I am writing a paper and need help

[SimplyChad]

Im currently writing a paper for my english class about how gun control really doesnt work and in most cases makes things much worse. I need titles or authors to look up as the database my school uses doesnt seem to be able to pull up any pro RKBA lit. If I use a title tho or a source it seems to find them easily tho. Any one want to help me out?

 

[cstarr3]

A good summary

In his book "Intellectuals and Society," Thomas Sowell goes over gun control fairly well, though not in depth. He will likely cite his works in the notes. It is not in itself a good source, but it is a good place to find sources.

 

[HKGuns]

This ought to be a wealth of information for you son. Sourced and everything for you. If you want to learn more about the Constitution and how it was formed look for a book titled "Origins of the Bill of Rights" written by Leonard W. Levy, professor of law at Harvard.

Click Here

 

[Shadow 7D]

Accept you will lose a letter grade

Writing against the teacher's (opinions)
will lose you a letter grade (they have done studies, you will be graded MUCH harder) So, double check and make sure you express BOTH sides, and logically (with cited source material) show why you believe that point to be wrong.

 

[Shadow 7D]

BTW, PRO gun studies don't get funded much, however, (and I don't have them off the top of my head) there are a number of 'neutral' some of which started off anti, researchers out there, but I can't pull a name for you right now, and no, it's not the guy who wrote more guns less crime.

general assumptions: anything by CDC National Institutes of health or published by a medical org will be anti, you CAN find good research out of criminology/criminal justice and forensics, however many are TIGHTLY focused and may or may not express an obvious bent.

Sociology also has some good studies BUT tend to anti, stay away from anything 'social worker'

 

[skeptical_in_Ohio]

From the Boston Globe (behind a paywall but the library should have access to the full article)-

Crime soared with Mass. gun law

Another from the Boston Globe (again behind a paywall but again the library should have access to the full article)

Gun-related crimes on the rise in Massachusetts

Also, if you Google John Lott, you should find some good stuff.

Hope these help.

 

[Akita1]

Various sources you can compare & contrast:

More Guns Less Crime by John R. Lott, Jr.

http://ivn.us/2012/07/23/doj-study-fails-show-1994-assault-weapons-ban-worked/

http://www.sas.upenn.edu/jerrylee/research/aw_final2004.pdf

https://www.ncjrs.gov/txtfiles1/173405.txt

Also, stratify the stats on FBI.gov yourself and draw your own original opinions on what the numbers say. Original thought will always get you points!

 

[SDC]

Another one you might want to look up is "The Samurai, the Mountie,and the Cowboy", which includes cross-country comparisons.

 

[stumpers]

Don't do it!

Seriously though, I wrote a short paper for my college English class in which I made a very clear argument about Second Amendment interpretation as it pertains to individuals in the greater scope of individual rights in the Bill of Rights.

Long story short, the anti-gun professor didn't like it. Gave me a C. I had two professors from another department grade the paper as they would for their political science courses - 'A' and 'A-' ...

By the time I met with the English professor again, one of the other professors actually emailed the English professor and told her to ... be more ethical, to put it nicely.

If you're going to do it, do it well and be prepared to defend it.

 

[miller.lyte]

I already did some dirty work for you. I am doing a similar paper except it's much more technical and has to include peer-reviewed articles that have done certain types of studies where validity threats have at least somewhat been adjusted for - aka, "better" articles. Couldn't find much other than anti articles on my school's library either. Here is what I have found. Search Google Scholar for the following.

Easing Concealed Firearms Laws: Effects on Homicide in Three States
David McDowall, Colin Loftin and Brian Wiersema
This one is an ok study. They have more validity threats than the other two, and their conclusion was that more guns = not really much of a difference in crime overall, despite what a lot of antis seemed to think.

Armed and Considered Dangerous
James D. Wright
Still reading this one, but it was a study done on about 2000 convicted felons across the US who were given a questionnaire about their encounters with armed citizens and how it turned out for them (or their friends). Interesting results.

Of course John Lott and David Mustard's famous study as posted above. I actually found their research methodology to be more complete than the others I have read so far. edit. Wait I'm confused - I think I'm talking about another study of theirs called Crime Deterrence and Right to Carry Concealed Handguns. That one is also good to check out including More Guns Less Crime.

Another dude who you should look at is Gary Kleck. He's written a few good studies (I haven't read them all) on guns with good response rates and methodology as well.

Also interesting to note, using the census bureau and UCR, there's a trend between the three highest ccw states (excluding nonres permit states) and lower violent crime rates than Illinois, despite having similar populations. Just an observation.

A lot of english professors are liberal... you want the most solid studies you can get. At least in my field (crim justice) I am lucky enough to have professors who are largely pro-gun lol. Makes you wonder... Good luck.

 

[mortablunt]

John Lott: More Guns Less Crime.
http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp