About this item
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. The Gun Debate: What Everyone Needs to Know® delves into the issues that Americans debate when they talk about guns. With a balanced and broad-ranging approach, noted economist Philip J. Cook and political scientist Kristin A. Goss 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 effectiveness of gun control, the connection between mental illness and violent crime, the question of whether more guns make us safer, and ways that video games and the media might contribute to gun violence.
About the Author
Philip J. Cook grew up on a farm outside of Buffalo, New York, the youngest of four brothers. He continued his education at the University of Michigan (class of 1968) and the University of California, Berkeley, where he experienced the challenges of studying econometrics while tear gas grenades and rocks were being lobbed outside the classroom window. His 40-year career at Duke University has provided the chance to teach and research on a variety of issues relating to public safety, health, and social policy.
