The Politics of Guns in the U.S

3 Units

Despite high rates of both gun violence and public support for stricter rules, the U.S. has not enacted strong federal regulations on the ownership and use of firearms -- a situation that has been described as the "gun control paradox." This discussion-based seminar digs into the gun control paradox. The majority of the semester will focus on the politics of guns. We'll cover the history of the gun control debate in the U.S. and examine the various roles that interest groups -- including both the NRA and gun control advocacy organizations --play in it. We'll think about how gun politics are connected to and impact partisan politics. We will also explore the relationship between gun politics and mass political behavior, discussing who buys guns (and why) and the social and psychological meaning they carry for many Americans. Related, we'll ponder how guns are linked to a range of politically-relevant identities individuals hold, including those related to race and gender. Finally, we will examine gun policy, critically assessing the pros and cons of various proposed solutions to the U.S. gun violence problem. Counts as a Disciplinary Communication course. Counts as a Human Diversity & Commonality course.