Book Review: Ludwig, J. Cook, P. J. (Eds. (2003) Evaluating Gun Policy: Effects on Crime and Violence. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press
This edited volume includes articles presented at a Brookings conference on gun policy in January 2002. The articles, except for the introduction and conclusion, are accompanied by two or three commentaries. Among the authors and commentators are many of the most prominent United States researchers in the field. These include Ludwig and Cook, the editors, Mark Duggan, David Kopel, Garren Wintemute, James Mercy, John Donohue, David Mustard, Alfred Blumstein, Jacqueline Cohen, and Franklin Zimring. Unfortunately, the rest of the world is represented by only one chapter, a very interesting article by Peter Reuter and Jenny Mouzos on Australia's massive gun buyback campaign. In a highly politicized field, this book attempts to maintain scientific neutrality and present the evidence for or against a particular policy. For the most part the commentators also try to be politically neutral pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each presentation. Most articles assume that individual behavior is driven by rational thinking about costs and benefits. The symbolic meaning of gun ownership and its place in United States culture is mostly ignored. The articles are strongly mathematical with an emphasis on econometrics. Some assume knowledge of econometric modeling that few laypeople have. The book begins with an excellent introduction to pragmatic gun policy by Cook and Ludwig. Pragmatic gun policy attempts to assess the effect on crime and suicide of specific weapons related policies. Interestingly, in the final chapter, Franklin Zimring concludes that these often small scale, pragmatic changes may have little effect. However, because of the politicized nature of the debate over gun control, even small changes are hotly contested. A pragmatic approach and reasoned assessment rarely win the day. The book is divided into four sections: