Dr. Gerald Higginbotham on Gun Rights and Race
From Guns Unpacked by Jennifer Carlson
September 8, 2025 · 44 min · Season 2 · Episode 1
About this episode
Dr. Gerald D. Higgenbotham discusses the intersection of gun rights and race, exploring cognitive policies and historical perspectives.
In today’s episode of Guns Unpacked, we welcome Dr. Gerald D. Higgenbotham, an assistant professor of public policy and psychology at the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy at the University of Virginia. Dr. Higgenbotham examines contemporary cognitive policies and how they influence repressive history through racism and collective power. Today’s conversation dissects “Firearm Psychology,” a term frequently used by Higgenbotham to make sense of the nuance and intricacies of gun ownership. Higgenbotham also provides commentary on the racialization of gun rights, collective power, and perceptions of safety through the public eye. Higgenbotham also tackles these issues from a historical perspective, providing a framework of how this history impacts the world today. For more of Higgenbotham’s work and background, links to publications and distinctions can be found here.
People in this episode
Host: Jennifer Carlson
Guest: Dr. Gerald D. Higgenbotham
Topics covered
- gun rights
- race
- cognitive policies
- firearm psychology
- historical perspective
- collective power
Keywords
- gun ownership
- racism
- safety perceptions
- public policy
- psychology
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy, University of Virginia
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