Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America

by Gary Kleck

By 1990 there were approximately 200 million guns in private hands in the United States, and around half of American households contained a gun. Over 30,000 people a year are killed with guns in suicides, homicides, and acci­dents, and Americans use guns for defensive purposes over a million times a year. There is little doubt that gun violence and control are issues of vital importance, and they continue to inspire national debate. It is doubtful, however, whether most gun debates are worth listening to. Not surprisingly, such debates generally leave their participants exactly where they began, with their biases intact, and onlookers perplexed. Written deliberately to counter an atmosphere of hysteria and extremism. Point Blank, now in paperback, offers logi­cal argument supported by empirical information. It con­fronts fundamental questions head-on. On its initial publication in 1993, Point Blank won the Michael J. Hindelang Award of the American Society of Criminology for the book that "made the most outstanding contribution to criminology." Point Blank reports both original research and assesses existing evidence drawn from a wide variety of academic disciplines, including criminology, sociology, law, and medicine.

Genres: Politics

512 pages, Hardcover

First published December 31, 1991

Reviews

[Kim]

I love this whole series. Very easy read. Amazing characters. Every book has a new outlandish character that cracks me up. Lulu is just too funny. These books are no bainers and fun to read.

[Kit]

Recommend on Free Thoughts podcast by Cato institute 1/5/18 episode.