Sheriffs Perceptions of Firearm Control Polices

Public health professionals can maximize their effectiveness in reducing firearm trauma by seeking partners from law enforcement professionals. This study assessed sheriff’s support for various types of firearm control measures and their firearm control advocacy activities. A 29 item valid and reliable survey was used for a three- wave mailing to a national random sample of 650 sheriffs. The majority (over 50%) of sheriffs supported 4 of 14 proposed firearm control policies. Almost 55% of responding sheriffs were members of the NRA and being a member of the NRA was significantly associated with less support for 12 of the 14 firearm control policies. The majority (>70%) of sheriffs did not participate in most firearm control advocacy activities. Sheriffs were found to be far less supportive of potentially important firearm control policies than what has been previously found for police chiefs. Thus, sheriffs may be less helpful than police chiefs as colleagues for public health campaigns to reduce firearm trauma.