The Behavioral Science of Firearms

Too often the intersection of the topics of firearms and mental illness is the subject of misconceptions or approached with political partisanship. Dr. Pirelli and his colleagues have provided a thorough and apolitical exposition of the history and many clinical, legal, and behavioral issues associated with the topics of firearms and behavioral health. This book is a welcome addition to the new, cutting edge literature that relies on research evidence, some designed and conducted by the authors themselves, to examine and draw conclusions regarding best practices in managing the public health problems presented by violence, suicide, and firearms. * Liza Gold, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, Georgetown University School of Medicine *
This is a timely, thoughtful, and encyclopedic analysis of firearms for mental health practitioners. Striving to be even-handed and objective, the authors carefully navigate the many controversies over firearms research, law, and policy. They present the social and cultural factors supporting gun ownership yet also review research on the role of guns in domestic violence, suicide, and mass murder. They break new ground in forensic mental health assessment for questions of firearms ownership and safety that can arise in many different legal contexts. * Dewey Cornell, Ph.D., Forensic clinical psychologist and Bunker Professor of Education, Director, Virginia Youth Violence Project, Curry School of Education, University of Virginia *