First Advisor

Bruce Gilley

Date of Award

2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Political Science and University Honors

Department

Political Science

Subjects

Firearms -- Government policy -- United States -- Case studies, Firearms -- Law and legislation -- United States -- Case studies, Gun control -- Political aspects -- United States, Firearms ownership -- United States, State-local relations

DOI

10.15760/honors.239

Abstract

The public policy landscape within the United States in regards to firearms is one which is inhabited by a large variation in policies. While many studies, such as those conducted by Azrael, Cook and Miller or O’Brien, Forrest, Lynott, and Daly, have looked at aspects of a states given firearms policy, little research has be conducted looking at why such a variation among state firearms policies exist. In order to uncover possible reasons for state firearms policy variation, this study looked at nine states as case studies along with six variables which are known to influence public policy. Utilizing the Mill Method of Agreement, Difference, and Joint, the six variables of the nine case studies were analyzed. The results of the study indicated that the variable of ideas may play the largest role in determining a state’s firearms policy, however the study also revealed that other variables such as population and inter-state diffusion may play a role at varying degree.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/17264

Download

Share

COinS