The gun debate : what everyone needs to know

Cook, Philip J. 1946- (Author). Goss, Kristin A., 1965- (Added Author).

Summary: No topic is more polarizing than guns and gun control. From a gun culture that took root early in American history to the mass shootings that repeatedly bring the public discussion of gun control to a fever pitch, the topic has preoccupied citizens, public officials, and special interest groups for decades. This book delves into the issues that Americans debate when they talk about guns. With a balanced and broad-ranging approach, one author a noted economist, and the other author a political scientist, thoroughly cover the latest research, data, and developments on gun ownership, gun violence, the firearms industry, and the regulation of firearms. They also tackle sensitive issues such as the effectiveness of gun control, the connection between mental illness and violent crime, the question of whether more guns make us safer, and ways that video games and the media might contribute to gun violence. No discussion of guns in the U.S. would be complete without consideration of the history, culture, and politics that drive the passion behind the debate. The authors explore the origins of the American gun culture and the makeup of both the gun rights and gun control movements. Written in question-and-answer format, the book will help readers make sense of the ideologically driven statistics and slogans that characterize our national conversation on firearms. This book gives a clear view of the issues surrounding guns and gun policy in America.--Publisher's description.

Record details

ISBN: 9780199338986 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN: 0199338981 (hardcover : alk. paper)
ISBN: 9780199338993 (pbk. : alk. paper)
ISBN: 019933899X (pbk. : alk. paper)
Physical Description: print
x, 280 pages ; 22 cm.
Publisher: Oxford; New York : Oxford University Press, [2014]

Content descriptions

Bibliography, etc. Note:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 221-264) and index.

Formatted Contents Note:

1. America and its guns. What is a gun? ; What is the problem with guns? ; How many Americans own how many firearms? ; Who owns the guns? ; Why do people choose to own guns, or not? ; How many guns do gun owners own? ; Is gun ownership rising or falling? ; What role do shooting sports play in American life? ; Has participation in gun sports declined? ; What are the common types of modern firearms? ; Why do gun owners usually have several guns? ; What is an assault weapon? ; What devices are available to prevent misuse? -- 2. The value of guns for self-protection and combating tyranny. Why is self-defense central to the debate over gun control? ; Is a gun an effective means of self-protection against an assailant? ; How often are guns used in self-defense? ; What are the risks and benefits of keeping a firearm in the home for protection? ; Do burglars avoid neighborhoods where residents keep guns in the home? ; How many people are licensed to carry a gun? ; What is it like to carry a concealed gun? ; Does society benefit if more civilians carry concealed weapons? ; Do Americans believe that guns make us safer? ; Do Americans believe that guns make our democracy stronger? ; Do guns protect against tyranny, even genocide? -- 3. The costs of gun violence. How many Americans are killed or injured by gunfire? ; Is gun violence rising or falling in America? ; Why are attacks with guns of any more concern than attacks with other weapons? ; Does the availability of a firearm increase the risk of suicide? ; Who is a risk for being shot? ; How has gun violence touched national political life? ; What is a mass shooting? ; Are US mass shootings increasing? ; What are the worst mass shootings in history? ; Are there common elements in mass shootings? ; Does the United States have more crime than other countries? ; How much does gun violence cost America? -- 4. Causes of gun violence. Who can be trusted with a gun? ; Do more guns cause more crime, or less? ; Is gun violence closely linked to other types of violence? ; What do Israel and Switzerland teach us about the importance of gun ownership as a cause of gun violence? ; Do cultural differences help account for differences in levels of gun violence? ; Do the media contribute to gun violence in America? ; What about violent TV and movies? ; What about copycat crimes? ; What about violent video games? ; What do we know about the connection between mental health and gun violence? --