Weapons Under Scrutiny

For years proposals for gun control and the ownership of firearms have been among the most contentious issues in American politics. For public authorities to make reasonable decisions on these matters, they must take into account facts about the relationship between guns and violence as well as conflicting constitutional claims and divided public opinion. In performing these tasks, legislators need adequate data and research to judge both the effects of firearms on violence and the effects of different violence control policies. Readers of the research literature on firearms may sometimes find themselves unable to distinguish scholarship from advocacy. Given the importance of this issue, there is a pressing need for a clear and unbiased assessment of the existing portfolio of data and research. Firearms and Violence uses conventional standards of science to examine three major themes - firearms and violence, the quality of research, and the quality of data available. The book assesses the strengths and limitations of current databases, examining current research studies on firearm use and the efforts to reduce unjustified firearm use and suggests ways in which they can be improved.

This book aims to provide law enforcement guidelines and techniques for gathering evidence to use when responding to an incident involving the use or the threatened use of a weapon of mass destruction. The introduction explains that law enforcement personnel will undoubtedly be among the first responders to an incident involving chemical, biological, radiological, explosive, or incendiary materials and that their initial actions will have a significant effect on the outcome, including the safety of the public and that of the responders themselves. In addition, police must be prepared to work side by side with other agencies and specialties, including fire and emergency medical service personnel, as well as other law enforcement agencies from various levels and jurisdictions. Thus, this task will require the use of an effective incident management system that involves all the response agencies working together toward a common objective. The book2s first part addresses the actions to be taken by the first police personnel arriving at the scene of such an incident. The text details the planning process, the incident management process, and tactical operations that may be necessary to arrest individuals or prevent an incident. The book2s second part provides guidelines and information for use by the investigator trained in dealing with hazardous materials. This section details the required training, equipment, and investigative procedures and presents step-by-step instructions for collecting chemical, biological, and radiological evidence. The text also presents investigative techniques to assist the criminal investigator in identifying and entering a facility suspected of manufacturing a weapon of mass destruction. The text also presents remote sampling techniques to assist in gathering the probable cause for a search warrant.

As mankind finds ever more impious ways to kill and maim, some look to non-lethal weapons as a fix. Brian Rappert discusses the technologies involved and the ethics of, for example blinding someone with a laser, leaving them blind forever, versus killing them outright.

Written and extensively updated by an author team that includes former and current law enforcement officers, Introduction to Policing focuses on the thought-provoking, contemporary issues that underscore the challenging and rewarding world of policing. The authors skillfully balance research and practice to offer readers an overview of both the foundations of policing and the expanded role of today’s police officers. Evolving with the modern realities of the field, the Fourth Edition discusses major new and ongoing impactful events, such as the political shift marked by the U.S. presidential election of 2016 and expanded coverage of women and minorities in policing. The accessible and engaging writing style, coupled with unique coverage of the issues of policing in multicultural communities, the impact of technology on policing, and policing strategies and procedures, make this bestselling book a must-have.

Discusses the controversial viewpoints regarding gun control.

This book critically examines the nexus between arms availability and armed violence.