It’s the Guns: Now What?

Catalog description

The United States has the highest rates of gun ownership and gun violence in the world; and it is such an outlier globally that many scholars consider guns to be a uniquely American problem. Numerous empirical studies have indicated that simply having access to guns is one of the biggest risk factors for later violence—including peer violence, homicide, suicide, and intimate partner violence. If firearm accessibility is a key driver of gun violence, then what should we do about it? This course will explore why Americans own guns, how communities currently respond to gun violence, and various policy options for enhancing gun safety. Gun violence is a complicated problem, and multiple policy solutions are possible to curb this social epidemic. We will read academic, personal, organizational, and governmental articles, as well as engage with mixed media content, like videos. Each student will pick a population or issue on which to focus during the semester. This course will take an active-learning approach, with classes being a mix of lectures and hands-on activities.