Honor endorsement and increased firearm purchasing behavior and intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from three investigations of U.S. males

Objective: Firearm sales in the U.S. have surged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. Consistent with pre-pandemic trends, individuals tended to purchase firearms for self-protection during COVID-19. In addition to perceptions of both general and pandemic-specific threats motivating protective ownership, this form of ownership is also motivated by those that endorse masculinity norms in U.S. honor cultures. The present research examined the relative motivating influences of various threat perceptions and masculine honor endorsement in predicting reasons for non-COVID-19 firearm ownership, firearm purchasing during COVID-19, and purchase intentions. Method: Three separate samples (total N=2,483) of mostly White U.S. men completed online surveys during different months of COVID-19. Results: Honor endorsement was higher among (1) protective firearm owners compared to non-owners and non-protective owners, (2) firearm owners who purchased a firearm during COVID-19 compared to non-owners and non-purchasing owners, and (3) firearm owners with intentions to purchase firearms in the next year compared to those without intentions and undecided owners. Relative to other predictors (e.g., COVID-19 concerns, dangerous world beliefs), honor endorsement was consistently the strongest predictor of these outcomes. Conclusions: Findings add to the literature by highlighting the strength of honor-endorsement in motivating (protective) firearm ownership. Implications for interpersonal violence and suicide are discussed.