This is a speech given by Evan DeFilippis, John Brownstein, and Ben Reis in Austin, TX for SXSW on the state of data in the gun violence debate. Gun-related violence in the U.S. is a public health crisis, with…
Debunking Myths, Long Read
Armed Abusers, Unchecked Felons, and Negligent Owners: Why Presidential Action Alone Can’t Solve Some Big Gun Violence Problems
Two weeks ago President Obama rolled out a host of executive actions designed to curb gun violence. His proposals aimed to more clearly define who is in the business of selling guns, and to bolster the FBI and the Bureau…
Data, Debunking Myths, Short Read
Guns as a Defense Against Terrorists? The Stats Say Otherwise
Two weeks ago on CBS’s Face the Nation, GOP presidential contender Marco Rubio boasted about purchasing a handgun on Christmas Eve. When asked why he had bought the weapon, the Senator from Florida explained that personal firearm ownership is the…
Philosophy, Short Read
Why I Want Crooks to Know That My House Is a Gun-Free Zone
Forced to choose, would you rather have a sign in your front yard announcing you are a proud gun owner, or one that your home is a gun-free zone? For gun advocates, the choice is obvious: As widely-discredited researcher John…
Debunking Myths, Short Read
A Thanksgiving-Edition Cliff Notes Guide to the Gun Debate
Thanksgiving is a time to eat, drink, and, inevitably, fall into heartburn-inducing arguments with family members over politically charged topics. When the topic on the table (as it were) is gun violence or gun laws, things can get heated…
Data, Debunking Myths, Long Read
Why Campus Carry is a Bad Idea: Or Why Alcohol, Hormones, and Guns Don’t Mix
In the wake of last month’s shooting at an Oregon college, gun advocates have stepped up their calls for allowing firearms on campus. So-called campus-carry bills are on the legislative docket in Florida and Michigan, and lawmakers are expected to follow…
Data, Debunking Myths, Short Read
Harvard Study Embraced by Gun Rights Advocates Is Neither a “Study,” Nor From “Harvard”
In the wake of the Oregon college shooting, the website beliefnet.com caused a stir on social media with an article titled “Harvard University Study Reveals Astonishing Link Between Firearms, Crime and Gun Control.” The post pointed to a “virtually…
Note: this column originally appeared in the Washington Post on October 15th, 2015 In the wake of yet another mass shooting, this time at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Ore., conservative commentators have largely resisted the familiar impulse to…
This article is part of an ongoing series debunking the “More Guns, Less Crime” hypothesis. See also Part 1 and Part 2. We have also critiqued a number of egregious errors in this debate including the fabrication that there…
Data, Debunking Myths, Short Read
More Guns, More Suicides: Why Suicide Prevention Depends Upon Gun Restrictions
Note: This article originally appeared in The Trace on September 16th, 2015 Last week the Brady Campaign released an extensively researched report titled “The Truth About Guns & Suicide,” kickstarting a long overdue conversation on the role firearms play…