Gun Violence Annual Cost: $12 billion (2013)

TITLE: Gun Violence Annual Cost: $12 billion (2013)
SOURCE: USA Today
AUTHOR:  Kelly Kennedy
LINK: http://www.freep.com/article/20130305/FEATURES01/130305010/Gun-violence-annual-cost-12-billion
BITLY WEB STATS: https://bitly.com/10FhJJO+

NOTE: Gunshot wounds and deaths cost Americans at least $12 billion a year in court proceedings, insurance costs and hospitalizations paid for by government health programs; (2) medical care for a fatal shooting averages >$28K

Let’s Repeal the Second Amendment (2013)

TITLE: Let’s Repeal the Second Amendment (2013)
SOURCE: Vanity Fair
AUTHOR(s): Kurt Eichenwald (Wikipedia bio)
URL: http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2013/01/kurt-eichenwald-lets-repeal-second-amendment
BITLY STATS: http://vnty.fr/X3C1x7+
FIELD: Editorial, with references

FINDINGS: 2nd Amendment is a mess grammatically & interpretively through history. “Well Regulated” = “Well Trained”; “Militia” = “Military Group”; State = The individual States, specific subsets of people were, are, & should be denied the right (e.g. mentally ill), thus should be repealed. History of NRA attempts to subvert appropriate limitations of right (e.g. mentally ill). Appropriate to limit the right because times change: e.g. free speech has been limited by regulations on who can use which broadcast frequencies. So, evolution of weaponry creates a state interest in regulation. Proposed replacement amendment: “The people retain the right to keep & bear arms, subject to reasonable restrictions deemed necessary by the Congress & the President to secure the lives & well being of others.” To make this practical, he proposes Liability Insurance for gun owners.

NOTES: List of many mass shootings back to 1984; Supports right to bear arms but advocates repeal/replacement of 2nd amendment; different versions of amendment passed by States vs. Congress; review of SCOTUS opinions; some constitutional analysis/analogy.

TWEETS: https://twitter.com/hospiceman/status/304651020917686272

A Market Driven Solution to Counter the Proliferation of Gun Violence (2012)

TITLE: A Market Driven Solution to Counter the Proliferation of Gun Violence (2012)
SOURCE: Good Men Project
LINK: http://ht.ly/1QBtah
AUTHOR(s): Mark Greene

NOTES: Outlines rationale for requiring liability insurance for gun owners. Similar to auto insurance, rate would vary based on type of gun, age of owner, etc. Shifts burden of “regulation” & background checks to insurance industry, which is very good at risk analysis, & more efficient than government.

TWEETS: https://twitter.com/hospiceman/status/304686205826633728

Non-Gun Owners Taxed $5 Billion Annually For Gun Owners Hobby (2012)

TITLE: Non-Gun Owners Taxed $5 Billion Annually For Gun Owners Hobby (2012)
SOURCE: National Gun Victims Action Council (NGVAC)
URL: http://gunvictimsaction.org/blog/2012/10/gun-fact-5-non-gun-owners-taxed-5-billion-annually-for-gun-owners-hobby/
BITLY STATS: http://bit.ly/UOHg5N+

RESEARCH QUESTION: What is the cost to society of gun violence?

FINDINGS: Uses data on costs of responding to gun violence to argue that cost should be born by gun owners. Analogizes auto insurance: societal costs of accidents, regulations, etc. borne by auto owners via insurance.
TWEETS: https://twitter.com/hospiceman/status/304691135757041667