Kate Lionel

Instructor Eileen Morris

Political Science 155

12 April 2018

​My specific policy subtopic within gun control policies is the problem of gun violence.

Annotated Reference List

1. GQ Researcher (1)

Mantel, B. (2013, March 8). Gun control. ​CQ Researcher​, ​23​, 233-256. Retrieved from
http://library.cqpress.com/.

Barbara Mantel takes a deeper look into gun control laws and the varying opinions surrounding
their implementation. She specifically examines what others have to say about assault weapon bans,
background checks, and carry and conceal gun laws. When it comes to assault weapon bans the crime
rates seem to be untouched. However, a small reduction of shootings is seen because offenders are
forced to turning to less lethal weapons and magazines.

Constitution (p. 40), A document that defines and creates a people politically, sets out of the
fundamental principles of governance, and creates the rules and institutions through which
people choose to self-govern.

Mantel discloses Virginia attorney Stephen Halbrooks argument in disfavor of an assault

weapons ban. Halbrooks asserts that it is unconstitutional to infringe on the rights of law abiding
citizens when protected by the second amendment.

Interest Groups (p. G5), voluntary associations of people who come together with an
agreed-upon set of political and policy objectives and who attempt to pull the levers of political
power in service of these defined goals.

Mantel highlights the National Rifle Association's loud voice in the gun control debate. They have
made numerous comments opposing all gun-control proposals.

Mantel looks at the interest group, the NRA, and their views on applying certain gun control laws.
As well as actions taken by California Senator Dianne Feinstein. Feinstein introduced a ban on assault
weapons and large magazines, holding more than 10 rounds. In this GQ Researcher I have learned an
assault weapons ban would not decrease gun crime rates but would instead reduce the number of
shootings.
 2. Peer-Reviewed Scholarly Journal article (2)

Lott Jr, John (2001) “Guns, Crime, and Safety: Introduction” ​Journal of Law & Economics​ volume 44:
p605-614.
http://www.jstor.org.mantis.csuchico.edu/stable/pdf/10.1086/341243.pdf?refreqid=excelsior:3d330e06d39
97721158f48ddd5af38d1

John Lott Jr, economist, gun rights advocate, and President of the Crime Prevention Research
Center, examines the relationship between guns and violence. Lott shockingly discloses a number of
studies that point to gun laws resulting in either no change or a completely adverse effect. Meaning, they
actually lead to higher rates of crime. Some laws Lott specifically draws attention to that are aiding in this
increase are the federal Brady act, safe storage laws, and one-gun-a-month rules. As for background
checks, waiting periods and an assault weapons ban there is supposedly no evidence thus far that
declares that it helps or hinders.

Public Policy (p. 576), the intentional use of governmental power to secure the health, welfare,
opportunities, and national security of citizens.

Domestic Policy (p. 576), policy designed to improve the social welfare of citizens.

We can tie domestic public policy into Lott’s discussion on gun control laws because the issue
falls under the umbrella of policy designed to improve as well as secure the social welfare of
citizens. Gun Control Law are put in place to protect others well-being.

Derosa, Marshall L. (1993) “The Second Amendment and American Federalism: A View from the

States,” ​Perspectives on Political Science ​vol. 23: p52-60.

http://web.b.ebscohost.com.mantis.csuchico.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=0c7d49d1-2872-4
acb-a225-e7295a568999%40pdc-v-sessmgr01&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#A
N=44.3848&db=ijh.

Marshall L Derosa, Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science, Master of Arts in Political Science,
and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, touches on the checks and balances implemented in the
constitution that prevents the national government from interfering with citizens’ rights. He specifically
focuses on the second amendment and the Framers intent on in placing it which was to prevent too much
power from falling into the hands of the national government. Instead this power was instilled to the States
and thus giving them the responsibility to enact gun regulations on only their own individual districts.

States’ Rights (p. G9), the idea that American states have the authority to self-govern, even when
in conflict with national laws.

Derosa’s main point in his article was that the power to regulate guns is reserved to the states. As
the definition declares, “states have the authority to self-govern even when in conflict with national laws”.

Constitution (p. 40) A document that defines and creates a people politically, sets out of the
fundamental principles of governance, and creates the rules and institutions through which people choose
to self-govern.
 Derosa largely discusses the role the constitution plays when it comes to protecting citizens’
rights. Under it, certain fundamental rights are protected by restricting the power of government.

Marshall L Derosa received a Doctor of Philosophy in Political Science and a Master of Arts in
Political Science at the University of Houston. He examined federalism and the intent the framers had
when constructing the constitution. Going by remarks made in his article, I should reconsider the level of
government in which I want my policy solution to be enacted. Originally, I believed I should apply an
assault weapons ban at the federal level, so change would be universally felt. However, now I’m asking
myself if that policy could even go through and would it violate the constitution.

John Lott Jr looked into The Brady act which was a five-day waiting period before a licensed
importer, manufacturer, or dealer may sell, deliver, or transfer a handgun to an unlicensed individual. It
was only put on states who did not have an extensive background check system on handguns. He also
looked into one gun a month law which was basically a 30-day waiting period until a person could
purchase yet another gun. It was put in place to stop others from building a hefty collection of weapons. In
his article I learned there hasn't been much data collected supporting the claim that gun control laws do in
fact prevent violence. I found it surprising that gun laws have for the most part increase crime rates.
However, this information sparked a fire in me to do research on my own to unearth if it is an actually
valid statement. I find it very hard to believe that an assault weapons ban would do more harm than good.