For the boys, however, the corre- group. lates of carrying a gun included having been arrested before having been involved in many fights and being one of the people who started them, and believing that shooting people was justifiable in certain circumstances. Gun carrying was linked to a much more violent, aggressive orientation, and could not really be construed as a strategy for self-protection. Subsequent studies support the picture of boys who carry guns as being motivated by the desire to gain respect or to frighten others. These boys likely to be bullies, whose are friends also engage in high-risk activities