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Disarmed

The Missing Movement for Gun Control in America
  • and
Language: English
Published/Copyright: 2010

About this book

More than any other advanced industrial democracy, the United States is besieged by firearms violence. Each year, some 30,000 people die by gunfire. Over the course of its history, the nation has witnessed the murders of beloved public figures; massacres in workplaces and schools; and epidemics of gun violence that terrorize neighborhoods and claim tens of thousands of lives. Commanding majorities of Americans voice support for stricter controls on firearms. Yet they have never mounted a true national movement for gun control. Why? Disarmed unravels this paradox.


Based on historical archives, interviews, and original survey evidence, Kristin Goss suggests that the gun control campaign has been stymied by a combination of factors, including the inability to secure patronage resources, the difficulties in articulating a message that would resonate with supporters, and strategic decisions made in the name of effective policy. The power of the so-called gun lobby has played an important role in hobbling the gun-control campaign, but that is not the entire story. Instead of pursuing a strategy of incremental change on the local and state levels, gun control advocates have sought national policies. Some 40% of state gun control laws predate the 1970s, and the gun lobby has systematically weakened even these longstanding restrictions.


A compelling and engagingly written look at one of America's most divisive political issues, Disarmed illuminates the organizational, historical, and policy-related factors that constrain mass mobilization, and brings into sharp relief the agonizing dilemmas faced by advocates of gun control and other issues in the United States.

Author / Editor information

Kristin A. Goss is Assistant Professor of Public Policy Studies and Political Science at Duke University.

Reviews

"Rarely does a book make a significant contribution to two separate fields, but this work by Kristin Goss does. Readers interested in social movements and social movement theory will find an interesting case study of a movement that never happened--efforts to strengthen gun control laws in the United States. Those who study gun control will encounter a unique perspective on the interest group politics and policy making of firearms regulation. Well-researched and clearly written, the book is insightful and informative. Goss's journalistic background is evident, both in her prose and in the relative brevity of the book. Her arguments are clearly elucidated in a first chapter that should serve as a model."---Harry L. Wilson, Political Science Quarterly --- "Goss has written an excellent book, useful to all students of lobbying. . . . This thoughtful, well-documented book should be read and examined by would-be gun control activists and other advocates for social reform."

Topics

  • Publicly Available

    Frontmatter

    i
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    Contents

    vii
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    List of Figures

    ix
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    List of Tables

    xi
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    Acknowledgments

    xiii
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    CHAPTER ONE. The Gun Control (Participation) Paradox

    1
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    CHAPTER TWO. A Movement in Theory

    31
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    CHAPTER THREE. Socializing Costs: Patronage and Political Participation

    73
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    CHAPTER FOUR. Personalizing Benefits: Issue Frames and Political Participation

    105
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    CHAPTER FIVE. Changing the Calculation: Policy Incrementalism and Political Participation

    145
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    CHAPTER SIX. Mobilizing around Modest Measures: Three Cases

    176
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    CHAPTER SEVEN. Conclusion: Politics, Participation, and Public Goods

    190
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    Appendix A: Gun-Related Trends

    201
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    Appendix B: Brief Case Studies of Other Social-Reform Movements

    204
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    Appendix C: Survey of Million Mom March Participants

    208
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    Notes

    215
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    References

    249
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    Index

    271
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Publishing information
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
eBook published on:
December 16, 2010
eBook ISBN:
9781400837755
Edition:
Course Book
Pages and Images/Illustrations in book
View content
https://doi.org/10.1515/9781400837755
eBook ISBN: 9781400837755
Keywords for this book
Gun control; Activism; Gun rights; Handgun; Legislation; Gun violence; Firearm; Politics; Mass mobilization; Social movement; Coalition to Stop Gun Violence; Policy; Advocacy; Cost–benefit analysis; Incrementalism; Case study; Lobbying; Theda Skocpol; Politician; Mass shooting; Brady Campaign; Advocacy group; Legislator; Voluntary association; Political opportunity; National Rifle Association; The New York Times; Regulation; Anti-Saloon League; Political strategy; Assassination; Ronald Reagan; Law enforcement; Calculation; Policy debate; Background check; Gun politics in the United States; Political campaign; Million Mom March; Institution; Gun Control Act of 1968; Grassroots; Americans; Political culture; Political science; Political agenda; Roe v. Wade; Government agency; Bill Clinton; Abortion; Newspaper; Bureau of Alcohol; Tobacco; Firearms and Explosives; Policy analysis; Jurisdiction; Consideration; Welfare; Opinion poll; Ownership; Tax law; Saturday night special; Public policy; State legislature (United States); National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; Entrepreneurship; Headline; Funding; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; Political party; Local ordinance; Citizens (Spanish political party)
Audience(s) for this book
For an expert adult audience, including professional development and academic research
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