Public policies that impact the criminal justice system are often a result of emotion and ideology (a system of ideas that seem natural or are taken for granted) rather than research. For example, in the clip from Gunned Down, the Columbine High School shooting provoked a lot of emotion in the public, mostly due to the display of images and videos of the deaths of innocent young people (mostly white and affluent) in a school – a seemingly safe environment. As a result, numerous protests erupted calling for stricter gun control, while lobbying groups such as the NRA countered these complaints by promoting the ideals of patriotism, independence, and freedom from tyranny. Lobbying groups such as the NRA have tremendous power in shaping public
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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