References : 

1. Lyman,Cletus “2022 Homicide Map – Philadelphia Obituary Project.” philadelphia obituary project, honoring lives taken by homicide. 2017. 

Background: Homicide map with information about the homicide victims.

How i used it: This website helps readers have a graphic understanding of the number of homicides in philadelphia and allows them to identify the victims, their ages, and place where they were pronounced deceased. 

2. Freiberg, W “Big Man with a 3D-Printed Gun: One Possible Solution to the Public Safety Problems Presented by Manufacturing Non-Metal Firearms with 3D Printers.” Valparaiso University Law school, 5 Nov.2014,  Web 7 Nov. 2014.

Background :  3D printers within the United States should be made with software which does not allow firearm parts to be created because of the threat it poses to the country. 

How I used it: This article was helpful to show readers one of the many ways people are getting away with homicide, allowing others to deter towards violence since there is a low probability of getting arrested since 3D printed guns cannot be traced back to. 

3. Treisman, Rachel “COVID was again the leading cause of death among US law enforcement in 2021.” npr.org, 12 Jan.2022

Background : COVID-19 was the leading cause of death for police officers in 2021. 458 local, state, federal police officers died last year due to exposure to the virus. Many also threatened resignation due to the vaccine mandates. 

How I used it : This article helped identify some of the causes as to why there was a decrease in police officers. 

4. Beard, Jessica H. Jacoby, Sarah F. Maher, Zoe “Changes in Shooting Incidence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Between March and November 2020 | Firearms | JAMA.”jama network. 10 Feb,2021.

Background : Changes in shootings between March and November 2020. Gun violence occurred more frequently during 2020 than previous years. Data shows that before COVID-19, there was a mean of 24 individuals being shot weekly. After COVID-19 hit, there was a mean of 46 individuals being shot weekly. 

How I used it : This article helped prove that there is an actual increase in the homicides in Philadelphia, compared to the previous years and that it will continue to increase.

5. Frandsen, Ronald J. “Enforcement of the Brady Act, 2008.” federal And state investigations and prosecutions of firearm applicants denied by a NICS check in 2008. Jun.2010

Background : The enforcement of the Brady Act was a prevention act enacted in 1993 to prevent the wrong people from getting their hands on firearms. It created regulations like age restrictions and background checks. 

How I used it: This helped by providing readers with legal information about the laws in place, trying to deter gun violence. 

6. Hanel, Laura  “Firearm Violence in Relation to State Legislation: Does stricter legislation result in lower rates of gun violence?.” UC Merced undergraduate research journal, 2017. 

Background: Civilians are affected by firearm violence yet gun control is still  heavily debated. This study looks to clarify the problem by examining corrections between legislation and gun violence. Allowing individuals to openly carry handguns and requiring permits to purchase guns was related to decreases in gun violence. Research allows us to examine the relationship between laws and violence in order to determine if it is effective.  

How I used it: This article gave readers the opportunity to openly interpret whether having gun regulations indeed helped with the decrease in gun violence. 

7. Fagan, Jeffrey “Gauging the Effectiveness of Gun Control Laws.” Columbia law school. (10 March,2016.)

Background :Of the 25 state gun laws in the report, nine were effective in reducing firearm mortality, nine increased firearm mortality, and seven were pronounced inconclusive. Three of the state laws were strongly associated with lower numbers of firearm deaths, and at least one was associated with higher firearms mortality rates.  

How i used it : This article helped me refute the effectiveness of having more firearms and how it wont help reduce crime. 

8. DeFillipis, Evan “Having a Gun in the House Doesn’t Make a Woman Safer – The Atlantic.” the atlantic.com. (23 Feb,2014. ) 

Background :Study finds that women with access to firearms become homicide victims at higher rates than men. It’s clear that higher rates of gun availability works with higher rates of female homicide. Women in the United States account for 84% of all female firearm victims in the world, even though they make up only one third of the world’s women population. And with american borders, women die at higher rates from suicide, homicide and accidental firearm deaths in states where more guns are available. 

How I used it : This article also helped me refute the arguments stating that women with firearms have an equal chance at defending themselves, just as men do. 

9. Robertson, Campbell “Lawmakers’ Report Says Philadelphia D.A.’s Policies Are a Factor in the Crime Rate – The New York Times” the new york times. (24 Oct, 2022 .) 

