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News
- 01-02-04 Public Opinion on Major Social Issues (ABC News)
"So — does the public support abortion, gun control, homosexual rights, affirmative action? The answer is, it depends on what kind of abortion, gun control, homosexual rights or affirmative action you're talking about."
"The unfortunate answer is that life is not nearly as simple as a single number. Asking if people support or oppose abortion, or gun control, or gay rights, really tells us very little. Opinion is much more complex and nuanced than that, and it's really in the nuance that political candidates either get it right, or get it wrong."
"Take abortion. Most people say it should be legal — 57 percent. But legal in what circumstances? When we test them, we find a huge range — to save the life of the mother, 88 percent, but to end an unwanted pregnancy, just 42 percent (and the latter is why most abortions are done). The fact is that most people think abortion is a private matter, and should be generally available, but most also think it's deeply objectionable, and as such shouldn't be done casually or as a mere convenience."
"As the campaign progresses, there'll be much debate on these and other issues, and a world of spin on where the public stands on them. We'll all be well served by good, independent efforts to understand the range and depth of public opinion — and by guarding against the efforts of others to distort or oversimplify it." 1-04
- 10-03-03 Study: Not Proven If Gun Laws Prevent Violence (CBS News)
"A sweeping federal review of the nation's gun control laws — including mandatory waiting periods and bans on certain weapons — found no proof such measures reduce firearm violence."
"The review was conducted by a task force of scientists appointed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention."
"The CDC said the report suggests more study is needed, not that gun laws don't work. But the agency said it has no plans to spend more money on firearms study."
"Firearms injuries were the second leading cause of injury deaths, killing 28,663 people in 2000, the most recent year for which data was available. About 58 percent of the deaths were suicides. Gun accidents claimed about 775 lives that year."
"The task force complained that many of the studies were inconsistent, too narrow, or poorly done."
“ 'When we say we don't know the effect of a law, we don't mean it has no effect. We mean we don't know,' said Dr. Jonathan Fielding, chairman of the CDC task force. 'We are calling for additional high-quality studies.' ” 10-03
- Gun Control Law News and Facts (Jurist)
Provides news on court cases related to gun control, as well as basic facts and statistics related to gun control laws. 6-01.
- President of the NRA Announces Illness (Chicago Tribune - Tong)
Charleton Heston, President of the National Rifle Association, announced that he has symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and will be retiring in April of 2003. " 'I'm confident about the future of America. I believe in you. I know that the future of our country, our culture and our children is in good hands,' Heston said. 'I know you will continue to meet adversity with strength and resilience as our ancestors did and come through with flying colors -- the ones on Old Glory.' "
"Some 4 million Americans have the neurological disorder, which destroys brain cells and causes memory loss. Alzheimer's patients eventually need 24-hour care and usually live eight to 10 years after diagnosis." 8-02
Papers
- A Summary of the Gun Control Debate (Awesome Library)
 Provides a summary of key positions on the debate regarding gun control. Also provides comments from the Editor. 5-00.
- Arguments Against Licensing Gun Owners or Registering Guns (National Rifle Association)
Provides reasons why the National Rifle Association (NRA) is opposed to licensing, registering, limiting access to, or controlling the use of guns by government. The NRA uses New York City and Great Britain as examples of why restrictions are bad. Editor's Note - The document claims that registering and licensing gun owners and firearms does not result in "any tangible anti-crime benefit." The student is encouraged to explore the resources below on this Web page and compare the firearms laws in each state with the number of deaths of children from firearms in that state to see if this is true. The student can also compare the number of deaths of children by guns in the USA with the number of deaths in Great Britain, which has strong restrictions on guns. 8-01.
- Bullet Fingerprinting Effective According to Experts (NewsDay - Fireman)
"Despite [White House Press Secretary Ari] Fleischer's comments, a recent ATF study dismissed questions about the accuracy of ballistic fingerprinting as unfounded. The study was a response to criticisms of an existing federal database limited to weapons used in crimes." "The study said markings placed on bullets 'have been shown to be consistent through hundreds or thousands of firings" and that attempts to alter the imprint were exceptionally rare.' " " 'One of the senior ATF firearms examiners collaborating on this report has seen only two cases of altered firearms over the course of a 15-year career, and in one of those cases, the diversion was unsuccessful, as the evidence could still be matched to the firearm despite the alteration," the study said.' " 8-02
- Canada Requires All to Register Firearms (CBC)
"On January 1, 2001, the toughest gun controls ever legislated in Canada became the law of the land. Now every gun-owner in Canada must be licensed to buy firearms and ammunition. " 12-02
- Checking for Gun Eligibility (FBI - National Instant Criminal Backgound Check System)
Describes the provisions of the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act) of 1994, requiring criminal background checks for individuals applying to purchase a gun. 6-01.
- Children's Deaths from Firearms in the USA (National Rifle Association)
The National Rifle Association (NRA) provides statistics on children under the age of 15 who have died from gun wounds. Editor's Note - The NRA does not count deaths for persons 15 - 19 years old in their statistics because the NRA does not regard persons of those ages to be children. Other studies, however, have included persons below the age of 19 in statistics for children and have therefore given different results. The National Rifle Association is in favor of the availability of guns.
