Firearm access in Indonesia is highly restricted, and their use requires special permit, a situation that has nonetheless led to various cases of firearm misuse. Crimes involving firearms are not only strongly associated with severe acts of violence and fatal outcomes, but also reflect the complexity of offender motivations. Although numerous studies have documented that the presence of firearm can influence an offender’s emotional state and is associated to wide range of motives, no research in Indonesia has specifically examined the motivations of individuals who commit crimes using firearms.
This study employs a qualitative research design guided by the Behavioural Evidence Analysis (BEA) framework, integrated with established human aggression factors. Using in-depth interview techniques to gather rich data, this research aims to identify and construct the criminal profile of the participating firearm offenders. The findings indicate that the psychological characteristics of these offenders are determined by a complex interaction between: (1) individual emotional states (e.g., self-control deficits); (2) situational triggers; and (3) the influence of disinhibiting factors. Crucially, all criminal acts were facilitated and exacerbated by the offender’s access to firearms.
Keywords: firearms, motivation, behavioural evidence analysis, aggression