Reducing gun violence: What Works. James Burnett

The debate over gun violence is deeply polarized, but almost everyone agrees it's an urgent problem and that far too many people are being killed and injured by firearms in the United States.

The toll is more than 100 deaths per day-- a much higher rate than in other wealthy nations. Unlike the appalling killings in Parkland, Florida, Newtown, Connecticut, and at other schools, most gun murders involve a single victim and don't get national media coverage. Mass shootings account for less than 2% of all gun-related deaths.

In this episode, we ask: of all the widely-touted proposals to reduce the rate of gun violence, which ones would actually work the best?

Our guest James Burnett, Editorial Director of The Trace, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom that shines a light on America's gun violence crisis. 

We have an estimated 300 million guns in America-- about one for every household. But would banning military-style weapons and bump stocks be more effective than improving the system of federal background checks? Are red flag warnings a smart answer? 

Weeks after the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, in which 17 people were killed, Florida Sens. Marco Rubio (R) and Bill Nelson (D) proposed new legislation that would encourage states to create gun violence restraining orders. Other proposals include improving gun safety education, more spending on research about guns, mental health treatment and public health solutions: recognizing gun crime as a preventable public health problem.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.