Category Archives: Books

05.17.13
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Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy (2013)

Screen shot 2013-05-17 at 5.33.58 PMTITLE: Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis (2013)
URL: http://bit.ly/Z1UU99
WEB STATS: http://bit.ly/Z1UU99+
AUTHORS: Daniel W. Webster & Jon S. Vernick

FINDINGS: There’s ample empirical evidence in support of enhanced regulation & oversight of licensed gun dealers, background checks for private sales, and purchaser licensing. (2) There are compelling case studies from Australia, Scotland, & Brazil that demonstrate effective policy responses to gun violence that have led to significant reductions in gun-related deaths

01.04.10
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Reducing Gun Violence: Results from an Intervention (2010)

RANDbookTITLE: Reducing Gun Violence: Results from an Intervention in East Los Angeles (2010)
SOURCE: RAND
URL: http://bit.ly/112kTHB
WEB STATS: http://bit.ly/VF4Y3W+
AUTHORS: Tita, G., Riley, K. J., Ridgeway, G., Grammich, C. A., Abrahamse, A. F., Greenwood, P. W.
FIELD: Political Science

NOTES: Gun control works! After Operation Ceasefire launched in 1996, youth homicides fell by 2/3rds in Boston. Policy was tested for applicability by RAND researchers in East LA & found to be effective in reducing violent crime in targeted and surrounding communities.

10.19.93
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Aggression: Its Causes, Consequences, & Control (1993)

Screen shot 2013-05-17 at 5.41.06 PMTITLE: Aggression: Its Causes, Consequences, & Control (1993)
URL: http://www.amazon.com/Aggression-Consequences-Control-Patterns-Literary/dp/0070048746
AUTHOR: Leonard Berkowitz

NOTES (TONS OF DATA beyond murder): Facts involving murder in the US… most murders: (1) are the result of altercations that grew out of domestic quarrels, arguments over money, or jealousy; (2) are 1-on-1 incidents involving a single killing; (3) involve male murderers (86% of cases) and male victims (70% of cases); (4) involve young offenders & victims (bet. 20-30 years old); (5) few murders (13%) involves strangers–approximately 87% of murders involve offenders and victims who knew each other (majority of cases involve friends and/or family members, 60% of victims had a “close” relationship with their murderer; (6) involve offenders with prior arrest records involving crimes against persons; (7) involve a poor/working class offender & victim; (8) occur on on weekends, most often on Saturday; (9) involve alcohol (66% of cases). PERHAPS MOST IMPORTANTLY, (8) victims aren’t nearly as passive & subordinate as routinely believed–A substantial degree of murders involve victims who played an “active” role in initiating violence that led to their death. Those killed are often the first to brandish a weapon or use force in 25% of cases.

The self defense claim is flawed (in the sense that most murders don’t involve strangers & that 25% of murders are initiated by the aggressive actions of the victim)