but not so much on women which is why I decided to go with that. In the past variables such as living in an area with a high crime rate or being the victim of a crime have caused spikes in ownership. Now there are some new variables such as increase in mass shootings and hurricane katrina/hurricane sandy. The qustionaire has no political agenda attached to it, me personally I am against gun control I believe every law abiding citizen should have the right to defend themselves and bear arms.

Heres the survey you may PM me your responses or post them in a reply within this thread completely up to you. If any men on the forum have a wife or significant other that fits this criteria (having purchased your first firearm within 2005-2013) then it would be greatly apreciated if you could give them the questionaire. If there are any questions you feel are to personal or your not comfortable answering then you don't have to answer. If there are any more details anyone would like to know regarding the study I will be more than happy to answer them.


1. What is your first name (You may use a fake name)? How old are you?

2. What is your background/ethnicity?

3. What is your occupation?

4. Where do you live, and do you live by yourself or with family/friends?

5. Is the community you live in safe? Does your community have a sufficient number of police? Do you think they are trained well enough to handle the crimes in your community? If not did this influence you to purchase a firearm?

6. Do you think you are more vulnerable because you are female? Have you or anyone you know ever been the victim of a crime? Did this influence you to purchase a firearm?

7. How much TV do you watch? What type of programs are you watching? Did any form of media or news reports influence you to purchase a firearm?

8. Is the community you live in vulnerable to a natural disaster? Are there a sufficient number of government personnel to keep you safe? Are they trained well enough to keep you safe? If not then did this influence your purchase of a firearm?

9. Is owning a firearm a hobby for you? Do you use your firearm for hunting, skeet shooting, or any other sporting activities? Are these activities the main reason for you owning a firearm?

10. What was your stance on the 2nd amendment “the right to bear arms”? Did the 2nd amendment influence you to purchase a firearm?

11. When exactly did you buy your first firearm? What kind of firearm was it and how many have you bought so far? What was the initial reason for you buying a firearm?

 

[TennJed]

I would like to see your answers to the questions. IMHO it might help you get more answers if we felt like we knew a little more about who we were giving this info out to. I don't think it is too much to ask for you to answer them in this thread

 

[Telekinesis]

I think your survey could have a better setup/design. Granted it depends on how you plan to use the data (my background is in economics/econometrics, so I may have a different use in mind than what you will actually be doing) but I think you could rephrase your questions to get a data set that is much easier to work with.

For one, you have quite a few questions within one.

5. Is the community you live in safe? Does your community have a sufficient number of police? Do you think they are trained well enough to handle the crimes in your community? If not did this influence you to purchase a firearm?

Separate them out into individual questions so that you can more easily distinguish individual answers.


You can also get a better data set by implementing a 1-5 scale (Strongly disagree, disagree, no comment, agree, strongly agree). This keeps you in control of the possible answers so that instead of getting a hundred variations of "meh, I feel pretty safe at home" which has no definitive meaning, you get very distinct answers of "I agree that I feel safe at home", or "I strongly agree" or "I disagree" etc.

This in turn makes it much simpler for you to go back and show that xx% of respondents agree that they feel safe at home. It also opens the door for you to use economic regressions to try and pull more meaning from the data and show mathematical correlations.

I also might open up your group to include all female shooters and add a question about date of birth (many people will lie if you ask just for age, but fewer will lie if you ask for DOB) and another question about the year that they first purchased a firearm and use the older group as your control group. That way you can try to show that within the past x number of year's, women may or may not be changing the reasons that they are buying firearms.

May also want to ask about CCW as well.

 

[Tobias1900]

Maybe I'm wrong, but the questioning looks like you already have a theory and you are looking for data to support it.
Headline: Forget the traditional reasons, data supports paranoid women are buying guns in record numbers after watching too many crime shows.

 

[Officers'Wife]

OK, had you handed this to me on campus I likely would have handed it back to you with some uncomplimentary words.

You have two major premises that must be agreed for the survey to be relevant, I agree with neither.

 

[reddrumtoo]

Why is question # 10 stated in a past tense ? The 2nd amendment is alive & well thank you .

 

[TennJed]

Why is question # 10 stated in a past tense ? The 2nd amendment is alive & well thank you .

I believe the purchase of the firearm is in past tense, which would be correct. There is no implication that the 2A is not alive and well

 

[akodo]

I would like to see your answers to the questions. IMHO it might help you get more answers if we felt like we knew a little more about who we were giving this info out to. I don't think it is too much to ask for you to answer them in this thread

Here is his introduction post

"Hi eveyrone i'm a university student from new york. Hope the fact that im from new york doesn't turn you guys off! The reason I joined the forum is because i'm doing an assignment on women gun owners, Im gonna post all the details in the "General Discussion" section. The study doesn't have any political agenda, I myself am against gun control even though I live in a state that's "anti-gun". My family owns firearms and I plan on getting one soon. I hope you guys give me a chance if not I completely understand."

