Proposal

Mar 14, 2013

Proposal

series of measures in different states have made it easier to own, carry and conceal firearms

one study an article

journalistic investigation

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Grenville Wilson

Hi, I have a few question about the nature of this project. First, what degree of transparency can backers expect? Will there be updates on the progress of the research, or will it just all come out at the end? Will we get insight into methodology? Second, I'd be interested in hearing the reasoning behind the statistics selected. Namely, targeting firearm homicides/suicides in particular instead of overall homicides/suicides in general. Isn't this sort of disconnected from the policy question that's usually asked - whether *overall* death rates would go up, rather than if the tools used would merely shift? I have the same question as applies to threats on school grounds - isn't selecting for guns specifically narrowing the scope too much?

Apr 01, 20130

Sara Kirstein

Question... You say that the data will be collected from existing sources mostly compiled by the CDC, but that the CDC stopped collecting data in 1996. Does the CDC have the data without the research, or are you using old data?

Mar 17, 20130

Bisakha SenResearcher

Hi Sara Our outcomes data for firearm homicides and suicides will come from CDC WISQAR, those continue to be reported annually. They will be supplemented by FBI Uniform Crime reports expanded data, whihc has data on the other crimes we mention, and also data on whether homicides were justifiable, and victim knew perpetrator. Our outcome of youths' access to guns will use CDC Youth Risk Behavior data. This contonues to be collected biennially. Hope that helps!

Mar 17, 20130

Sara Kirstein

Thank you for the response. This looks like a fascinating study, and I'm excited that you want to make the data available. I also appreciate that you've taken a divisive issue and made it neutrally quantitative, at least for this purpose. (Related, my econometrics professors will be ecstatic at my level of understanding of this and your other reports.)

Mar 18, 20130

Bisakha SenBacker

As an econometrics professor myself, I know all about being ecstatic when students *get* stuff really well :) Glad you think this is interesting. Please do share on Facebook and twitter if you think your friends might be interested.

Mar 18, 20130

About This Project

Gun Policy, Gun Culture & Guns across the U.S.: What Makes Us Safer?

UAB

This is a timely project because of the newly reignited political debate about gun background checks. Since we will compile and use data that has already been collected by various agencies, we anticipate being able to complete the project and get the papers out within 6 months. This should help inform policy-makers. Also, as funding for gun violence prevention research becomes available again, the findings from this project will serve as ‘pilot studies’ that we can utilize to put together a large-scale project involving more complex data.