
Handbook of Gun Violence
- 1st Edition - October 24, 2024
- Editor: Nicholas D Thomson
- Language: English
- Paperback ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 5 2 7 2 - 9
- eBook ISBN:9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 5 2 7 3 - 6
Handbook of Gun Violence provides a comprehensive review of the complex world of gun violence. From its roots in epidemiology and public health to the intricacies of biopsychosoci… Read more

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Request a sales quoteHandbook of Gun Violence provides a comprehensive review of the complex world of gun violence. From its roots in epidemiology and public health to the intricacies of biopsychosocial risk factors to criminological and forensic considerations, this book offers an interdisciplinary exploration of a pressing societal issue. Sections cover everything from the history of firearm injury prevention research to the social, political, and policy implications surrounding gun violence. This book focuses on evidence-based strategies and emerging research areas, and equips readers with the knowledge needed to navigate the complexities of gun violence prevention, intervention, research, and policy. With contributions from leading experts across various fields, including scientists from the CDC and NIH, this handbook provides invaluable insights into understanding, preventing, and addressing gun violence.
- Provides an extensive review of gun violence statistics and trends.
- Examines the biopsychosocial risk and protective factors for violence in youth and adults
- Reviews evidence-based intervention and prevention programs for gun violence
- Assesses global policies for gun violence prevention and discusses the impact of funding and research on violence prevention.
Specialists and students in gun violence within fields such as psychology, criminology, epidemiology
- Handbook of Gun Violence
- Cover image
- Title page
- Table of Contents
- Copyright
- Dedication
- Contributors
- Foreword
- Preface
- Section A: Epidemiology/Public health
- Chapter 1 The history of firearm injury prevention research
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Firearm injury and death: Why should we care?
- Firearm injury prevention: Why is research needed?
- The creation of the field of injury prevention science
- The 1980–1990s
- The 1990–2010s
- The turning tide: Increasing rates of firearm injury spark change
- Building the field
- The creation of a National Research Society
- Looking forward
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 2 The public health approach for firearm violence and injury prevention
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Epidemiological trends in firearm violence
- Socioecological model
- Haddon matrix for injury prevention
- Structural level
- Community level
- Relationship level
- Individual level
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 3 IPV and gun violence: A focus on teen dating violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Gun-related IPV
- Teen dating violence
- Gun violence among adolescents
- Gun-involved TDV
- Risk and protective factors for TDV
- Micro level factors
- Mezzo level
- Macro level
- Conclusions and future directions
- References
- Chapter 4 Firearm suicide risk and prevention in service members
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Military culture and firearm ownership
- Theoretical context of firearm suicide among service members
- Epidemiology of firearm suicide risk in service members
- Firearm access
- Firearm storage
- Psychiatric disorders and gun carrying behaviors
- Physical illness
- Service-related stressors
- Interpersonal risk factors
- Geographic location and local gun laws
- Prevention
- Promoting safe firearm storage
- Education and training campaigns
- Means restriction during periods of high risk
- Interventions
- Suicide-focused psychotherapies
- Safety planning/crisis response planning
- Lethal means safety
- Challenges
- Future directions
- References
- Resources
- Chapter 5 Firearm suicide
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Acknowledgments
- The toll of firearm suicide in the United States
- Costs
- Firearm access
- Association between firearm access and suicide risk—Theory and concepts
- Association between firearm access and suicide risk—The literature
- Suicide risk—Is it really just the firearm?
- Prevention
- Why would limiting access to firearms reduce suicide rates?
