The recent sharp rise in school shootings in the United States has kept the gun control debate going. However, for many people, it is an emotional topic, making much of the information that people hear in the media or from friends and family members biased in one way or another. Understanding the history of gun laws in America and the realities of both sides of the issue is pivotal. Up-to-date statistics, annotated quotes from experts, and real-world examples contextualize the arguments surrounding this complex issue. This knowledge allows young adults to become informed participants in the gun control debate.

In 'THE GREAT AMERICAN GUN CONTROL DEBATE (Not!)", Mr. Wuest puts gun control under the microscope. He ferrets out the truth, separating fact from fiction. He presents not a "balanced picture", but scientific objectivity. What is important is not popular opinion, or "conventional wisdom", but the TRUTH. What works and what doesn't? What have we already done, and what should we do or do not? We have had some gun control for as much as a hundred years. Has it done any good? Has it worked to prevent crime? Has gun control become a "free ride"? Or does it cost us dearly? An engineer by profession, Mr. Wuest examines this and more using rigorous testing. Frustrated by the lack of honest debate regarding gun control, Mr. Wuest provides both sides of the arguments. The gun control side is well known; no end of print and air time have been devoted to supporting it. What is the other side, the one we never hear? Is there a downside to gun control? Find out the answers to these and other questions in "THE GREAT AMERICAN GUN CONTROL DEBATE (Not!): . Mr. Wuest provides a breath of fresh air to a stale debate. We have been stuck in a "gun control rut" for so long that it is questionable if the "truth will prevail"? Let us all hope so!

Taking the bold position that the battle over gun control has already been won by the pro-gun-rights faction, this book will be equally informative to those immersed in the debate and those new to it. Gun control evokes passions equaled by few other subjects. As this book shows, the debate over firearms begins with cultural values and extends into questions of constitutional rights, public health and safety, and politics. Examining its subject through the prism of the Sandy Hook shootings, the book looks at the influence of elected officials, the courts, interest groups, and average citizens in shaping gun-control laws. It shares poll results detailing what the public really thinks about guns and why, and it explains the various components of gun policy and policymaking to show how they come together to form the current reality. While small skirmishes about the right to bear arms will continue for some time, the author, a self-described "gun-owning academic," asserts that changing public opinion, Supreme Court decisions, dominance of gun-rights interest groups, the Democratic Party's virtual withdrawal from the discussion, and a declining violent-crime rate have formed a perfect storm, resulting in the effective end of the gun control debate. This assertion and the thoughtful examination that leads to it will be of equal interest to those engaged in the argument and those researching it for the first time.

Americans have a deeply ambivalent relationship to guns. The United States leads all nations in rates of private gun ownership, yet stories of gun tragedies frequent the news, spurring calls for tighter gun regulations. The debate tends to be acrimonious and is frequently misinformed and illogical. The central question is the extent to which federal or state governments should regulate gun ownership and use in the interest of public safety. In this volume, David DeGrazia and Lester Hunt examine this policy question primarily from the standpoint of ethics: What would morally defensible gun policy in the United States look like? Hunt's contribution argues that the U.S. Constitution is right to frame the right to possess a firearm as a fundamental human right. The right to arms is in this way like the right to free speech. More precisely, it is like the right to own and possess a cell phone or an internet connection. A government that banned such weapons would be violating the right of citizens to protect themselves. This is a function that governments do not perform: warding off attacks is not the same thing as punishing perpetrators after an attack has happened. Self-protection is a function that citizens must carry out themselves, either by taking passive steps (such as better locks on one's doors) or active ones (such as acquiring a gun and learning to use it safely and effectively). DeGrazia's contribution features a discussion of the Supreme Court cases asserting a constitutional right to bear arms, an analysis of moral rights, and a critique of the strongest arguments for a moral right to private gun ownership. He follows with both a consequentialist case and a rights-based case for moderately extensive gun control, before discussing gun politics and advancing policy suggestions. In debating this important topic, the authors elevate the quality of discussion from the levels that usually prevail in the public arena. DeGrazia and Hunt work in the discipline of academic philosophy, which prizes intellectual honesty, respect for opposing views, command of relevant facts, and rigorous reasoning. They bring the advantages of philosophical analysis to this highly-charged issue in the service of illuminating the strongest possible cases for and against (relatively extensive) gun regulations and whatever common ground may exist between these positions.

"Thought provoking, should help bring balance and accuracy to the debate". -- Booklist

Both the history of the gun control debate, as well as the focus the debate will take in the future, are explored in this unique collection of over 200 documents spanning 200 years. High school and undergraduate students can use this resource—one of the largest collections of key documents concerning the issue of gun control—to explore the seminal arguments for and against further restrictions on guns. Each document is preceded by an explanatory head note to aid the student researcher in understanding and appraising the primary source. An advisory board of distinguished specialists and teachers on both sides of the debate assisted Bijlefeld with the selection of documents. All aspects of the debate are examined, including the history and development of the Second Amendment and its modern interpretations, as well as the political climate surrounding the debate. Users can investigate explanations of federal and state gun control measures, how they are passed into law, and gun control's role in today's political debates. Examining the future of the debate, Bijlefeld provides documents that explore the developing legal theories, the increased attention by criminologists, and the role played by the public health and law enforcement communities. The volume serves as a comprehensive source of key documents as well as a guide to additional sources covering specific topics.

This book is an exploration of the gun control debate. The pros and cons of the gun control controversy are examined. The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution is reviewed. Gun Violence Statistics are discussed. The Gun Control Policies of other nations are discussed. The crime rate is observed. The validity of the argument for owning guns for self-defense is questioned.

Gun-related violence remains an intractable problem despite a decline in the past decade. Some believe the solution lies in stricter gun control laws while others think these measures would be ineffective or counter-productive. Guns, Gun Control, and Elections examines current gun control policy and explains how it was adopted by discussing the roles and interactions of elected officials, interest groups, political parties, and the public. Original research on media coverage and public opinion as well as a chapter on state policy (Virginia) make the book both informative and accessible. The book focuses on the utility of gun policy, and its discussion of policy impact is grounded in real-world politics. Wilson also highlights the importance of gun control in the Presidential elections of 2000 and 2004 as well as in some U.S. Senate and statewide campaigns.

Gun Control. That single phrase is enough to spark a passionate debate from either side. It’s hard to form a view one way or another when there is so much heated opinion for or against it. The ViewCaps Pros and Cons series takes a step back and looks at the issue objectively. It lays out only the facts and let’s you decide what opinion to take. ViewCaps is an imprint of BookCaps™ Study Guides. With each book, a issue is objectively analyzed. We publish a wide array of topics (from baseball and music to science and philosophy), so check our growing catalogue regularly to see our newest books.

First Published in 1993. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.