Gun Control

Return to Fall 2010 Critical Thinking Research Topics

Please post your research below, using the "Finding" template from the Research Topics main page. Just copy and paste it for each finding and fill in the information from your finding. Try to organize findings so that you can add headings later as things accumulate.

Statistics on Gun Control

Firearm Deaths

Firearms Death Rate per 100,000 (most recent) by state

"Firearms Death Rate per 100,000 Statistics - States Compared - StateMaster." StateMaster - US Statistics, State Comparisons. 2005. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <http://www.statemaster.com/red/graph/cri_mur_wit_fir-death-rate-per-100-000&b_map=1>.

State by state statistics on firearm deaths.

-Gabriel Sedberry

Knife and Gun Statistics

Gun violence > % Knife (most recent) by state

"Gun Violence % Knife by State. Definition, Graph and Map." StateMaster - US Statistics, State Comparisons. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <http://www.statemaster.com/graph/cri_gun_vio_kni-crime-gun-violence-knife>.

State by state statistics on knife violence.

-Gabriel Sedberry

Gun violence > % Gun (most recent) by state

"Gun Violence % Gun by State. Definition, Graph and Map." StateMaster - US Statistics, State Comparisons. 2005. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <http://www.statemaster.com/red/graph/cri_gun_vio_gun-crime-gun-violence&b_map=1>.

State by state statistics on gun violence

-Gabriel Sedberry

Statistics are Incomplete?

American Tales of Guns and Ignorance

Cohen, Philip, and Andy Coghlan. "EBSCOhost: American Tales of Guns and Ignorance." Academic Search Complete. 25 Dec. 2004. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=3&hid=7&sid=356867fb-5530-4f5c-83a4-1be6b346c1be@sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ==#db=a9h&AN=15542904>.

This article focuses mainly on how statistics on Gun Control are poorly taken and Incomplete. They offer the statistics they gathered and offer the solution to reduce gun violence by educating the young about the danger of firearms.

-Anna Ursino

Notable Facts on Gun Control

Brady Campaign Facts

Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

"Facts." Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <http://www.bradycampaign.org/facts/>.

A collection of facts on gun violence by the Brady Campaign, a pro-gun control political activist organization.

-Gabriel Sedberry

States Laws on Guns

State Gun Laws

"Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence." Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <http://www.bradycampaign.org/stategunlaws/>.

A state by state (excluding D.C.) breakdown and ranking of gun laws compiled by the Brady Campaign.

-Gabriel Sedberry

Political Aspects Of Gun Control

President Obama's Opinion

Barack Obama On Gun Control

"Barack Obama on Gun Control." OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the Issues. Web. 27 Oct. 2010. <http://www.ontheissues.org/domestic/barack_obama_gun_control.htm>.

Summarizes president Obamas views and ideas on current Gun control laws and issues.

-Anna Ursino

Republican vs. Democratic

Gun Control: 2008 Contenders' Views

"Gun Control: 2008 Contenders' Views." OnTheIssues.org - Candidates on the Issues. Web. 27 Oct. 2010. <http://www.ontheissues.org/gun_control.htm>.

Summarizes political views-both republican/democratic- on gun control laws providing links to each one for in-depth detail.

-Anna Ursino

Politics Mixing with Business?

Individual Gun Rights, Gun Laws, and Franchising: Why Franchisors Cannot Ignore the Controversy

Witter, Debra. "Individual Gun Rights, Gun Laws, and Franchising: Why Franchisors Cannot Ignore the Controversy." Academic Complete. Ebrary, Spring 2010. Web. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=10&hid=7&sid=356867fb-5530-4f5c-83a4-1be6b346c1be%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=51671276>.

This article addresses the issue on allowing citizens to own a firearm or have access to as well as address the hurt and intentions of the franchising businesses of Guns.

