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VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE
HNL-372WX Research Prospectus
February 22, 2013
Memorandum for: COL McDonald
From: Zachery L. Mills
Subject:
Investigating the American Southern Gun Culture
Introduction:
In recent years, firearm violence has become a prominent component of modern day media sources. Due to recent school shootings, robberies, and other acts of crime, the act of simply owning a firearm has been labeled as taboo. Many calls for gun control and legislative reform to restrict access to firearms have been made, which broaches a serious conflict with the Constitution of the United States, specifically the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights.
Research Goal:
The overall goal for this research will be to identify the fundamental reasons behind the establishment of the Second Amendment and to tie those virtues with the modern gun culture. Specifically, the research will aim to focus the gun culture to the Southern American lifestyle. The research aims to identify certain trends of southern gun ownership, such as the distribution of firearms throughout the South, crime rates, inequality, poverty, demand, and other social structural benchmarks. Furthermore, the research will attempt to identify various types of subcultures within the southern lifestyle. These subcultures represent the values, ideals, or reasoning behind various reasons for owning firearms, such as political or personal justifications.
Methodology:
The proposed researched will begin with an emersion in literature pertaining to firearm ownership and the southern culture. After identify social, demographic, and other types of trends, an outline will be developed in order to organize the information of the topic. After conducting an overall assessment of the firearms subculture in the South, an overall argument will be made for the modern stance on firearm ownership.
Significance:
Recently, the stereotypical southern gun culture has received tremendous opposition. By identify the origins of firearm ownership and the reasoning behind the decisions bear arms, the southern culture will have justifiable means to defend their desire to purchase, own, and sell firearms.
Works Cited
Bankston, William B., and Carol Y. Thompson.“The influence of Fear of Crime, Gender, and Southern Culture on Carrying Firearms for Protection.”Sociological Quarterly 31.2 (19930): 287. Academic Search Complete.Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
Bellesiles, Michael A.Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000. Print.
Clark, Ramsey. Crime in America. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1970. Print
Cornell, Sam. A Well-Regulated Militia. New York: Oxford, 2006. Print
Ellison, Christopher G. “Southern Culture and Firearms Ownership.” Social Science Quarterly (University of Texas Press) 72.2 (1991): 267-283. Academic Search Complete Web. 26 Feb. 2014.