- Firearm suicide prevention in clinics and communities
- Acceptability of clinical interventions
- Research gaps
- Firearm suicide prevention through legislation and policies
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 6 Inequities in interpersonal firearm violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Required disclaimer
- Introduction
- The importance and burden of firearm violence
- Firearm carrying
- Mass shootings
- Hate crimes
- Legal intervention deaths
- Factors contributing to inequities in interpersonal firearm violence
- Policies, practices, and programs to reduce health inequities
- Future directions
- Summary
- References
- Chapter 7 The epidemiology and prevention of unintentional firearm injuries
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Epidemiology
- Measurement
- Intervention and prevention
- Prevention approaches
- Approaches to encourage behavior change
- Conclusions
- References
- Section B: Biopsychosocial
- Chapter 8 Risk and protective factors for adolescent gun carrying and firearm violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Developmental patterns of gun carrying
- Racial and ethnic differences
- Theoretical models and risk factors for gun carrying
- Antisocial lifestyle
- Self-protection
- Social influence
- Social and legal policies
- Youth gun violence
- Predictors of gun violence
- Limitations of existing knowledge
- Conclusion and next steps
- Clinical and policy implications
- References
- Chapter 9 Neurobiology of violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Brain areas
- Prefrontal cortex
- Ventromedial prefrontal cortex
- Anterior cingulate cortex
- Orbitofrontal cortex
- Amygdala
- Pharmacology of violence: Insights from behavioral neuroscience
- Serotonin
- Dopamine
- Norepinephrine
- Testosterone
- Oxytocin/vasopressin
- Substance P
- Psychophysiology of VABs
- Heart rate and skin conductance: Autonomic arousal and reactivity
- Startle reflex: Threat sensitivity
- Facial electromyography (EMG)
- Future directions
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 10 Guns, genes, and crime
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Establishing the evolutionary and genetic influences on human aggression
- Understanding gun violence from a biosocial perspective
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 11 Psychopathy and violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- A primer on psychopathy
- Psychopathy and violence
- Assault
- Intimate partner violence
- Sexual violence
- Violent recidivism
- Homicide
- Gun violence
- Mass shootings
- Summary
- Recommendations for future investigation
- References
- Chapter 12 Contagious effects of gun violence in the media: A social-cognitive perspective
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Exposure to fictional violence and gun violence in the media
- Media exposure to fictional violence and aggressive behavior
- Media exposure to fictional gun violence and actual firearm behavior
- Media coverage of real-life gun violence
- The media contagion effect
- Media contagion and suicides
- Media contagion and mass shootings
- A social-cognitive model of the contagion of violence
- Directions for future research and prevention
- References
- Chapter 13 A social-ecological model to understand gun violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- A social-ecological model to understand intentional gun-related injuries
- Overview of research on intentional gun injuries using a social-ecological framework
- Cultural factors in intentional gun-related injuries
- Chronosystemic factors in intentional gun-related injuries
- Macrosystemic factors in intentional gun-related injuries
- Microsystemic factors in intentional gun-related injuries
- Individual factors in intentional gun-related injuries
- Interactions within and between systems
- Theoretical explanations of interactions that predict outcomes
- Precipitating situations—From risk to occurrence
- Conclusions and future directions
- References
- Section C: Violence prevention and intervention
- Chapter 14 Healthcare-based firearm injury prevention
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Screening for firearm injury risk in healthcare-settings
- Overview of screening approaches
- Screening for firearm access and availability
- Screening for interpersonal violence and firearm violence risk among youth
- Screening for intimate partner violence and partner firearm homicide risk
- Future directions for firearm violence screening tools
- Healthcare interventions for reducing firearm injury risk
- Overview of intervention approaches
- Secure firearm storage counseling
- Interpersonal firearm violence counseling for at-risk youth populations
- Intimate partner firearm violence counseling interventions
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 15 Firearm suicide prevention
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Disclosures
- Conflicts of interest
- Background/epidemiology
- A primer on the epidemiology of firearm suicide
- Cross-national comparisons
- Theory
- Lethal means safety
- Targeted interventions
- Population
- Message
- Messenger
- Examples
- Universal interventions
- Population
- Message
- Messenger
- Examples
- Challenges
- Special populations
- Military personnel
- Veterans
- Individuals with PTSD
- Summary
- References
- Chapter 16 Technical assistance as a tool to enhance the dissemination and implementation of firearm violence prevention and intervention strategies
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Funding
- TA for HVIPs: An example
- Implementation science models and frameworks
- Preparing for TA delivery and implementation
- Understanding needs, capacity, and readiness
- Developing a plan for TA
- Implementation of TA
- Evaluating TA
- Fidelity and flexibility
- Dosage
- Quality monitoring and improvement of TA
- Sustaining TA-facilitated change
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 17 Community-based approaches to prevent firearm violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- A focus on urban economically marginalized communities
