While browsing through some academic journal articles at my University I came across a interesting article:
The Effectiveness of Gun Control Laws: Multivariate Statistical Analysis
By: Ik-Whan G. Kwon; Bradley Scott; Scott R. Safranski; Muen Bae
American Journal of Economics and Sociology. Vol. 56, No. 1. (Jan.,
1997), pp. 41-50.
The authors stated that their research showed that gun control has a "mild" effect on firearm deaths while, "socioeconomic variables such as a state's poverty level, unemployment rate and alcohol consumption, have significant impact on firearm related deaths."
Moral of the story is that gun control advocates are seeking a more visible, though ineffective, solution rather than combating the difficult and less tangible economic and sociological issues at the root of violent crime.
While the researchers attribution of even "mild" effectiveness to gun control is questionable, their overall analysis is very useful in debating the issue of gun control. Rather than arguing defensively for our right to bear arms, we can instead take the offensive and critic gun control advocates for their unwillingness to pursue effective measures to curb violent crime.
I'm not advocating any of the means mentioned by the researchers (poverty, unemployment and alcohol) as they are issues which are very divisive and not appropriate discussion at the TheHighRoad.
Anyway I can't provide a link to the article since it is only available through the library database, but next time you're in a library try looking the article up. It will at least provide hard hitting ammo for arguing against gun control with your more academic minded friends and family.
The Effectiveness of Gun Control Laws: Multivariate Statistical Analysis
By: Ik-Whan G. Kwon; Bradley Scott; Scott R. Safranski; Muen Bae
American Journal of Economics and Sociology. Vol. 56, No. 1. (Jan.,
1997), pp. 41-50.
The authors stated that their research showed that gun control has a "mild" effect on firearm deaths while, "socioeconomic variables such as a state's poverty level, unemployment rate and alcohol consumption, have significant impact on firearm related deaths."
Moral of the story is that gun control advocates are seeking a more visible, though ineffective, solution rather than combating the difficult and less tangible economic and sociological issues at the root of violent crime.
While the researchers attribution of even "mild" effectiveness to gun control is questionable, their overall analysis is very useful in debating the issue of gun control. Rather than arguing defensively for our right to bear arms, we can instead take the offensive and critic gun control advocates for their unwillingness to pursue effective measures to curb violent crime.
I'm not advocating any of the means mentioned by the researchers (poverty, unemployment and alcohol) as they are issues which are very divisive and not appropriate discussion at the TheHighRoad.
Anyway I can't provide a link to the article since it is only available through the library database, but next time you're in a library try looking the article up. It will at least provide hard hitting ammo for arguing against gun control with your more academic minded friends and family.