 

[akodo]

I too view those questions as poorly designed. Too many questions are actually multiple questions in one.

I agree that in many instances you would be better off asking them on the 5 point scale if they agree or disagree with statements. (1 = strongly disagree, 2= disagree, 3 = neutral, 4 = agree, 5 = strongly agree)

In some questions I can see where you are going, but there are big gaps because of how you list limited options. In some of these you'd be better off having a more general topic and asking an 'essay question'

Example

5. Is the community you live in safe? Does your community have a sufficient number of police? Do you think they are trained well enough to handle the crimes in your community? If not did this influence you to purchase a firearm?

What about having sufficient numbers but poor dispersal of officers? What about having enough police but a very slow dispatch system? You talk about 'the crimes in your community'...what if the answerer views crime A as the most common crime in the community (let's say a rash of drunk driving) but purchased a gun because of much rarer crime B (fear of being raped). Answerer may believe police are very effective at handling drunk drivers but ineffective at stopping a serial rapist, or may believe the opposite.

In a case like that, you'd be better off asking 'please describe your opinion of your local police, especially describe and perceived shortcomings'

Then you could pair it with a 1-5 agree/disagree statement such as

The shortcomings of the local police influenced my decision to purchase a gun

 

[19-3Ben]

Might also be interesting to find out how often female shooters are practicing at the range, or other practice such as dry-firing. Also, how often they carry, if at all.

I wonder how those numbers compare to men.

 

[oneounceload]

Each number has too many questions
one per question

 

[TennJed]

Here is his introduction post





"Hi eveyrone i'm a university student from new york. Hope the fact that im from new york doesn't turn you guys off! The reason I joined the forum is because i'm doing an assignment on women gun owners, Im gonna post all the details in the "General Discussion" section. The study doesn't have any political agenda, I myself am against gun control even though I live in a state that's "anti-gun". My family owns firearms and I plan on getting one soon. I hope you guys give me a chance if not I completely understand."

Do we know for sure the OP is a "he"?

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

Hi everyone I'm a university student graduating with a degree in Criminology, for one of my assignments I have to conduct a survey questionaire on women gun owners. The criteria for the women is as follows you have to have purchased your first firearm between 2005-2013. Recently in the past couple of years the amount of women gun owners has risen as some of you probably already know. The purpose of the assignment is to study a group of people that do not have alot of data on them already, there is plenty of data on men but not so much on women which is why I decided to go with that. In the past variables such as living in an area with a high crime rate or being the victim of a crime have caused spikes in ownership. Now there are some new variables such as increase in mass shootings and hurricane katrina/hurricane sandy. The qustionaire has no political agenda attached to it, me personally I am against gun control I believe every law abiding citizen should have the right to defend themselves and bear arms.

Heres the survey you may PM me your responses or post them in a reply within this thread completely up to you. If any men on the forum have a wife or significant other that fits this criteria (having purchased your first firearm within 2005-2013) then it would be greatly apreciated if you could give them the questionaire. If there are any questions you feel are to personal or your not comfortable answering then you don't have to answer. If there are any more details anyone would like to know regarding the study I will be more than happy to answer them.


1. What is your first name (You may use a fake name)? How old are you?

2. What is your background/ethnicity?

3. What is your occupation?

4. Where do you live, and do you live by yourself or with family/friends?

5. Is the community you live in safe? Does your community have a sufficient number of police? Do you think they are trained well enough to handle the crimes in your community? If not did this influence you to purchase a firearm?

6. Do you think you are more vulnerable because you are female? Have you or anyone you know ever been the victim of a crime? Did this influence you to purchase a firearm?

7. How much TV do you watch? What type of programs are you watching? Did any form of media or news reports influence you to purchase a firearm?

8. Is the community you live in vulnerable to a natural disaster? Are there a sufficient number of government personnel to keep you safe? Are they trained well enough to keep you safe? If not then did this influence your purchase of a firearm?

9. Is owning a firearm a hobby for you? Do you use your firearm for hunting, skeet shooting, or any other sporting activities? Are these activities the main reason for you owning a firearm?

10. What was your stance on the 2nd amendment “the right to bear arms”? Did the 2nd amendment influence you to purchase a firearm?

11. When exactly did you buy your first firearm? What kind of firearm was it and how many have you bought so far? What was the initial reason for you buying a firearm?

It's none of your business. Also have the mods approved this.

 

[Sol]

I answered those same questions when I was detained by the DHS....I kid I kid!

