Guns Unpacked

Dr. Ieva Jusionyte, the Watson Family University Associate Professor of International Security and Anthropology at Brown University, joins us in this episode of Guns Unpacked. We discuss her new book, Exit Wounds: How America’s Guns Fuel Violence Across the Border, which examines the flow of guns from the United States to Mexico and the impact on gun violence and gun culture across borders. Dr. Jusionyte gives us insight into the cultural and historical context of guns in Mexico, the connections between gun politics and immigration, and how the availability of US guns shapes migration.

You can purchase Exit Wounds from the ASU CSGS "Books for a Better Gun Debate" bookshelf on bookshop.org.

Dr. Jesenia Pizarro joins us in this episode of Guns Unpacked to dive into the complex dynamics of gun homicide. Dr. Pizarro is an ASU professor in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, a member of the Homicide Research Working Group, and a board member and recently elected President of the Research Society for the Prevention of Firearm-Related Harms. This episode explores her perspectives on gun violence, especially gun homicide and intimate partner violence, from a transdisciplinary perspective.

Learn more about Dr. Pizarro and her extensive expertise in firearms violence here.

In this episode of Guns Unpacked, Dr. Samantha Simon, an Assistant Professor in the School of Government and Public Policy and the School of Sociology, joins us from the University of Arizona. Dr. Simon discusses her new book Before the Badge: How Academy Training Shapes Police Violence, which examines the effects of police training on officers. She also discusses her experiences while researching for the book, a year-long process of ethnographic fieldwork at four police training academies.

You can purchase her book Before the Badge from the ASU CSGS "Books for a Better Gun Debate" bookshelf on bookshop.org.

In this episode of Guns Unpacked, we are joined by Dr. David Yamane, a sociology professor at Wake Forest University, to discuss his book, Gun Curious: A Liberal Professor's Surprising Journey Inside America's Gun Culture. Dr. Yamane shares his journey into gun studies and becoming a gun owner as a lifelong liberal. He explains the evolution of gun culture, its contemporary focus on self-defense, and what the future may hold. We also explore his experiences navigating gun debates from various perspectives and his thoughts on bridging the conversation between opposing camps.

You can purchase his book Gun Curious from the ASU CSGS "Books for a Better Gun Debate" bookshelf on bookshop.org.

Dr. Alexandra Filindra, associate professor of political science and psychology at the University of Illinois in Chicago, joins us to discuss her new book, Race, Rights, and Rifles: The Origins of the NRA and Contemporary Gun Culture. Dr. Filindra examines the NRA's beginnings and how ideologies of citizenship intersect with support for guns . She explains how historical links between militia service, political rights, and social exclusion evolved into contemporary beliefs that animate gun ownership today. We also explore the contrasting “inclusive civic republicanism” mindset, which values diversity, community service, and reducing militarism.

You can purchase her book Race, Rights, and Rifles from the CSGS "Books for a Better Gun Debate" bookshelf on bookshop.org.

In this episode of Guns Unpacked, we are joined by Dr. Coker, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology at Connecticut College. We discuss his research on the intersections of mental health, gun violence, and community trauma, particularly among African American youth. He also explains the need to focus on the root causes of gun violence, the importance of community involvement in research, and the importance of changing how universities work with communities affected by gun violence.

Dr. Coker currently is the co-editor of the American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, a journal of the American Psychological Association, and welcomes research on topics related to guns and gun violence.

In this episode of the Guns Unpacked podcast, we are joined by Dr. Curtis Austin, an associate professor in the School of Historical, Philosophical and Religious Studies at Arizona State University. Dr. Austin discusses his book Up Against the Wall, which examines the origins and legacy of the Black Panther Party and the complex dynamics of race, violence, self-defense, and power in the US. He also discusses the FBI COINTELPRO program, the tactics deployed against the Black Panthers, the ongoing impact on contemporary political discourse, and the San Francisco 8.

You can learn more about his work here and purchase his book through the ASU Center for the Study on Guns in Society's "Books for a Better Gun Debate" Shelf at Bookshop.org.

In this episode of Guns Unpacked, we are joined by Dr. Drew McKevitt, the John D. Winters Endowed Professor of History at Louisiana Tech University, to discuss his recent book Gun Country: Gun Capitalism, Culture and Control in Cold War America. Dr. McKevitt examines the connections between gun culture and capitalism, extending back to post-WWII geopolitics, that contribute to contemporary gun politics. Dr. McKevitt also clarifies the global implications of gun violence, reframing gun violence as a humanitarian issue and addressing the root causes of gun violence.

You can learn more about his work at https://andrewcmckevitt.com/ and purchase his book through the ASU Center for the Study on Guns in Society's "Books for a Better Gun Debate" Shelf at Bookshop.org.

In this episode of Guns Unpacked, we are joined by Dr. Amy Cooter, the Director of Research academic development and innovation at the Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism at the Middlebury Institute, to talk about her recent book Nostalgia, Nationalism and the US Militia Movement. Dr. Cooter discusses the militia movement, its political significance, and the role of firearms training. She also explores the links between conspiracism and white supremacy, especially the impact of social media and cultural stereotypes. Dr. Cooter emphasizes the role of nostalgia and masculinity for militia members and its ability in unifying conservative factions and the complexities involved with addressing militia activities.

You can learn more about her work at https://www.amycooter.com/ and purchase her book through the ASU Center for the Study on Guns in Society's "Books for a Better Gun Debate" Shelf at Bookshop.org.

Launching August 30!