Whereas emotion played a significant role in the debate surrounding gun control, the research does not necessarily support the key beliefs. For example, Stolzenberg and D’Alessio (2000) found that the number of guns is not necessarily correlated with high rates of violent crimes, there is no evidence of a displacement effect (substituting other weapons for guns), and that criminals are often not deterred from breaking into homes (and related crimes) if the homeowner is in possession of a gun. The authors also claim that ideology misleads us, and that future policy suggestions should be based on data rather than emotional uproars. Public policies that are an end result of emotion rather than research have contributed enormously to mass incarceration in the United States. As per Beckett and Sasson (2000), mandatory minimums and the three strikes laws have
Whereas emotion played a significant role in the debate surrounding gun control, the research does not necessarily support the key beliefs. For example, Stolzenberg and D’Alessio (2000) found that the number of guns is not necessarily correlated with high rates of violent crimes, there is no evidence of a displacement effect (substituting other weapons for guns), and that criminals are often not deterred from breaking into homes (and related crimes) if the homeowner is in possession of a gun. The authors also claim that ideology misleads us, and that future policy suggestions should be based on data rather than emotional uproars. Public policies that are an end result of emotion rather than research have contributed enormously to mass incarceration in the United States. As per Beckett and Sasson (2000), mandatory minimums and the three strikes laws have