-Anna Ursino

Important Wide Range of Information on Gun Control

Gun Control

Gun Control

"Gun Control." Almanac of Policy Issues. Web. 27 Oct. 2010. <http://www.policyalmanac.org/crime/archive/crs_gun_control.shtml>.

This page summarizes current issues on Gun Control, it also includes background information, Statistics, Gun violence in youth, Suicides/accidents/death reports, self defense, recreation, federal regulation, the Brady Act Implementation, federal firearm prosecutions, Major Federal Firearm Statutes, the Possible Issues for the 107th Congress, Gun Shows, Project Exile, Background Check Record Retention and Fees, Federal and State Background Check Records, and Concealed Carry permits. This article basically explains everything needed to know about Guncontrol from views to laws to incidents to background information. Main information source.

-Anna Ursino

Gun Violence

Gun violence in the United States by state

"Gun Violence in the United States by State." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gun_violence_in_the_United_States_by_state>.

Wikipedia entry on state by state gun violence in America. Break down of homicides by state, population, and weapon.

-Gabriel Sedberry

Important Articles on Gun Control

Crime

Gun Crimes Increase in Florida

Langbein, Sarah, and Jim Leusner. "Gun Crimes Increase in Florida." Orlando Sentenial [Orlando] 26 June 2007. Print.

This article speaks about incidents where more crimes are happening due to access to illegal firearms. The article argues that having guns for home protection has decreased crime rates but the access to guns is too easy with gun shops being robbed.

-Anna Ursino

Texas Concealed Handgun Law: Ten Years Later

Patterson, Jerry. "Texas Concealed Handgun Law: Ten Years Later." Latest Articles. 5 Jan. 2006. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. <http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1552567/posts>.

Editorial on the state of Texas gun violence ten years after instituting a concealed handgun law. The Author, Jerry Patterson, is one of the authors of the bill.

-Gabriel Sedberry

DOES GUN CONTROL REDUCE CRIME OR DOES CRIME INCREASE GUN CONTROL?.

Moorhouse, John C., and Brent Wanner. "DOES GUN CONTROL REDUCE CRIME OR DOES CRIME INCREASE GUN CONTROL?." CATO Journal 26.1 (2006): 103-124. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.

http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=20770826&site=ehost-live

Provides estimates of the relationships between gun control and crime rates in the U.S. Use of regression analysis and a vector of social and economic variables by researcher D. R. Murray in concluding that gun laws have no significant effects on violent acts; Role of the members of the Democratic Party in passing more stringent gun laws in response to high crime rates; Failure of gun control laws to influence the behavior of criminals regarding the use of firearms.

-Gabriel Sedberry

The Myth of Big-Time Gun Trafficking and the Overinterpretation of Gun Tracking Data

Kleck, Gary, and Kevin Wayne Shun-Yung. "THE MYTH OF BIG-TIME GUN TRAFFICKING AND THE OVERINTERPRETATION OF GUN TRACING DATA." Academic Complete. Ebrary, June 2009. Web. <http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=5&hid=7&sid=356867fb-5530-4f5c-83a4-1be6b346c1be%40sessionmgr13&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=43385544>.

This article addressed current court cases as to where manifacturing gun companies were accused of underground gun trafficking. It also talks about the distribution of leagal/illeagal firearms in trafficking and whether they are simple to find or not.

-Anna Ursino

Let Ineffective 'Assault Weapons' Ban Expire: Firearms Facts Refute Hollow Rhetoric of Anti-gun Activists

Bans on Assault Weapons Will Not Reduce Crime. Robert J. Caldwell. At Issue: Guns and Crime. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008.

"Banning assault weapons in 1994 did not reduce gun crime. In fact, studies show that criminals use pistols, not semiautomatic rifles, when committing crimes. What drove the federal ban on assault weapons was the gun's threatening appearance, not any actual danger posed. Indeed, even before the federal ban, criminals rarely used assault weapons in their crimes. Law-abiding citizens should not be prevented from owning weapons that do not threaten public safety."

