Pablo Estrada

Arizona State University

Annotated Bibliography and Reflective Essay

April 7th, 2019

 Annotated Bibliography

Fleming, A., McLean, D. S., & Tatalovich, R. (2018). Debating Gun Control in Canada and the

United States: Divergent Policy Frames and Political Cultures. ​World Affairs​, ​181​(4),

348–371. Retrieved March 19, 2019, from

https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1177/0043820018812609.Links to an external

site.

Summary​: In this source, the author addresses the debate between whether guns should be

allowed or not. The author explains how ​Democrats support gun control policies, which they

believe will limit access to dangerous firearms, and by extension, reduce the likelihood of

becoming a victim of a mass public shooting. Whereas, republicans, on the other hand, prefer

policies that allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms (concealed or otherwise) for their own

self-defense.​ The author mentioned the fact that through a survey, Candadians are less likely to

worry about carrying a firearm whereas Americans are more likely.

Evaluation​: Reading the entire article, the author was very convincing in his approach to show

that indeed despite the mass shootings in America, Americans still want it to be there right to

carry/own or not to carry/own a firearm. Not to mention, the author also introduced the notion

that ideas presented by the government​ show that the role of rational thinking in individual

decision-making is mediated through the political culture of a nation. In other words, what we

see and hear from our government has a direct impact on our decisions. In this case, even though
the author did not favor or support gun control, he made it clear it comes down to perspective

and personal ideology.

Reflection​: All in all, this article ​ will be extremely helpful for my essay as it demonstrates the

comparison between Candadians and Americans and gun policy. All the facts and claims made

by the author were all supported by surveys, and actual statistics gathered over time thus making

my essay more credible.

Significant Quotes:

● “​One possibility is the idea, which argued that Canada is more communitarian whereas

the United States has a more competitive, individualistic, and liberal (rights-oriented)

political culture.”

● “While deference to authority has declined in Canada, as in other industrialized nations,

in many respects, Canadian values are closer to European values, with the United States

more the outlier or laggard nation.”

Lewis, J. S. (2018). The Relationship between Gun Control Strictness and Mass Murder in the

United States: A National Study 2009-2015. ​International Social Science Review,​ ​94(​ 2),

1–23. Retrieved March 19th, 2019 from

http://search.ebscohost.com.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=aph&AN=1

31932327&site=ehost-live.Links to an external site.

Summary​: The author of this ​article focused on a National Study in the U.S. from 2009-2015,

which focused on the relationship between gun control strictness and mass murder in the U.S. He

includes topics such as recent media polls which revealed that about half of the U.S. people

support implementation of stricter gun control laws. He describes this support is not surprisingly,

as such support tends to increase as the country bares witness to the horror of these shootings via

the media in the aftermath of a mass shooting.

Evaluation​: Reading this article, I found it very intriguing and a piece of great credibility. J.

Scott Lewis is an assistant professor of sociology at Penn State Harrisburg. His statements and

facts are very well organized and he explicitly mentions the fact that he, the author, is not

advocating against or for gun control. As a social scientist, he wishes to bring awareness to the

problem so that other social scientists, criminal justice experts, and policy makers can

concentrate efforts on developing prevention strategies that will work. With this in mind, it goes

to show his thoroughness and attentiveness to the reader ensuring his claims are all backed up by

evidence and well supported.

Reflection​: With this evaluation in mind, this is one genuine, credible source that I will be

utilizing to expand on this topic of gun control. All the claims made by the author were well

supported and he made offered both sides of the gun control debate adding more reason to why

his claims are reliable.

Significant Quotes:
 ● “Differences in rates of poverty, population density, and law enforcement could all

influence rates of gun violence”.

● “Furthermore, while some studies cast doubt on the idea that gun control will decrease

the number of incidences of mass murder, it might be possible to use gun legislation to

reduce the numbers of victims of mass killings.”

Kamal, R. D., & Burton, C. (2018). Policy Gridlock versus Policy Shift in Gun Politics: A

Comparative Veto Player Analysis of Gun Control Policies in the United States and

Canada. ​World Affairs,​ ​181(​ 4), 317–347. Retrieved March 19th, 2019 from

https://doi-org.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/10.1177/0043820018814356.Links to an external

site.

