The role of information on contentious firearm policy: in an examination of students attending a Historically Black University

ABSTRACT Following highly publicized mass shootings on college campuses, more attention has been placed on making people feel safer at places of higher learning. In response, several states have passed campus carry policies, which permit conceal carry holders to carry their firearms on campus. Lawmakers have pursued these policies while ignoring the fact that most students and employees at college and universities are unsupportive of campus carry policies. The study aims to add to the campus carry literature by investigating the role of information concerning campus carry and its source of influence on support and perceptions of S.B. 11 amongst Black students. We find that the source of knowledge, previous knowledge, and perceptions of campus crime influence support for S.B. 11. We consider invoking transformative approaches to education in order to empower underserved constituents and hold policy makers accountable when developing contentious policy.