October 14, 1998
Web posted at: 6:14 p.m. EDT (2214 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Nearly three of every 10 high school boys have at least one firearm, according to a study funded by the National Institute of Justice.

The random survey of 10th- and 11th-grade boys from high schools throughout the United States shows most of the firearms are intended for hunting and sporting purposes -- not criminal activity.

The 29 percent figure for firearm possession among males 16 to 18 compares to 6 percent who say they carry a gun outside the home.

Survey results show that half of the juveniles believe they can obtain firearms relatively easily. Relatives and friends are the primary sources of guns.

The study's random sample includes 734 students in 53 schools. The poll was conducted by surveyors from California State University and Tulane University in New Orleans.