Summary​: In this article, Rifat Kamla and Charles Burton dive and emphasize how major events

of gun violence (mass shootings) have lead to incremental change or no federal legislative

change at all in the United States compared to how major events of gun violence have resulted in

large-scale legislative changes in Canada? The authors explore the differences involved in this

compelling changes, in which they conduct a comparative analysis of recent gun control policy

gridlock and the shift in these two countries. They concentrate on two mass shooting cases in

each country: the Columbine (1990) and Sandy Hook (2012) massacres in the United States and

the École Polytechnique Massacre (1989) and Concordia Shooting (1992) in Canada.
Evaluation​: Rifat Darina Kamal is an assistant professor in the Public Administration

Department at the University of Chittagong, Bangladesh. She received her master’s degree in

public policy from Brock University, Canada in 2017. Charles Burton is an associate professor at

Brock University specializing in comparative politics, the government and politics of China,

Canada–China relations, and human rights. He obtained a Ph.D. in 1987 from the University of

Toronto after studies at Cambridge University and Fudan University, Shanghai. With this in

mind, both authors are clearly credible and knowledgeable about this topic. They both utilized

statistics and detailed the effects of the different shootings on American and Candanian society.

Reflection​: With both authors being knowledgeable about the idea of gun policy, the

comparisons made on the mass shootings in Canada and America were well supported and

clearly backed up. They included figures and graphs to show the reader where they obtained their

evidence, which goes to show this article is very much trustworthy.

Significant Quotes:

● “Political culture, as it is shaped by gun culture in the United States, is certainly not

unimportant.”

● “Although the opinion of the NRA is not in line with that of the majority of the public,

because of its great wealth and strong, consistent organization, the NRA generally gets its

way in policy making.”

Hurd, D. (2013, May 8). The Right to Self-Defense is Deeper than Gun Control. Retrieved

March 19, 2019, retrieved from

https://www.capitalismmagazine.com/2013/05/the-right-to-self-defense-is-deeper-than-g

un-control/.

Summary​: In this article, author Dr. Michael Hurd discusses the right to self-defense goes far

beyond gun control. In other words, he emphasizes the idea that gun control is not the way to go.

The author refers back to the Cold War where people who supported the ban on nuclear weapons

believed if the U.S did not have nuclear weapons there would be no war but mentions the fact

that the Soviet Union dictatorship w​as going to have nuclear weapons no matter what. In other

words, the removal of firearms would just disarm society and firearms would one way or another

still fall in the hands of criminals.

Evaluation​: To me this article is clear, concise, and well supported. Dr. Michael Hurd, who is

also a psychotherapist makes claims which he supports with concrete evidence. He reflects back

upon history and the Cold War using this event to prove how the development of nuclear

weapons actually helped end the war.

Reflection​: All in all,​ ​this source will be serve as great help in the development of my essay. The

author voiced his opinion clearly and his claims were supported by facts from past events such as

the Cold War.

Significant Quotes:

● “Ironically, it was an escalation in development of nuclear weapons during the 1980s

which helped push the already flailing Soviet Union over the edge, and ended decades of

Cold War.”

● “Weapons will be in the hands of a bad person no matter what.”

Kenny, J. (2012, December 17). Gun-free Zones Called "Magnets for Mass Shooters". Retrieved

March 19, 2019, from

https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/13942-gun-free-zones-called-magn

ets-for-mass-shooters.

Summary​: In this article, the author talks about gun-free zones serving as invitations to mass

shootings. The author includes examples such as shopping malls, movie theaters, and schools.

He uses the examples of Sandy Hook Elementary, a gun-free zone in which a lone gunman's

shooting rampage left 20 children and six adults dead. ​Additionally, he argues that instead that

since ​gun-free zones seem to be a magnet for mass shooters, maybe officials should remove and

work to shrink and eliminate them.

Evaluation​: Jack Kenny is a journalist and writer for ​The New American,​ and has written several

articles for this organization. His thoughtfulness and thorough to put this article together more

than solidifies him as a credible source. He uses events such as Sandy Hook and Columbine

(gun-free zones) to support his claim of removing these signs.

Reflection: I find this article to credible and reliable because of the evidence showcased by the

author. He voiced his opinion against gun control and gave evidence that supported his claim. I

know using this source in my essay will make it more credible and compelling.

Reflection​: All in all, ​this source will be serve as great aid in the development of my essay. The

author voiced his opinion clearly and his claims were supported by concrete facts and concise

evidence.

Significant Quotes:

● “The climate is more than fearful, it is deadly when people are denied the means to

defend themselves and others against an armed attack.”

● "If you had a violent criminal stalking you or your family, and was really seriously

threatening you, would you feel safer putting a sign up in front of your home stating,

‘This home is a gun-free zone?’

O’Brien, K., Forrest, W., Lynott, D., & Daly, M. (2013, October 31). Racism, Gun Ownership,

and Gun Control: Biased Attitudes in US Whites May Influence Policy Decisions.

Retrieved March 19, 2019, from

https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0077552.Links to an

external site.

