Firearms and the Killing Threshold

Abstract

FIREARMS and their grisly consequences are so pervasive in our society that they seem to be standard fare. Each day newspapers in major cities report injuries and deaths from guns, frequently among teenagers, and show photographs of their bereaved families. Movie advertisements scream titles that promise plenty of bloodshed, illustrated by guns and the tough characters who flaunt them. And the newest movie innovation: women who sport handguns or automatic rifles and who look as scary as their male counterparts, with new slogans, such as "Killer eyes. Killer legs. Killer instincts." A casual flip through several television channels often reveals . . .