- Structure of the current chapter
- Approaches to center community voice in selecting strategies for firearm violence prevention
- Intervention approaches addressing community-based violence
- Interventions addressing structural issues related to community violence
- Modification of the social and physical environment
- Community violence interventions (CVIs)
- Cure violence (CV)
- The Advance Peace model
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 18 Place-based approaches to firearm violence prevention
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Green infrastructure
- Greening and vacant lot reuse and remediation
- Tree canopy/vegetation
- Park access and quality
- Building and housing infrastructure
- Vacant building remediation
- Demolitions
- Public housing changes
- Commercial infrastructure
- Alcohol establishments
- Food establishments and access
- Business improvement districts
- Situational infrastructure
- Street lighting
- Closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance cameras
- Transportation infrastructure
- Public transportation
- Street patterns and connectivity
- Education and healthcare infrastructure
- Educational infrastructure
- Healthcare infrastructure
- Social infrastructure
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 19 Psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents with conduct problems
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Overview of psychosocial interventions
- Family-based interventions
- Multicomponent interventions
- Interventions for callous-unemotional traits and psychopathy
- Testing logic models of psychosocial interventions
- Mediation
- Moderation
- Advancing treatment effects via personalization
- Recommendations for addressing gun violence
- References
- Chapter 20 Prison-based interventions for violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Prison-based interventions for violence
- What works for crime and violence? An RNR overview
- Integrating violence risk assessment and treatment: Measures and approaches
- Forensic assessment measures used in violence risk appraisals
- Linking violence risk assessment to prison-based violence interventions
- Common features and classification of violence intervention programs
- A review of prison-based violence intervention programs and evidence for effectiveness
- Violence reduction program
- New Zealand’s high-risk specialized treatment units
- Violence prevention program
- New South Wales (NSW) Australia’s VOTP
- UK’s OPD pathways program
- Efficacy of violence intervention programs: Results from meta-analysis
- Future directions to address gun violence
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 21 Gun violence and its influence on school safety and security
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Current trends and characteristics of gun violence in schools
- Introduction
- The alarming rise of firearm-related incidents in schools
- Data dilemma: Bridging the gap in school gun violence information
- Understanding the broad Spectrum of gun violence in American schools
- Characteristics of school shootings
- State-level policy and laws
- Secure firearm storage and child access prevention laws
- Minimum age to purchase guns
- Extreme risk laws
- Ghost guns
- Smart guns
- Prevention and intervention to address gun violence in schools
- Social emotional learning and school climate
- Shifting perspective from school shooter profile to a threat assessment model
- The development of threat assessment models for school violence prevention
- Components of a threat assessment model
- Benefits of a threat assessment team
- School safety response
- Theoretical approaches: Public health models and rational actor theories
- School resource officers and security staff
- Arming teachers
- Summary
- Conclusion and moving forward
- References
- Chapter 22 Hunting safety
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Acknowledgments
- Epidemiology of hunting injuries
- Risk factors for hunting injuries
- Errors in handling firearms
- Psychosocial and contextual issues
- Risks outside of firearms
- Hunting injury prevention
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 23 Enhancing the translation of violence prevention efforts and research in politically charged policy environments
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Approach
- Five recommendations to improve the use of research evidence
- Building relationships
- Responding to problems
- Offering ideas and results
- Narratives
- Providing evidence
- Conclusions
- References
- Section D: Forensic psychology
- Chapter 24 Firearm violence and individuals with serious mental illnesses
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Prevalence of mental illness
- Victimization of people with serious mental illness
- Violence toward self—Suicide
- Violence toward others
- Rates of violence toward others
- Notable studies of violence and SMI
- Targets of violence committed by people with serious mental illness
- Firearm violence
- Stigma
- Firearm violence to mental health stigma
- Impacts of stigma
- Recommendations on firearm violence for people with severe mental illnesses
- ERPOs
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 25 Offender profiling and gun crime
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Historical development
- Approaches to offender profiling
- Criminal investigation analysis
- Crime action profiling
- Investigative psychology
- The development of offender profiling
- Evidence on accuracy of current practice
- Application of offender profiling to gun violence
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 26 Mass shootings
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Definitional dilemma
- Mass shootings
- Mass killings
- Mass public shootings
- Active shooter incidents
- Counting mass shootings and reaching consensus
- Media
- Federal agencies
- Academics
- Independent organizations
- Severity and contagion
- Mass shootings outside the United States
- Examining the shooters
- Why and where are they committing mass shootings?
