Richard Harwood

In the following viewpoint, Richard Harwood contends that eliminating handguns would reduce America’s murder rate. According to Harwood, America has approximately the same amount of crime as other Western nations, but what sets the United States apart is a much higher rate of lethal crime. He argues that making handguns less available would decrease the likelihood that commonplace arguments and disputes would end fatally. Richard Harwood was an editor and ombudsman for the Washington Post.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. How many americans have died since 1980 at the hands of other Americans, according to Harwood?
2. What actions have politicians taken in a futile attempt to reduce violent crime, as stated by the author?
3. Why is murder a serious problem, in Harwood’s opinion"

Americans have invested a great deal of...