Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis

by Daniel W. Webster (Editor), Jon S. Vernick (Editor), Michael R. Bloomberg (Foreword by)

Overview

Outstanding Academic Title, Choice Magazine

The staggering toll of gun violence—which claims 31,000 U.S. lives each year—is an urgent public health issue that demands an effective evidence-based policy response.

The Johns Hopkins University convened more than 20 of the world's leading experts on gun violence and policy to summarize relevant research and recommend policies that are both constitutional and have broad public support. Collected for the first time in one volume, this reliable, empirical research and legal analysis will help lawmakers, opinion leaders, and concerned citizens identify policy changes to address mass shootings, along with the less-publicized gun violence that takes an average of 80 lives every day.

Selected recommendations include:

• Background checks: Establish a universal background check system for all persons purchasing a firearm from any seller.
• High-risk individuals: Expand the set of conditions that disqualify an individual from legally purchasing a firearm.
• Mental health: Focus federal restrictions on gun purchases by persons with serious mental illness on the dangerousness of the individual.
• Trafficking and dealer licensing: Appoint a permanent director to ATF and provide the agency with the authority to develop a range of sanctions for gun dealers who violate gun sales or other laws.
• Personalized guns: Provide financial incentives to states to mandate childproof or personalized guns.
• Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines: Ban the future sale of assault weapons and the future sale and possession of large-capacity ammunition magazines.
• Research funds: Provide adequate federal funds to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institutes of Health, and National Institute of Justice for research into the causes and solutions of gun violence.

The book includes an analysis of the constitutionality of many recommended policies and data from a national public opinion poll that reflects support among the majority of Americans—including gun owners—for stronger gun policies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781421411101
Publisher:	Johns Hopkins University Press
Publication date:	01/28/2013
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 1.00(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Daniel W. Webster, ScD, MPH, is a professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he serves as director of the Center for Gun Policy and Research, deputy director of Research for the Center for the Prevention of Youth Violence, and director of the PhD program in health and public policy.

Jon S. Vernick, JD, MPH, is an associate professor of health policy and management at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research.

Table of Contents

Foreword Michael R. Bloomberg xi

Preface Ronald J. Daniels Michael J. Klag xix

Acknowledgments xxi

Introduction Daniel W. Webster Jon S. Vernick xxv

Part I Gun Policy Lessons from the United States: Keeping Guns from High-Risk Individuals

1 Firearms and Violent Death in the United States Matthew Miller Deborah Azrael David Hemenway 3

2 The Limited Impact of the Brady Act: Evaluation and Implications Philip J. Cook Jens Ludwig 21

3 Preventing Gun Violence Involving People with Serious Mental Illness Jeffrey W. Swanson Allison Gilbert Robertson Linda K. Frisman Michael A. Norko Hsiu-Ju Lin Marvin S. Swartz Philip J. Cook 33

4 Evidence for Optimism: Policies to Limit Batterers' Access to Guns April M. Zeoli Shannon Frattaroli 53

5 Reconsidering the Adequacy of Current Conditions on Legal Firearm Ownership Katherine A. Vittes Daniel W. Webster Jon S. Vernick 65

6 Broadening Denial Criteria for the Purchase and Possession of Firearms: Need, Feasibility, and Effectiveness Garen J. Wintemute 77

7 Comprehensive Background Checks for Firearm Sales: Evidence from Gun Shows Garen J. Wintemute 95

8 Preventing the Diversion of Guns to Criminals through Effective Firearm Sales Laws Daniel W. Webster Jon S. Vernick Emma E. McGinty Ted Alcorn 109

9 Spurring Responsible Firearms Sales Practices through Litigation: The Impact of New York City's Lawsuits against Gun Dealers on Interstate Gun Trafficking Daniel W. Webster Jon S. Vernick 123

10 Curtailing Dangerous Sales Practices by Licensed Firearm Dealers: Legal Opportunities and Obstacles Jon S. Vernick Daniel W. Webster 133

Part II Making Gun Laws Enforceable

11 Enforcing Federal Laws against Firearms Traffickers: Raising Operational Effectiveness by Lowering Enforcement Obstacles Anthony A. Braga Peter L. Gagliardi 143

Part III Gun Policy Lessons from the United States: High-Risk Guns

12 America's Experience with the Federal Assault Weapons Ban, 1994-2004: Key Findings and Implications Christopher S. Koper 157

13 Personalized Guns: Using Technology to Save Lives Stephen P. Teret Adam D. Mernit 173

Part IV International Case Studies of Responses to Gun Violence

14 Gun Control in Great Britain after the Dunblane Shootings Michael J. North 185

15 Rational Firearm Regulation: Evidence-based Gun Laws in Australia Rebecca Peters 195

16 The Big Melt: How One Democracy Changed after Scrapping a Third of Its Firearms Philip Alpers 205

17 Brazil: Gun Control and Homicide Reduction Antonio Rangel Bandeira 213

Part V Second Amendment

18 The Scope of Regulatory Authority under the Second Amendment Lawrence E. Rosenthal Adam Winkler 225

Part VI Public Opinion on Gun Policy

19 Public Opinion on Proposals to Strengthen U.S. Gun Laws: Findings from a 2013 Survey Emma E. McGinty Daniel W. Webster Jon S. Vernick Colleen L. Barry 239

Consensus Recommendations for Reforms to Federal Gun Policies 259

Biographies of Contributors 263

Index 275

What People are Saying About This

From the Foreword by Michael R. Bloomberg

The rate of firearms homicides in America is 20 times higher than it is in other economically advanced nations. We have got to change that.

