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date: 23 January 2021

Abstract and Keywords

This article explores the role that guns play in American society and especially in crime. Section I discusses the possession and use of firearms. Sections II and III examine guns as deterrents to crime including how carrying guns might affect crime levels. Section IV discusses how gun markets are regulated and operated, and Section V examines what we know about effective gun crime prevention and control. The article concludes with a discussion of the policy implications of current knowledge and sketches a research agenda to advance our understanding the role guns play in crime.

Keywords: firearm possession, crime deterrent, gun market regulation, crime prevention

Charles Wellford

Charles F. Wellford is Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Maryland.

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