Includes bibliographical references (p. 242-244) and index.

pt. 1. How serious is the problem of gun violence? -- Gun violence is a serious problem / Andrew Goddard -- The link between gun ownership and gun violence is flawed / Jacob Deakins -- The flow of U.S. guns fuels gun violence in Mexico / Tom Diaz -- The percentage of U.S. guns used in Mexican gun violence is exaggerated / William P. Hoar -- The availability of guns increases the risk of suicide / Matthew Miller and David Hemenway -- The availability of guns does not increase suicide rates / Don B. Kates -- Gun violence poses a serious threat to children / Marian Wright Edelman -- Gun safety programs reduce the threat of fatal firearm accidents among children / National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action -- pt. 2. What factors contribute to gun violence? -- The availability of guns increases gun violence / Bob Herbert -- Making guns less available does not reduce gun violence / John R. Lott Jr. -- Pro-gun organization policies promote gun violence / John E. Rosenthal -- Gun violence is a symptom of other social problems / Courtland Milloy -- Hate and extremist groups encourage gun violence / Astrid Dorélien, Michael Miller, and Peter Brody -- Popular culture promotes gun violence / Dariusz Dziewanski -- American's violent culture advances gun violence / Andrew Stephen -- pt. 3. Do private gun ownership policies reduce gun violence? -- Laws controlling private gun ownership will reduce gun violence / Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence -- Laws controlling private gun ownership reduce its deterrent effect on gun crime / Robert A. Levy -- College campuses are safer without concealed weapons / Students for Gun Free Schools -- College campuses are less safe without concealed weapons / Students for Concealed Carry on Campus -- Laws allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons in national parks will make visitors safer / Clair Schwan -- Allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons in national parks is dangerous / Dianne Feinstein -- pt. 4. What laws and regulations should govern guns? -- The Second Amendment guarantees the right to private gun ownership / Don B. Kates -- Judicial activism wrongly established a Second Amendment right to private gun ownership / Dennis A. Henigan -- Gun show loopholes should be closed / City of New York -- Background checks at gun shows are unnecessary / National Rifle Association-Institute for Legislative Action -- The assault weapons ban should be reinstated / Delaware County Daily Times -- The assault weapons ban should not be reinstated / Steven Warrick.