 

[gamestalker]

1. Dawn
2. Mixed breed,
3. Retired elderly
4. In a rural community, with husband
5. It's not a question of how many LE, or how well trained LE is, or isn't, or what the crime rate or trend is. Simply put, when seconds count, the police are minutes away, which is what influenced myself and other female family members. So unless they are standing right next to me when I need them, I'm on my own.
6. Yes, I do feel more vulnerable. And yes, myself, husband and other family members have been violently victimized, And no, our family has always felt responsible for our own self defense options in this respect.
7. TV has nothing to do with any aspect of my decision to carry.
8. No, we don't experience much in the way of natural disasters. We have plenty of personnel, they just aren't ever standing next to me in my time of need for protection, or when I need it most.
9. All of the above
10. The 2A did not influence me, it supported my right to do so.
11. I bought my first when I was about 23 yrs. old - My first was an 870 WM, don't know how many I have, enough to cover all my needs though, the initial reason was because I enjoy all recreational aspects of shooting, and the ability to defend myself when necessary.

Mrs. Gamestalker

 

[Officers'Wife]

Hi everyone I'm a university student graduating with a degree in Criminology, for one of my assignments I have to conduct a survey questionaire on women gun owners. The criteria for the women is as follows you have to have purchased your first firearm between 2005-2013. Recently in the past couple of years the amount of women gun owners has risen as some of you probably already know. The purpose of the assignment is to study a group of people that do not have alot of data on them already, there is plenty of data on men but not so much on women which is why I decided to go with that. In the past variables such as living in an area with a high crime rate or being the victim of a crime have caused spikes in ownership. Now there are some new variables such as increase in mass shootings and hurricane katrina/hurricane sandy. The qustionaire has no political agenda attached to it, me personally I am against gun control I believe every law abiding citizen should have the right to defend themselves and bear arms.

Heres the survey you may PM me your responses or post them in a reply within this thread completely up to you. If any men on the forum have a wife or significant other that fits this criteria (having purchased your first firearm within 2005-2013) then it would be greatly apreciated if you could give them the questionaire. If there are any questions you feel are to personal or your not comfortable answering then you don't have to answer. If there are any more details anyone would like to know regarding the study I will be more than happy to answer them.

OK, I'll play too, I won't play nice but I'll play.

1. What is your first name (You may use a fake name)? How old are you?

Selena 1986

2. What is your background/ethnicity?

I'm an American citizen, race and ethnicity is immaterial.

3. What is your occupation?

Part time nurse, part time agri-business and full time mother

4. Where do you live, and do you live by yourself or with family/friends?

I live in my home, I like to consider my husband and children family.

5. Is the community you live in safe? Does your community have a sufficient number of police? Do you think they are trained well enough to handle the crimes in your community? If not did this influence you to purchase a firearm?

My area is reasonably safe, the police number or the quality of the training has nothing to do with that fact so is immaterial.

6. Do you think you are more vulnerable because you are female? Have you or anyone you know ever been the victim of a crime? Did this influence you to purchase a firearm?

My plumbing is irrelevant to my "vulnerability." In fact, with the culture and beliefs of this particular area if any bearing I have a bit of added protection.

I was the victim of a violent crime when I was a foster child in the city of Chicago. This does not include the crimes committed on my person and property by the city of Chicago and their agents.

No it did not

7. How much TV do you watch? What type of programs are you watching? Did any form of media or news reports influence you to purchase a firearm?

Two jobs, three kids and a husband. I don't have time for TV.

No.

8. Is the community you live in vulnerable to a natural disaster? Are there a sufficient number of government personnel to keep you safe? Are they trained well enough to keep you safe? If not then did this influence your purchase of a firearm?

We live on the flood zone of a certain river as well as experience overflow from two drainage ditches. Also snow related inconveniences. Lastly this area has experienced two minor earthquakes in the past 20 years and is in the shock zone of the New Madrid fault.

Government is not capable of providing safety in a natural disaster, this has been proven time and time again in the past five years so the question is irrelevant. In fact, the government under Franklin Roosevelt is the reason this area is flooded by the formerly mentioned drainage ditches.

No, it did not.

9. Is owning a firearm a hobby for you? Do you use your firearm for hunting, skeet shooting, or any other sporting activities? Are these activities the main reason for you owning a firearm?

Yes I do and no it is not.

10. What was your stance on the 2nd amendment “the right to bear arms”? Did the 2nd amendment influence you to purchase a firearm?

The 2nd amendment is a reminder to the government it has not been granted the authority to restrict the ownership of arms. No, it did not.

11. When exactly did you buy your first firearm?

15 June 2007

What kind of firearm was it

A Colt Woodsman handgun

and how many have you bought so far?

None of your business

What was the initial reason for you buying a firearm?

It was cute.

 

[danez71]

I tried to get my wife to answer but she said the questions are stupid (her words)/unanswerable.