- Pathways to violence
- An alternative approach
- A promising role for the public
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 27 Terrorism and gun violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Why terrorists use firearms
- Situational crime prevention and weapon selection
- The use of firearms for terrorism
- Frequency of terrorist attacks 2000–2020
- Lethality of terror attacks 2000–2020
- Preventing firearm terrorism
- Impact of legislation on preventing terrorism
- Legislation passed postattack
- Future directions for research on terrorism and gun violence
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 28 Violence risk assessment and management
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Violence risk assessment and management: Definition and overview
- Violence risk classification
- The generational framework
- Risk classification approaches
- Risk assessment metrics
- Common language five-risk level framework
- Violence risk factors
- Dynamic factors for general violence
- Risk factors for gun violence
- Violence risk assessment measures and approaches
- General violence risk measures
- Gun violence risk measures
- Other measures commonly used to assess violence risk
- Protective factors: Offsetting risk for general violence and gun violence
- Assessing changes in violence risk: Dynamic violence risk assessment
- Responsivity considerations in violence risk assessment
- Integrating violence risk assessment and management
- Conclusions and future directions
- References
- Section E: Criminology
- Chapter 29 The gun-centric nature of gang violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Defining gang violence
- History of gang violence
- Gangs and gun violence
- Differences in modern-day gang crime and violence
- Case study: Gang homicides in East Los Angeles 1975–2022
- Reducing gun violence by reducing gang violence
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 30 Forced migration and gun violence: What do we know?
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Gun access and gun violence are on the rise
- Risk and protective factors for gun violence
- Refugee populations are at special risk for gun violence
- Premigratory stressors
- Stressors during migration and postmigration
- Existing research on immigration and violent crime
- Research on immigration and reporting violent crime
- Considerations for prevention work with refugees
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 31 Firearms trafficking and transnational crime
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Creation of international arms market after collapse of USSR
- Illicit arms trade routes, regions, and actors
- Actors
- Programs and policies to curb firearms trafficking
- Discussion and Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 32 A neurocriminological perspective on violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- What is neurocriminology?
- Disciplines informing a neurocriminological perspective
- Genetics and heredity
- General medicine and physiology
- Brain abnormalities: CNS defects, acquired injury (TBI), and cell growth abnormalities
- Psychological factors
- Environmental and sociocultural factors
- Translational utility of neurocriminological models
- Legal decision-making: Competency, insanity, and diminished responsibility
- Neuroprediction: Risk assessment, future dangerousness, parole/probation, recidivism
- Treatment and intervention
- Summary and conclusions
- References
- Section F: Funding, surveillance data, and research methods
- Chapter 33 Emerging research areas and contributions of NIH in firearm injury and mortality research
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Acknowledgments
- Background
- Recent federal violence research efforts
- Firearm injury and mortality prevention efforts across the NIH
- Institute-specific firearm injury and mortality prevention efforts
- Emerging gaps and opportunities for firearm injury and mortality prevention research
- Integration of basic mechanisms of aggression and resiliency into intervention development
- Preventing and treating firearm-related injury across the care continuum
- Implementation and scale-up of community-based violence prevention programs
- Unique experiences of people who are underserved by community resources
- Conclusions
- References
- Chapter 34 Federal and foundation funding for gun violence prevention programming and research
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Research funding
- Federal funding for firearm violence research
- Barriers and challenges to funding
- References
- Chapter 35 Public health surveillance of nonfatal firearm injuries
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Types of firearm injuries
- Fatal and nonfatal firearm injury surveillance
- Description of useful data sources for monitoring nonfatal firearm injuries
- National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP)
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample
- Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Emergency Department Sample
- National Health Care Survey
- Syndromic surveillance data on firearm injuries
- Challenges in estimating the burden of nonfatal firearm injury
- Other relevant data sources can provide important information on the context of firearm injuries and the populations most affected
- Uniform Crime Reporting program data
- Gun Violence Archive data
- Conclusion
- Disclaimer
- References
- Chapter 36 Public health surveillance of firearm injury deaths
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Background: Public health surveillance
- Types of surveillance systems
- Surveillance system attributes
- Surveillance ethics
- Federal public health surveillance of firearm deaths in the United States
- CDC’s National Vital Statistics System (NVSS)
- CDC’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS)
- Summary and future directions
- Appendix. Variables collected in NVDRS Web System
- School-associated violent death module
- Public safety officer suicide module
- Disclaimer
- References
- Chapter 37 Applying data science to the study of gun violence
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- What is data science?
- Data science and open science
- Preregistration
- Open data
- Ethical considerations for open data
- Questions that data science can answer
- Data sources
- Public data repositories
- Public crime databases
- Acquiring other data
- Accessing unavailable data
- Difficulties using multiple data sources
- Programming languages for data science
- Python and R
- HTML and JavaScript
- Resources for self-education
- Data acquisition and analysis tools
- A narrative example: West et al. (2022)
- Words of caution
- References
- Chapter 38 Research methods: Considerations and opportunities to advance firearm injury and violence prevention
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Logic model as a guiding framework for designing evaluation studies
- What is the goal or desired outcome of the intervention?
- What is the intended population?
- What are the relevant risk, promotive, or protective factors targeted by the intervention?
- What intervention components will be implemented to produce the desired change?
- At what level is the intervention implemented?
- Evaluation methods
- Selecting an appropriate design
- Selecting and recruiting participants
- Assessing the implementation of the intervention
- Selecting appropriate measures
- Addressing data analysis issues
- The way forward
- References
- Section G: Policy and politics
- Chapter 39 New Zealand experience with gun violence and gun control
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Multiple streams approach to policy process
- Focusing events and related constructs
- Extraordinary events, disasters, and crises
- Defining focusing events
- Categorization of potentially focusing events
- Suddenness, rarity, and harmfulness
- Normal versus novel
- Phases
- Acts of violence as focusing events
- Terrorism
- Mass shootings
- Operationalizing criteria for focusing events and assessing their magnitude
- Necessary variables
- Intensifying variables
- Measuring magnitude
- A framework for assessing mass shootings as focusing events in New Zealand
- The history of mass homicide and gun control legislation in New Zealand
- New Zealand policy context
- Aramoana (1990)
- Paerata (1992)
- Dunedin (1994)
- Raurimu (1997)
- Interim gun law debates 2005–2017
- Christchurch (2019)
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References
- Chapter 40 European experience with gun violence and gun control
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction: Contexts and perspectives
- Making sense of the numbers
- Guns will travel
- Gun numbers, regulation regimes, and public safety
- Research agendas for firearms in Europe
- References
- Chapter 41 U.S. experience with gun violence and gun control
- Abstract
- Keywords
- Introduction
- Gun policy
- Rationale for firearm legislation to reduce homicide and suicide
- Challenges in understanding the relationships between gun policy and gun violence
- Specific gun restrictions and homicide and suicide rates
- Second amendment jurisprudence in flux
- Social determinants, social/economic policy, and gun violence
- Social determinants of gun homicide and assaults
- Community-based strategies to reduce gun homicide
- Social determinants, social policy, and suicide: Deaths of despair
- References
- Index
- No. of pages: 606
- Language: English
- Edition: 1
- Published: October 24, 2024
- Imprint: Academic Press
- Paperback ISBN: 9780323952729
- eBook ISBN: 9780323952736
ND
Nicholas D Thomson
Dr. Nicholas D. Thomson is the Director of Research at VCU Health’s Injury and Violence Prevention Program, Associate Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Psychology, and Forensic Research Psychologist at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Thomson’s research has been supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development; including some of the first research funding dedicated to preventing gun violence among high-risk youth and adults in 25 years. Dr. Thomson is widely published in the field of forensic psychology and developmental psychopathology, with over 70 peer-reviewed publications, chapters, and a textbook on psychopathy (Understanding Psychopathy: The Biopsychosocial Perspective). Dr. Thomson serves on the editorial board for multiple leading journals, including Psychology of Violence. Dr. Thomson pioneered the development of the first virtual reality interventions aimed at promoting gun safety among adults, reducing retaliatory gun violence among youth victims of violence, and preventing youth suicide. He is an advocate for interdisciplinary research, focusing on mechanistically-informed strategies that incorporate a biopsychosocial approach to enhance both cutting-edge research and effective prevention. His expertise is recognized internationally, and he consults on strategies for preventing gun violence, violent extremism, radicalization, and family-level antisocial behavior. Dr. Thomson has received numerous awards and nominations for his research excellence and innovation, both nationally and internationally, in the fields of externalizing disorders and violence prevention.