Background: A committee of Pennsylvania state lawmakers issued a report on Monday, charging Larry Krasner, the district attorney of Philadelphia,stating that he had contributed to a catastrophic rise in violent crime with his intent of progressive criminal justice policies.

The investigation into the historic crime and violence in Philadelphia and recommendations for possible solutions will continue to unfold over the coming weeks. The district attorney, who was re-elected to office in Philadelphia last year by a nearly 40-point margin, defended his work as a prosecutor and accused the committee of seeking political points right before an election. 

How I used it : This article helped me by identifying some of the contributing factors as to why the city of Philadelphia is as violent, proving that one of the causes found was the negligence of the district attorney, and his incapability to reduce crime rates. 

10. Wenner Moyer, Melinda. “More Guns Do Not Stop More Crimes, Evidence Shows – Scientific American.” Scientific american. (1 Oct, 2017.)

Background : Scientists conducted an experiment in which scientists would track what happened for several years after guns were given to gun-free communities and everything else was kept the same. But, there are no gun-free U.S. communities. Most of this research has been several dozen peer-reviewed studies puncturing the idea that guns stop violence. 

How I used it : This article helped prove to the readers that my thesis is not only based on assumptions, there are various experiments being done in order to deter violence while still having firearms around, they always seem to fail, driving people to look at the extreme and last resort. 

11. LaTulip,Kevin P. “ More Guns, Less Crime, by John R. Lott, Jr.” Journal of health care law and policy. (2000)

Background : John R. Lott, Jr. published “More Guns, Less Crime”, in 1998, discussing our nation’s approach to gun control. Lott claims that if more guns were on the street, fewer crimes would be happening. 

How I used it: I used this article to refute my worthy opponent, and provide readers with reasons why less guns is always a better option. 

12. Vargas, Claudia. Chang, David. “More Violence, Less Cops. Why Are There Fewer Police Officers in Philly?.” NBC philadelphia.  (6 May 2021.)

Background : Hundreds of applications were put on hold indefinitely and there hasn’t been a new recruit class in the academy since March of last year. As a result, Philadelphia will not have any rookie officers during one of the most violent years in history. 

How I used it: This article helped me give readers reasons as to why there has been a decrease in the number of police officers in Philadelphia and why there are barely any rookies being enlisted in the police academy. 

13. Tung, Liz. “Pennsylvania faces ‘historic shortage of police.’ AG Shapiro, Commissioner Outlaw call on Harrisburg for help” whyy.org (15 March, 2022.)

Background: Investigators in Philadelphia found that an increasing number of police officers are leaving the department each year. If the trend continues this year, the police force could soon fall to below 6,000.

How i used it: This article provides statistics in order for the readers to have a better idea of the amount of police officers that are leaving. It also showed that there had been outcalls by the commissioner, letting readers know the severity of the situation. 

14. Mccormick, Annie “Staffing shortage in the Philadelphia Police Department becoming a crisis.”  Action news Philadelphia,PA. (19 Aug.2022.)

Background :Police departments across the country are seeing shortages of officers since many are opting to leave the force for various reasons, including personal reasons.The Data Journalism has found that from 2020 to 2022 the number of officers who left through retirement, firings or by quitting increased from 119 in 2020 to 364 in 2021,and as for new recruits, the city is only averaging more than 100 so far this year. 

How I used it: This article provided me with valuable information, proving that there is a police officer shortage all around the country because of the reputation and the relationship within the community. Which shows the contribution to the rise in crime since there is no one to stop offenders. 

15. Hatchimonji, Justin S. Swendiman, Robert A. Seamon, Mark J . Nance, Michael L. “Trauma Does not Quarantine – PMC” National Library of medicine. ( 29, April 2020.)

Background: We are experiencing a rise in gun violence, hospitals and trauma centers are overflooding with an epidemic of violence which has not been seen in more than a century. With covid, we have limited resources. Violence has put an unnecessary strain on the hospital system. An increase in violence has surged a rise in gun sales, due to public panic and fear that guns would soon be in short supply.

How i used it: This article helped prove how gun violence isn’t only a problem for law enforcement, but also to medical centers. This showed readers the long term consequences of not having enough gun regulations in place.