Then she rattled off things like "natural disasters happen everywhere.... crime isn't gender specific.... how am I supposed to now how well the cops are trained or how many we have?.... "

 

[readyeddy]

The questions should also apply to males. Why assume the answers would be any different based on gender? What if the answers are the same for both sexes? What would be the reason for targeting females?

 

[Officers'Wife]

The questions should also apply to males. Why assume the answers would be any different based on gender? What if the answers are the same for both sexes? What would be the reason for targeting females?

Criminology major

 

[Ranger Roberts]

I'll answer a few questions until my husband complains the he wants his laptop back.

1) Cindy and I'm 30
2) I am white
3) I am a business owner and we deal with medical billing
4) I am married and live in Pennsylvania
5) My community is safe but very rural. We don't have a local police dept so we have to rely on the state police and their response time could vary. My husband is a police officer so I like to think that the police are trained sufficiently. I do work in an area that is a fairly large city and their dept is inadequately staffed. None of these things influenced my purchase of a firearm.
6) More vulnerable? I suppose many males are physically stronger than I am but I don't believe that I am more vulnerable because of it. I am physically fit, I am armed, I have trained pretty extensively with my husband both with firearms and self defense. Everyday I hear the phrase "situational awareness" and I am sure that I am safer because of it. I have never been a victim of a violent crime but as the wife of a police officer I hear about them everyday. None of this had an influence on my decision to purchase a firearm.
7) I am not a big TV person, but when I do watch tv I watch comedies and documentaries. I prefer to read or spend time doing physical activities rather than watch tv. The news/media has no influence on my decision to purchase a gun.
8) We were hit by Hurricane Sandy last year and were without power for a little over a week. Other than that and snow storms in the winter, we aren't prone to natural disasters. Can the government keep American citizens safe during a natural disaster? No, and even if they could it wouldn't have an influence on my decision to get a gun, they could just confiscate it anyway (google Katrina gun confiscation).
9) Shooting is a hobby for me. I like to skeet shoot and target shoot. I don't hunt, in fact I am a vegetarian and an animal lover. My husband hunts but I don't hold it against him
I appreciate the beauty of a lot of guns. The craftsmanship and brilliance it takes to build one. Plus I love the skill it takes to become proficient with a gun! It's addicting, you should really try it if you haven't yet.
10) I am pro 2nd amendment. I believe that gun control does nothing except make it more difficult for law abiding citizens to have access to a right granted to them by the 2nd amendment. Anti-gun legislation is a simple minded "work around" to fixing the real problems in this country and society. It's a way for politicians to look like they are doing something constructive and get re-elected.
11) I bought my first gun about 5 years ago because I was sick of asking to borrow my husbands guns. Full disclosure though, I have been shooting guns with my family since I was very young. I bought a 9mm Beretta first. Since that time I have bought... well, let's just say a few more.

RR's wife

 

[Derry 1946]

Officer's Wife: my hat is off to you. Well put. Also nice choice of first firearm. I've been thinking about a Woodsman myself lately.

Derry

 

[Officers'Wife]

Thank you, but my husband was deployed, it was my 21st birthday so I took a drive. There was an auction sale going on so I stopped. When the guy held up the Woodsman I thought why not? The bidding started at 75 and I was the only bidder. I took it home for $75, no muss no fuss. They did make me show ID though and when the clerk saw it was my birthday they gave me 6 boxes of .22LR they knew wasn't going to sell in that area anyway.

 

[Derry 1946]

Great story!

 

[Queen_of_Thunder]

Why would anyone give up information to a stranger. Why is there not a policy on posts such as this from new members. Should not surveys of members here first gain approval from the site owners.

 

[Sam1911]

Why would anyone give up information to a stranger.

Don't know. Some folks have Facebook accounts, though, so the phenomenon seems popular.

Why is there not a policy on posts such as this from new members.

Why should there be one? You can ask whatever you want. No one is compelled, or even encouraged, to answer.

Should not surveys of members here first gain approval from the site owners.

Some have, and that is courteous. Not sure that we'd benefit from a specific policy on that though. If we don't like something specific about a survey, thread, or member, they will be disappeared, as always. But if folks want to assist this person, whoever they may really be, with whatever it is he or she claims to be after, that's really not necessarily the Staff's business. He's not enticing folks to give up their social security numbers or credit card info -- we'd step in and put a halt to that kind of thing of course. And he's mostly just asking folks to share here in this thread things that many have shared elsewhere in the various threads they've participated in over the years. Several of those answers he/she could have scrounged from reading just a selection of specific threads we've hosted in the last year.

Folks post all sorts of things about themselves for the whole world to see. Here's someone doing you the courtesy of asking first, rather than just cyber-stalking all the posts you've made and creating a profile of you!

So our official opinion is, "no opinion," but the thread doesn't specifically violate any THR rules.