The Changing Politics of Gun Control

In recent years, political discourse about gun control and the Second Amendment has become increasingly volatile and this collection of original essays by top scholars illuminates the various reasons why.

In recent years, political discourse about gun control and the Second Amendment has become increasingly volatile and this collection of original essays by top scholars illuminates the various reasons why. Gun lobbies such as the National Rifle Association are more organized and aggressive and their issue agenda has evolved as new and more powerful weapons and militia appear. On the other side of the debate, the critical wounding of James Brady gave gun control advocates a visible martyr with strong ties to Republican conservatives. In sum, gun control and the right to bear arms have become hotly disputed issues where political alignments are constantly shifting. The contributors chart these changes and explore how Congress, the courts, the President, and individual states are currently addressing the issue of gun control. This book, which includes profiles and examinations of relevant interest groups, the gun control coalition, recent Supreme Court decisions, and public opinion surveys, will be of great interest to classes in political science, American government, law, and sociology.

Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 Introduction
Chapter 3 Jackboots or Lace Panties? The Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, and Firearms
Chapter 4 Congress and Gun Control
Chapter 5 Madison's Mistake? Judicial Construction of the Second Amendment
Chapter 6 Gun Control Politics in California
Chapter 7 The Structure of Public Support for Gun Control: The 1998 Battle over Question 3 in Maryland
Chapter 8 Virginia: The Politcs of Concealed Weapons
Chapter 9 Gun Control Laws in the States: Political and Apolitical Influences
Chapter 10 Going Hunting Where the Ducks Are: The National Rifle Association and the Grass Roots
Chapter 11 Trying to Stop the Craziness of This Business: Gun Control Groups
Chapter 12 Public Opinion and Gun Control: Appearance and Transparence in Support and Opposition
Chapter 13 The Electoral Politics of Gun Ownership
Chapter 14 Index