Fast Facts
- 29 African American men in Chicago participated in Aaron Mallory’s study.
- 96% of participants were classified as low-risk by criminal justice assessment standards.
- 66% were employed at the time of their arrest.
- 62% had valid FOID cards, meaning many legally owned their firearms.
- Many participants cited self-protection, trauma, neighborhood violence, and barriers to legal carry as reasons behind their decisions.
When conversations about illegal gun possession come up, many people automatically picture gang members, career criminals, or people looking for trouble.
But a new study from Chicago researcher and criminal justice scholar Aaron Mallory paints a much different picture.
Mallory’s study, titled Bureaucratic Barriers and Inequality: Understanding Illegal Firearm Possession Among Low-Risk African American Men, focused on 29 African American men in Chicago who were arrested for illegal firearm possession but were considered “low-risk” by criminal justice standards.
Many of the men interviewed had jobs, families, limited or no criminal history, and were not actively involved in gangs or street activity. The study looks at a group often left out of the larger conversation: Black men who are not necessarily carrying firearms to cause harm, but who say they are responding to violence in their communities and navigating the burden of carrying legally.
The Main Reason? Protection.
One of the strongest themes throughout the study was simple: many participants said they carried firearms because they were afraid.
Several men described living in neighborhoods impacted by gun violence, losing friends to shootings, being victims themselves, or feeling like violence could happen at any moment. According to the study, many viewed carrying a firearm as a way to protect themselves and make it home to their families.
One participant explained that after a close friend and the friend’s father were killed, he felt he needed protection even though he was not involved in any street activity. Another participant said being shot in the past left him dealing with anxiety and trauma, making him feel safer carrying a firearm.
The study does not argue that carrying a firearm actually makes someone safer. Instead, it focuses on how participants perceived their own safety and why they made the decisions they did.
Distrust In The System
Another major finding was what researchers call “legal cynicism” — a belief that law enforcement either cannot or will not protect residents in certain communities.
Several participants shared stories of calling police after crimes and feeling ignored, waiting extended periods for help, or believing officers did not take their concerns seriously. Those experiences led some to feel they had to take responsibility for their own safety.
Whether people agree with that mindset or not, the study suggests those perceptions play a major role in why some individuals choose to carry firearms despite the legal risks.
The Paperwork Problem
Perhaps one of the most important findings involved the legal process itself.
According to the study, 62% of participants had valid FOID cards, meaning they legally owned their firearms. Their arrests stemmed from carrying the weapon without the proper concealed carry license.
Researchers found several common barriers, including long concealed carry permit processing times, high costs associated with training and licensing, confusion about Illinois gun laws, and misunderstanding the difference between a FOID card and a concealed carry permit.
Some participants reported they were already in the process of obtaining concealed carry permits when they were arrested. Others believed having a FOID card alone allowed them to legally carry a firearm.
Mallory refers to these challenges as “bureaucratic disenfranchisement,” meaning the legal process itself can create barriers that make it harder for some people to comply, especially in communities already dealing with violence, limited resources, and heavy enforcement.
Why This Matters
The study does not call for eliminating gun laws. Instead, it raises questions about whether current systems are working equally for everyone and whether some people are being criminalized because of administrative barriers rather than violent behavior.
It also challenges audiences to think beyond stereotypes.
Many of the men interviewed were not describing themselves as gang members or offenders. They described themselves as fathers, workers, homeowners, and community members trying to navigate safety concerns in neighborhoods where violence remains a reality.
Whether readers agree with the participants’ decisions or not, the research opens the door for an important conversation about public safety, gun policy, community violence, and how laws impact everyday people living in Chicago’s most affected neighborhoods.
Be A Part Of The Conversation
Aaron Mallory’s research challenges a common assumption: that everyone arrested for illegal gun possession fits the same profile.
The study raises important questions about public safety, enforcement, access to legal pathways, and how violence shapes the decisions people make in real life.
As Chicago continues to search for solutions to community violence, where should the conversation begin: stricter enforcement, better access to legal pathways, more investment in violence prevention, or a combination of all three?
What are your thoughts? Be A Part Of The Conversation.
About The Conversation
At What’s The Word, we believe the stories shaping our communities deserve more than headlines—they deserve conversation.
Our goal is to highlight perspectives, amplify voices, and create space for meaningful dialogue around the issues impacting Chicago and beyond.
Read. Reflect. Respond. Be A Part Of The Conversation.
