Gun Control Research Paper

BACKGROUND

With the increase in gun-related crimes, debate over the licensing and control of firearms in the United States continues among the public and in all levels of government. Opinions vary on the constitutionality and effectiveness of restricting gun ownership.

BROWSE FOR BOOKS ON THE SHELF USING THESE CALL NUMBERS

363.33–363.3309

344.73

LOOK UNDER THE FOLLOWING SUBJECTS IN THE CATALOG (CARD OR COMPUTER)

Gun control—United States

Firearms—Law and legislation—United States

USE PAMPHLET FILE (ALSO CALLED VERTICAL FILE) UNDER THE HEADING

Gun control

REFERENCE MATERIALS THAT MAY HELP (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

CQ Almanac

CQ Researcher, March 22, 1992, June 10, 1994.

Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report.

General encyclopedias

PERIODICAL INDEXES TO SEARCH (BOOKS OR CD-ROMS)

EBSCO Magazine Article Summaries

InfoTrac

NewsBank and other newspaper indexes

Readers’ Guide to Periodical Literature

SIRS (Social Issues Resources Series)

WILSONDISC

ONLINE DATABASES TO SEARCH

America Online

CompuServe

Dialog

Internet

Prodigy
KEY WORDS AND DESCRIPTORS FOR PERIODICAL INDEX AND ONLINE SEARCHES

Gun control

Guns and gun control

Firearms

Firearms—laws, regulations, etc.

Right to bear arms

VIDEOTAPES ON THIS TOPIC

Gun Control. National Institute of Justice, 1985.

What’s the Common Ground on Gun Control? Common Ground–WNYC Productions, 1989.

FICTION BOOKS RELATING TO TOPIC

Arrick, Fran. Where’d You Get Your Gun, Billy? 1991.

Paulsen, Gary. The Rifle, 1995.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO CONTACT FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, 100 Maryland Ave., N.E., Washington, DC 20002.

National Rifle Association of America, 1600 Rhode Island Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036.

SUGGESTIONS FOR NARROWING THIS TOPIC

Discuss the Brady Law (1994) or the Clinton Crime Bill (1994) as it pertains to gun control.

Discuss possible effects of a ban on assault weapons or handguns.

Investigate gun control laws in New Jersey, California, Connecticut, or any other state.

Present the case for (or against) gun control.

SUGGESTIONS FOR RELATED TOPICS

Crime prevention

Gun control in other countries

Gun use in accidental deaths; in homicides

Historical role of guns in the United States

National Rifle Association of America

This RESEARCH TOPIC GUIDE is intended to help the library user find information and materials on a particular topic in many sources throughout the library. Resources on this topic are not limited to those described and availability will depend upon the individual library. Feel free to ask a librarian for assistance.