Summary​: In this article, the author explains how racism is related to policies preferences and

behaviors that affect blacks and appear related to a fear of blacks. The author conducts a study in
which it was examined whether racism is also related to gun ownership and opposition to gun

controls in US whites. The authors concluded that ​the results support the hypothesis by showing

that greater racism is related to increased odds of having a gun in the home and greater

opposition to gun control.

Evaluation​: I found this article by Kerry O’Brien to be very reliable and will serve as a

centerpiece for the writing. His use of statistical analysis and graphs served as great help and

support for his claims. Utilizing the most recent data from the American National Election Study

(ANES) allows for his claims to be well supported and honest.

Reflection​: All in all, this article cut to the point straight away giving me the objective,

hypothesis, and findings of the study. It was organized in a way that it was easy to read and

understand the information being given. Also, the use of tables and figures correlated, and

supported the findings very well.

Significant Quotes:

● “It is particularly noteworthy that the relationship between symbolic racism and the

gun-related outcomes was maintained in the presence of conservative ideology, political

affiliation, opposition to government control, and being from a southern state, which are

otherwise strong predictors of gun ownership and opposition to gun reform.”

● “Similarly, stronger republican identification, being from a southern state, and

anti-government sentiment were associated with opposition to gun-control policies, but not with

having a gun in the home.”

Investigative Essay

The regulation of firearms is a subject of major controversy in today's society and one

that many consider can help spare lives. Be that as it may, it is vital to recognize what weapon

control is in order to comprehend the issues on both two sides.

Firearm control is a strenuous endeavor to help stop the expansion and fierce

wrongdoings by upholding and enforcing laws. Individuals and associations in the gathering

against firearm control believe this is a huge mistake and that it is an interruption to our

constitutional. Those in support of firearm control believe that weapon control ought to be

authorized, they argue the Second Amendment does not correspond to the normal American

citizen, and that it would help decrease brutality and mass shootings as crooks will have a

troublesome time getting their hands one.

A noteworthy enemy of firearm control is The National Rifle Association (NRA). The

NRA is a national gathering committed to the safeguarding of the Second correction. As

expressed in a portion of their magazines, similar to American Hunter, they express, "The NRA

trusts that each reputable native is qualified for the ownership, proprietorship and legal

utilization of guns." The NRA, being the incredible association they are, they do numerous

things to help show their standards and influence others to side with them. This affiliation

additionally has a gigantic voice on enactment, since it has numerous activists and supporters in
government. Like Policy Gridlock versus Policy Shift in Gun Politics states, “Although the

opinion of the NRA is not in line with that of the majority of the public, because of its great

wealth and strong, consistent organization, the NRA generally gets its way in policy making.”

Subsequently, its numerous individuals in Congress, enables them to have even more leverage in

various government arrangements with respect to firearm control. Likewise, the NRA put weight

on a few sorts of enactment. For instance, their longing to repudiate the prohibition on ambush or

assault weapons. Which results in a decent measure of cash being used every year.

The Gun Owners of America is another gathering that is against weapon control. The

GOA protects and guards the privileges of weapon proprietors through enactment. They

distribute books, articles, and recordings on weapon issues and how those issues influence

individuals. They likewise direct courses for the press and Congress about issues on the Second

Amendment and firearm related topics. The GOA disagrees with bans on rapid-firing weapons,

shield penetrating ammo, and handguns.

There are additionally numerous gatherings that are expert weapon control in the United

States. The significant gathering for weapon control is Handgun Control, Inc. (HCI), which is led

by Sarah Brady and the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, which was earlier known as The

National Coalition to Ban Handguns. The CSGV trusts that handguns ought to be prohibited

totally, with a couple of special cases, for example, the military, police who need their gun for

work. To add on, according to The Relationship between Gun Control Strictness and Mass

Murder in the United States: A National Study 2009-2015 it states, "While some studies cast

doubt on the idea that gun control will decrease the number of incidences of mass murder, it

might be possible to use gun legislation to reduce the numbers of victims of mass killings.” In
other words, gun control can result in less mass shootings and violence if the correct policy is

implemented.

To conclude, it is important to note, however, that despite ​if the ban on guns was

enforced, studies have shown that it would likely fail to solve violence problems as criminals

already and will continue to obtain firearms one way or another. Criminals clearly ignore laws,

so despite it being illegal for a felon to own a firearm, criminals like these will find a way to get

their hands on one. All in all, ​it is crucial to understand both perspectives on this topic and it is

time for America to bond together, stand up for our rights, and explore new solutions such as

better mental hospital security or mental health awareness to help save lives.