-Gabriel Sedberry

Who Needs Assault Weapons?

Bans on Assault Weapons Increase Public Safety. Nicholas D. Kristof. At Issue: Guns and Crime. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008.

"Assault weapons pose a serious threat to public safety and should be banned. While only a small number of Americans owned assault weapons before they were banned, these weapons were involved in a disproportionate share of the nation's gun crimes. Even after the ban, assault weapons were used in one of five fatal police-officer shootings. Refusing to ban assault weapons will only lead to the deaths of more Americans."

-Gabriel Sedberry

People's Response

Bread, Milk, Handgun

"Bread, Milk, Handgun--Stocking up on the Neccessities of Life." The Economist (2009). Web. <http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=348942&story_id=E1_TPSRRGPT>.

This article focuses on the American's peoples response to gun control mainly in Tennessee and other southern states.

-Anna Ursino

Planning For the Worst

"Planning For the Worst--Gun Owners Are on the Defensive." The Economist (2009). Web. <http://www.economist.com/research/articlesBySubject/displaystory.cfm?subjectid=348942&story_id=E1_TPSRRGNP>.

This is another article that focuses on American peoples actions and response to Gun control that is aminly focused in thorugh Arizona

-Anna Ursino

Why do people support gun control?: Alternative explanations of support for handgun bans

Kleck, Gary, Marc Gertz, and Jason Bratton. "Why do people support gun control?: Alternative explanations of support for handgun bans." Journal of Criminal Justice 37.5 (2009): 496-504. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.

<http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=44259985&site=ehost-live>

A study that explores the motives behind support/resistance to gun control in the population.

-Gabriel Sedberry

Barack Obama's Gun Control Positions

B., Kris. "Barak Obama's Gun Control Positions." Associated Content - Associatedcontent.com. 04 Mar. 2008. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. <http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/630645/barak_obamas_gun_control_positions.html?cat=17>.

This article is quite interesting due to the fact that it is all based off of the authors opinion on our presidents choices of Gun Control. The author makes Obama look as if he is attempting to be rid of all guns. Very opinionated civilian response.

-Anna Ursino

Civilian Disarmament

The Mises Review: Guns and Violence: The English Experience

Gordon, David. "The Mises Review: Guns and Violence: The English Experience by Joyce Lee Malcolm." Ludwig Von Mises Institute - Homepage. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. <http://mises.org/misesreview_detail.aspx?control=215>.

A review of Joyce Lee Malcom's book on gun control and violence in England.

-Gabriel Sedberry

Neither Sword Nor Shield: Full-Spectrum Civilian Disarmament

Grigg, William N. "Neither Sword Nor Shield: Full-Spectrum Civilian Disarmament by William Norman Grigg." LewRockwell.com. Web. 11 Nov. 2010. <http://www.lewrockwell.com/grigg/grigg-w124.html>.

An article on recent examples of state disarmament of civilians.

-Gabriel Sedberry

Alternatives to Gun Control

Keep Off the Grass!: An Alternative Approach to the Gun Control Debate.

Lindeen, Lance. "Keep Off the Grass!: An Alternative Approach to the Gun Control Debate." Indiana Law Journal 85.4 (2010): 1659-1697. Academic Search Complete. EBSCO. Web. 11 Nov. 2010.

http://proxy.foley.gonzaga.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=52702740&site=ehost-live

In this article, the author discusses the aspects of gun control debate in the U.S. He discusses the problem of gun violence and the negative externalities associated with gun misuse. He explains the state of the law regarding firearms and the constitutional foundation for the right to bear arms. He offers an alternative solution to reduce gun violence, decriminalization of marijuana as the important step for reducing some forms of demand for firearms.

-Gabriel Sedberry

Search Terms

Anna's Terms

Gun Control

Facts on Gun Control

Obamas Views on Gun Control

Political arguments on Gun Control

Problems with Gun Control

Opinions on Gun Control