Violence Policy Center

The Violence Policy Center is an educational foundation that conducts research on firearms violence. In the following viewpoint, the center argues that an increase in private gun ownership has led to an explosion in the number of Americans killed by firearms in murders, suicides, and accidents. According to the center, most of those killed by firearms are murdered at the hands of a relation or acquaintance, not a criminal. The organization maintains that guns should be regulated like any other dangerous consumer product.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to the 1989 Centers for Disease Control study cited by the authors, what was the economic cost of firearms violence in 1985?
2. How many times in 1992 were handguns used by law- abiding citizens to kill criminals justifiably...