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One controversial element in the debate on firearms policy is whether crime and civil disorders contribute significantly to the private demand for firearms. In this paper we present a model to explain legal handgum demand that emphasizes the level of collective security as a key factor. Time-series data on legal gun demand in Detroit from 1951 to 1977 are consistent with a model in which individuals respond to three determinants of collective security: high violent crime rates, civil disordes, and police strength. The analysis suggests that low confidence in collective security contributes to both the need for and the resistance to gun control policies.