Ariel Peisen
Simone Savannah
English 102
Annotated Bibliography
The topic our group has chosen to research is gun control. We are choosing to focus on recent
debates involving mental health and firearm ownership, as well as new legislation being proposed for
the control of firearms. Our working thesis is: Gun control must be more effectively regulated to reduce
the risk of firearm-related violence. The sources I have chosen look at both parts of our argument and
respectively provide a varying topic of each discussion. By evaluating four unique articles, I am hoping
they will help to create a more defined thesis statement and focus the structure and content of the
research paper.
Braman, Donald, and Dan M. Kahan. "Overcoming The Fear Of Guns, The Fear Of Gun Control, And The
Fear Of Cultural Politics: Constructing A Better Gun Debate." Emory Law Journal 55.4 (2006):
569-607. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
Ordinary citizens have a difficult time interpreting data related to gun control and forming an opinion
based on the over-abundance of information. The authors of this article, Donald Braman and Dan M.
Kahan, form the argument that to understand gun control, there needs to be a more understandable
gun control argument that. The framing of this idea they suggest comprises of two misconceptions that
control the gun debate: They principal ideas involved in the gun debates and how those who participate
in the debate should communicate to facilitate a better conversation between citizens. This article goes
on to establish the idea, that to open up a more open-minded discussion about gun control two things
must happen; citizens who are moderate must do their best to encourage all individuals of the cultural
and political implications of the gun debate. Secondly, the authors acknowledge that there will always
be a group of individuals that won’t be open to hearing all sides of the gun control debate, and that
these people will only stand for their ‘vision of America’. Therefore, the same citizens must vigilantly
attend to the argument and ensure that it is not silenced by those who would have only one side of the
discussion be heard.
Dreier, Peter. "Massacres And Movements: Challenging The Gun Industrial Complex." New Labor Forum
(Sage Publications Inc.) 22.2 (2013): 92-95. Academic Search Complete. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
In this article by Peter Dreier, the author looks at how movements have affected the debate over gun
control. Using the 2012 presidential campaign as an example, Dreier notes how the issue of gun control
wasn’t a controlling topic for the candidates, however, a few weeks later, when the Newton massacre
had occurred, it was one of the key issues that the nation was focused on. When situations like Newton
occur, it creates opportunities for organizations and individuals to push their agendas regarding gun
control. The author uses statistics and historical examples to support two arguments of this debate. The
first argument involves the interpretation of the Second Amendments ‘right to bear arms’. Did the
founding fathers mean for this only to apply to local militias or was it meant for the private ownership of
firearms? The second part of the argument is whether the government has the right, and obligation, to
keep deadly weapons out of the public’s hands. The author concludes his discussion by suggesting that
the people continue to fight and retain the momentum of movements for stricter gun control. Only by
doing this will indecisive parties and lawmakers be able to begin finding resolutions to the debate on
gun control.
Faria Jr., Miguel A. "Shooting Rampages, Mental Health, And The Sensationalization Of Violence."
Surgical Neurology International 4.1 (2013): 85-92. Academic Search Complete. Web. 19 Apr.
2014.
In this article, Faria looks at the recent history and links between mass shooting s and mental health. The
cases in which this article cites provide examples which demonstrate the undiagnosed/untreated mental
state of the shooters and the means in which they obtained firearms.
The discussion of gun control is led by two proponents of some means of control. On one side, there is
the media and anti-gun organizations that believe the firearm problem stems from the accessibility and
easy of obtaining weapons. The other argument is rooted in the Second Amendment and gun advocacy
groups which believe that the error in controls guns can be rooted from a social stance in which the
desensitization to crime, noncomprehensive weapon education, and a lack of ethical standards are to
blame. The author takes a stance that in order to control the purchase of guns, the system needs to deflaw the process in obtaining a fire weapon. By taking action when a person’s mental health might be at
risk, we can reduce the risk of a potential tragedy by helping said person before they might obtain a gun.
In addition, the author also suggests that there be certain allowances in ‘zero tolerance’ places such as
schools that provide certain persons with a concealed firearm for protection and defense in critical
situations.
Verma, Aditi. "Gun Control And Mental Illness." Penn Bioethics Journal 8.2 (2012): 6-7. Academic Search
Complete. Web. 20 Apr. 2014.
This article discusses the implications and effectiveness of regulating gun ownership based on a person’s
mental health. They state that the ‘ideal’ solution would be to have a database comprising of
information about mentally ill individuals so that they can be prevented from buying firearms. The
article provides a counter argument to the proposed situation with three points; the first
counterargument is that the illegal trade and purchase of firearms is not something that can be
controlled under this system. Second, those who seek medical help would most likely not use the
system for illegal purposes. The third point is that background checks and increased regulations might
not be the most effective because of the previous two points, and these new actions could actually
create more obstacles and fees for law-abiding gun owners. As a proposed resolution, the authors
suggest that to find the solution between mental health and gun control, we as a people must put the
interests of others above ourselves. If we can help individuals with mental illness and provide effective
diagnoses and treatments, then the core issues, gun control and mental health, may finally begin to
solve themselves.
After researching and analyzing my sources, I have come to the conclusion that my thesis
statement that gun control must be more effectively regulated to reduce the risk of firearm-related
violence is easily supported by a range of articles. The most relevant and perhaps open to discussion are
the claims made between mental illness and gun control. By synthesizing the various ideas and
arguments presented in these articles, it will create an opportunity to format the paper with a sort of
cause and effect structure. The causes of gun violence, as cited with the articles by Faria, Braman, and
Kahan can easily be linked to mental health and a lacking system to control the purchase and spread of
firearms. While these are not the only problems related to the gun control issue, I can use them as the
foundation of the research paper and further the examination of my grounds for argument with my
other two articles by Verma and Dreier. These authors proposed preventative solutions to gun-related
violence through preemptive action both politically and socially. Overall, I would say that the articles by
Braman, Kahan, Faria, and Verma provide the strongest evidence to support my argument and provide
and cohesive research plan.