- Children's Deaths from Guns in the USA Compared to Other Countries (Center to Prevent Handgun Violence)
Claims that "the rate of firearm death of children 0-14 years old is nearly twelve times higher in the U.S. than in 25 other industrialized nations combined." Editor's Note - The Center to Prevent Handgun Violence is strongly in favor of restrictions on guns. They did not provide the sources for their information. 7-00.
- Deaths By Country, With and Without Firearms (GunCite)
Provides a comparison of total violent deaths (homicide and suicide) by country, with and without firearms. GunCite is in favor of the availability of guns. A key factor, the percent of households with guns, was not available for about half of the countries.
- Deaths of Children and Teens Compared to Laws (Center to Prevent Handgun Violence)
Provides a state by state summary of the strength of laws and the number of deaths of children and teens from firearms. Editor's Note - For valid comparisons, the total number of children and teens in each state also needs to be provided. 7-00.
- Federal Laws Related to Gun Control (Brady Campaign)
Summarizes the six federal laws that relate to gun control. 2-01
- Firearms Laws - Federal Level (National Rifle Association)
Provides the key provisions of federal laws regarding handguns and other firearms. 5-00.
- Firearms Laws - State Level (National Rifle Association)
Provides the key provisions of state laws regarding handguns and other firearms. 8-01.
- Founding Fathers' Statements on Owning Guns (National Rifle Association)
Provides exerpts of statements attributed to early leaders involved in shaping the development of the U.S. Constitution. Editor's Note - The accuracy of some of the quotes has been contested by researchers from the Violence Prevention Center. 8-01.
- Gun Control Debate (MSNBC - Dateline News)
Provides coverage of the gun control controversy by reporting on the effects of guns on the lives of families who were affected by gun violence during one week in February. 3-01.
- Gun Control and the Brady Bill (The Dallas Morning News - Editorials)
Provides statistics suggesting that the Brady Bill has been effective in keeping guns away from dangerous persons, while allowing 97 percent of those applying for a gun to have one. 6-00.
- Gun Control and the Second Amendment (Christian Science Monitor - Baldauf)
Suggests that the Texas case of US v Emerson may go to the Supreme Court to determine, in very clear terms, whether individuals have a right to bear arms or whether the right to bear arms is only a right of persons acting on behalf of their government. 6-00.
- Gun Laws by State (CNN)
Provides state laws related to permits, licensing, registration, prevention, possession, sale, or transfer of handguns, rifles, and shotguns to adults or children. 6-01.
- Guns and Children (American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry)
Provides basic suggestions. 1-04
- Gunshot Wounds Cost Taxpayers $2.3 Billion/Year (applesforhealth)
A new study says gunshot wounds cost Americans $2.3 billion each year to treat, and taxpayers are footing about half the bill. 08-13-99.
- Handguns - Voting Records of Legislators (Center to Prevent Handgun Violence)
Provides voting records of the U.S. Congress (House and Senate) on key legislation to limit access to handguns or to require safety features to be included. Also provides a listing of pending legislation before the U.S. Congress. Provided in PDF format. 5-00.
- Issues and Essays on Gun Control (Brady Campaign)
Provides essays and facts in favor of licensing, registering, limiting access to, or controlling the use of guns by government. 6-01.
- Limits on Gun Records Proposed (CBS News)
Describes a proposal by Attorney General John Ashcroft to limit the amount of time that quick check records can be kept to determine if a person is eligible to purchase a gun. The proposal would implement an action that Ashcroft proposed as a Senator to amend the Brady bill. (His amendment was defeated in the Senate.) Ashcroft also proposed procedures to make the instant background checks more complete. Provides statistics on the effects of the Brady bill. 6-01.
- Poll - Gallop Poll on Gun Control (Gallop)
Provides the results of a study on attitudes toward gun control and the National Rifle Association. 5-00.
- Presidential Candidates - Bush (AOL)
Provides George W. Bush's position on gun control. 10-00.
- Presidential Candidates - Gore (AOL)
Provides Al Gore's position on gun control. 10-00.
- Right to Bear Arms - Second and Fourteenth Amendments (2ndlawlib.org - U.S. Senate)
Provides a review of law and interpretation of the U.S. Constitution regarding the Right to Keep and Bear Arms. 6-01.
- Right to Bear Arms - Second and Fourteenth Amendments (2ndlawlib.org - Weatherup)
Argues that neither the 14th Amendment nor the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution provides the right for individuals to keep and bear arms for self-defense. Weatherup states that "the Second Amendment does not provide a right that could be interpreted as being incorporated into the Fourteenth Amendment. It was designed solely to protect the states against the general government, not to create a personal right which either state or federal authorities are bound to respect." 6-01.
- School Safety (National Rifle Association)
Provides an essay with statistics supporting the position that schools are relatively safe from gun related violence. 8-01.
- Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Guns (Brady Campaign)
The Brady Campaign, formerly named "Center to Prevent Handgun Violence," is in favor of licensing, registering, limiting access to, or controlling the use of guns by government. 6-01.
- Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Guns (United States Constitution)
"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed." 5-00.
- Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Guns - Court Rulings (ACLU)
The ACLU is neutral about licensing, registering, limiting access to, or controlling the use of guns by government . However, the ACLI argues that the Supreme Court has ruled that the Constitution does not guarantee an individual the right to bear arms, except for militia purposes to protect the state. "Most opponents of gun control concede that the Second Amendment certainly does not guarantee an individual's right to own bazookas, missiles or nuclear warheads. Yet these, like rifles, pistols and even submachine guns, are arms. The question therefore is not whether to restrict arms ownership, but how much to restrict it. If that is a question left open by the Constitution, then it is a question for Congress to decide." 11-00.
- Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Guns - Court Rulings (National Rifle Association)
The National Rifle Association (NRA) opposes licensing, registering, limiting access to, or controlling the use of guns by government . The NRA affirms one conclusion from their opposition regarding a key Court case. "United States v. Miller, reaffirmed that a firearm, in order to be constitutionally protected, must have a militia-type purpose." However, the NRA cites court cases to argue that individuals, not just states, have the constitutional right to keep and bear arms as long as it is for militia-type use. 5-00.
- Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Guns - U.S. v Emerson (Brady Center)
Mentions the case of U.S. v Emerson and points out that Emerson lost his case regarding a Constitutional right to bear arms. Two of the appellate judges gave a non-binding opinion that an individual has a right to bear arms. The Brady Center points out that no other federal appellate court or the U.S. Supreme Court upholds such a right. 10-01.
- Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Guns - U.S. v Emerson (National Rifle Association)
Mentions the case of U.S. v Emerson and points out that, despite the fact that Emerson lost, appellate judges gave an opinion that an individual has a right to bear arms. 10-01.
- Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Guns - U.S. v. Miller (FindLaw)
Provides a summary of the findings of U.S. v. Miller and concludes that it is unclear whether an "individual" or a "group" right exists for bearing firearms. The Miller case, which is the only U.S. Supreme Court case that clearly addresses the Second Amendment, made it clear that the protection to bear arms, under the Second Amendment of the Constitution, was only for "maintenance of a militia or other such public force." 5-00.
- Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and Guns - U.S. v. Miller (Legal Information Institute)
Provides the wording of the judgment from the Supreme Court. "The Constitution, as originally adopted, granted to the Congress power -- To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress. With obvious purpose to assure the continuation and render possible the effectiveness of such forces, the declaration and guarantee of the Second Amendment were made. It must be interpreted and applied with that end in view." 5-00.
- Study Concludes That Attorney General Ashcroft Misrepresented the Second Amendment (Violence Policy Center)
Provides an analysis of Attorney General Ashcroft's new policy and statements regarding the Second Amendment in the U.S. Constitution. Finds that Ashcroft's position is "inadequately researched, weakly constructed, and hopelessly biased." The Violence Policy Center is in favor of enforcing existing federal gun control laws. 9-01
- Study Concludes That Attorney General Ashcroft Misrepresented the Second Amendment - NRA Rejects Conclusions (National Rifle Association - Halbrook)
Provides a rebuttal of an analysis by the Violence Prevention Center of Attorney General Ashcroft's new policy and statements regarding the Second Amendment in the U.S. Constitution. The VPC study finds that Ashcroft's position is "inadequately researched, weakly constructed, and hopelessly biased." The National Rifle Association is against having more federal gun control laws. 9-01
Projects
- Gun Safety for Children (PAX)
Recommends that parents ask the parents in houses where their children play if there is a gun in the house. If so, they recommend asking if the gun is unloaded and locked safely away from children. States that 40 percent of homes with children have a gun in the home. 11-01.
Research
- Gun Distributor Sued (CNN)
"In a landmark case targeting inexpensive handguns, a jury ordered a gun distributor Thursday to pay $1.2 million to the widow of a teacher gunned down by a 13-year-old student. " 11-02
- Gun Safety Programs for Children Ineffective (FutureofChildren.org)
"A new report finds that programs to train children and adolescents to stay away from guns, or behave responsibly on their own around guns, do not work. The comprehensive report from The David and Lucile Packard Foundation says that instead of trying to change youth behavior around guns, policymakers and parents should focus on keeping kids away from unsupervised contact with guns, whether at home or in the community."
"Each year, more than 20,000 children and youth under age 20 are killed or injured by firearms in the United States, according to the report—more than 3,000 killed, and more than 18,000 injured. Firearms are the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10–19, second only to motor vehicle accidents." 10-02
- Handgun Commerce in California (FutureofChildren.org)
Provides results from data gathered from records in California in 1999. "The report found that about 1% of the adults in the state purchased handguns in 1999, more than 92% of purchasers were male, the highest per-capita gun sales occurred in rural areas, and about 1% of gun purchases are denied because of background checks. The report also found that 70% of handguns sold in California were semiautomatic pistols carrying six to ten rounds or more of ammunition, and that about 5% of gun dealers accounted for more than 57% of guns sold." 10-02
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