Guns, Gun Control, and Elections: The Politics and Policy of Firearms

(Paperback)

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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.

Reviews

Wilsons book lucidly examines the key issues surrounding the contemporary debate over gun control. His work is well grounded in the latest scholarly literature and the best available data. -- Gregg L. Carter, Ph.D., Chair of the Department of History & Social Sciences, Bryant University
Provides and excellent assessment of why the billions of dollars that have been spent have yielded so little success. -- Philip Kronebusch * Law and Politics Book Review *
Wilson strives to bring rationality and logic to an issue too often defined by hysterically emotional arguments and moral claims. Rather than a simple evaluation of various gun policies, Wilson examines the factors and factions involved in the creation of those policies, as well as the effects the policies have had on the political fortunes of the major players in the struggle. Wilson presents an evenhanded account of the issues, and places what can be an alarming and confusing collection of statistics into an easily understood context that helps the reader come to his or her own conclusions outside of the polemical 'noise' typically heard. -- Eric Primm, Pikesville College * Criminal Justice Review *
A wonderful introduction to the far-reaching significance of firearms in America. This work is a very good supplement for an Introduction to American Politics class, allowing the instructor to weave a single topic through the many elements covered during such a course. The book helps the reader understand the parameters of the issue, by exploring the current structure of gun control politics and addressing the related conflict over the presentation and interpretation of information related to guns, gun safety, and crime. The author deftly handles a powerful topic, by making sound work accessible to the reader. -- John M. Bruce, Dept of Political Science, University of Mississippi

Author Bio

Harry L. Wilson is professor and director of the Center of Community Research and Public Affairs at Roanoke College.