From the Publisher

The rate of firearms homicides in America is 20 times higher than it is in other economically advanced nations. We have got to change that.
—From the Foreword by Michael R. Bloomberg, Mayor of New York City

Gun violence is a public health issue. It's about the health of our children, our schools, our neighborhoods, our communities, our cities and towns. Perhaps there is no way to completely prevent the next tragedy, but that cannot be an excuse that keeps us from doing commonsense things such as preventing violent crime, locking up bad guys, and keeping assault weapons from falling into the hands of disturbed people who are a danger to others. This isn't about ideology. It's about dignity.
—Martin O'Malley, Governor of Maryland

Martin O'Malley

Gun violence is a public health issue. It's about the health of our children, our schools, our neighborhoods, our communities, our cities and towns. Perhaps there is no way to completely prevent the next tragedy, but that cannot be an excuse that keeps us from doing commonsense things such as preventing violent crime, locking up bad guys, and keeping assault weapons from falling into the hands of disturbed people who are a danger to others. This isn't about ideology. It's about dignity.

Editorial Reviews

A masterful, timely, data-driven edited volume on gun control policy options in the U.S. The contributors use a public health lens to examine gun violence and explore issues ranging from mental health concerns to suicide. . . . The strength of this book is the mixed-method approach in compiling information on many policy options related to gun control, which utilizes case studies and quantitative evidence to make the case for policy change. . . . The contributors are optimistic and lay out concrete policy options in ways that are both sophisticated and easily accessible to all.
—Choice

An anthology of studies, condensing and summarizing the actual state of our knowledge about the subject of gun violence in this country—what real, tested social science shows.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker

Surprisingly accessible and startlingly grim. Thankfully, the editors have done an excellent job organizing the material, which moves from current policy shortcomings to proposals for federal reforms. The debate that's raging might leave you feeling hopeless, which this book suggests otherwise.
—John Lewis, Baltimore Magazine

This is a 'must' for any concerned about gun control.
—Midwest Book Review

We’ve all heard the saying that when arguing we should ‘disagree without being disagreeable’ but, when it comes to guns, we often find ourselves disagreeing without actually disagreeing. Most Americans believe in some kinds of gun control. Most Americans recognize the ‘right to bear arms’. Most agree that expanded background checks can be useful in keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous or irresponsible people. Considering that there is so much agreement on basic policy, what the gun debate desperately needs is sober clear-headed analysis. Reducing Gun Violence in America edited by Daniel Webster contributes greatly to this need.
—Shawn Hamilton, New Books in Public Policy

From the Publisher

We’ve all heard the saying that when arguing we should ‘disagree without being disagreeable’ but, when it comes to guns, we often find ourselves disagreeing without actually disagreeing. Most Americans believe in some kinds of gun control. Most Americans recognize the ‘right to bear arms’. Most agree that expanded background checks can be useful in keeping guns out of the hands of dangerous or irresponsible people. Considering that there is so much agreement on basic policy, what the gun debate desperately needs is sober clear-headed analysis. Reducing Gun Violence in America edited by Daniel Webster contributes greatly to this need.

New Books in Public Policy - Shawn Hamilton

This is a 'must' for any concerned about gun control.

Midwest Book Review

A masterful, timely, data-driven edited volume on gun control policy options in the U.S. The contributors use a public health lens to examine gun violence and explore issues ranging from mental health concerns to suicide. . . . The strength of this book is the mixed-method approach in compiling information on many policy options related to gun control, which utilizes case studies and quantitative evidence to make the case for policy change. . . . The contributors are optimistic and lay out concrete policy options in ways that are both sophisticated and easily accessible to all.

Choice

An anthology of studies, condensing and summarizing the actual state of our knowledge about the subject of gun violence in this country—what real, tested social science shows.

New Yorker - Adam Gopnik

Surprisingly accessible and startlingly grim. Thankfully, the editors have done an excellent job organizing the material, which moves from current policy shortcomings to proposals for federal reforms. The debate that's raging might leave you feeling hopeless, which this book suggests otherwise.

Baltimore Magazine - John Lewis

Crisp diction and a measured, even pace characterize Traber Burns's presentation of this well-organized and timely collection of studies and essays from a recent conference at the Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy. The text contains a wealth of information from American and international sources and case studies that explore this volatile and contentious topic. Burns's variations in pitch and cadence move the listener through the mix of narrative and statistical passages, with the sections of case studies moving particularly well. Major shortcomings are encountered with lengthy statistical passages and references to visual aids that are unavailable to the listener. Despite a talented narrator's best efforts, the outcome is a prime example of those few texts that do not successfully transition from print to the audio format. M.O.B. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

DECEMBER 2013 - AudioFile