The Gun Debate

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. In this thoroughly revised second edition of The Gun Debate: What Everyone Needs to Know® noted economist Philip J. Cook and political scientist Kristin A. Goss delve into the issues that Americans debate when they talk about guns. With a balanced and broad-ranging approach, the authors thoroughly cover the latest research, data, and developments on gun ownership, gun violence, the firearms industry, and the regulation of firearms. The authors also tackle sensitive issues such as the impact of gun violence on quality of life, the influence of exposure to gun violence on mental health, home production of guns, arming teachers, the effect of concealed weapons on crime rates, and the ability of authorities to disarm people who aren't allowed to have a gun. 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. Cook and Goss deftly 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, this updated edition brings the debate up-to-date for the current political climate under Trump and will help readers make sense of the ideologically driven statistics and slogans that characterize our national conversation on firearms. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in getting a clear view of the issues surrounding guns and gun policy in America.

Philip J. Cook is ITT/Terry Sanford Professor Emeritus of Public Policy Studies, Economics, and Sociology at Duke University. He is the co-author (with Jens Ludwig) of Gun Violence: The Real Costs. Kristin A. Goss is Kevin D. Gorter Associate Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University. She is the author of Disarmed: The Missing Movement for Gun Control in America.

- Introduction - 1. America and Its Guns - 2. Reasons for Owning a Firearm - 3. The Value of Guns for Safety and Protection - 4. The Costs of Gun Violence - 5. Causes of Gun Violence - 6. Manufacture and Marketing of Guns - 7. How America Regulates Firearms - 8. Effectiveness of Firearms Policy - 9. Guns and Gun Control in History - 10. Public Opinion and Political Party Positions on Guns - 11. The Gun Rights Movement - 12. The Gun Control Movement - 13. Gun Policy Going Forward - Bibliography - Index