Americans are suddenly—and seriously—talking about guns. Since the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in which 17 were killed, the public conversation about firearm regulations has acquired a new urgency. The teens who survived the tragedy have spearheaded nationwide rallies for more protective gun laws, and they have shown no signs of letting up. Businesses are withdrawing support from the National Rifle Association (NRA). Several retailers are changing their policies on selling weapons to buyers under 21. And President Donald Trump is whipsawing between demanding armed teachers and stricter gun control laws. (And then, according to the NRA, re-reversing himself.)
In many ways, Trump embodies in one person this nation’s intense polarization and deep-seated confusion surrounding firearm regulations. But which position is backed up by the best evidence? What does science say about what laws save lives and what don’t? That’s where the Gun Policy in America project comes in.
