LGBTs report childhood sexual abuse at 3x-8x the rate of heterosexuals. LGBTs have similar order ... more LGBTs report childhood sexual abuse at 3x-8x the rate of heterosexuals. LGBTs have similar order of magnitude higher rates of substance abuse, suicide, mental illness and obesity (among lesbians). The failure to consider this possible causal relationship has lead to a widespread assumption that homosexuality is an inborn and immutable characteristic. Failure to consider this possible origin has also led critics of homosexuality to assume that homosexuality as a preference is a conscious choice.
Examines the history and effects on crime rates of adoption of "shall issue" concealed ... more Examines the history and effects on crime rates of adoption of "shall issue" concealed weapon permit laws.
This provocative book debunks the myth that American gun culture was intentionally created by gun... more This provocative book debunks the myth that American gun culture was intentionally created by gun makers and demonstrates that gun ownership and use have been a core part of American society since our colonial origins. Revisionist historians argue that American gun culture and manufacturing are relatively recent developments. They further claim that widespread gun violence was largely absent from early American history because guns of all types, and especially handguns, were rare before 1848. According to these revisionists, American gun culture was the creation of the first mass production gun manufacturers, who used clever marketing to sell guns to people who neither wanted nor needed them. However, as proven in this first scholarly history of "gun culture" in early America, gun ownership and use have in fact been central to American society from its very beginnings. Lock, Stock, and Barrel: The Origins of American Gun Culture shows that gunsmithing and gun manufacturing were important parts of the economies of the colonies and the early republic and explains how the American gun industry helped to create our modern world of precision mass production and high wages for workers.
In the aftermath of the Treyvon Martin shooting in Florida, Stand Your Ground laws have acquired ... more In the aftermath of the Treyvon Martin shooting in Florida, Stand Your Ground laws have acquired an unsavory reputation. These laws and their close cousin, castle doctrine, have an interesting history, especially with respect to protecting victims of domestic violence. Texas’ Stand Your Ground law differs substantially from that of Florida, with much greater restraints on use of deadly force.
Murder and burglary rates are very strongly correlated: much more so than any other crimes record... more Murder and burglary rates are very strongly correlated: much more so than any other crimes recorded by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports program. This paper asks if both of these crimes are so strongly correlated because both are proxies for drug abuse, and suggests that this relationship may justify more examination of a causal connection by researchers with more statistical skills. While studying a rather different problem, the effectiveness of one gun a month laws for reducing crime rates, 2 I found myself startled by the very strong correlation between murder and burglary rates; much stronger than for other crimes reported by the FBI's Uniform Crime reports program. On a national level, burglary and murder rates from 1960-2012 are very strongly correlated: r=0.934. Over the same period, the correlation of murder rates to rates for other Uniform Crime Report crimes is strong, but far less impressive: rape (r=0.530); robbery (r=0.896); larceny/theft (r=0.735); motor vehicle theft (r=0.802). The low correlation of murder and rape rates may be indicative of low reporting rates in the early part of the 1960-2012 period. Looking at particular ranges of years produces odd results:
For a number of years, surveys of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) populations hav... more For a number of years, surveys of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) populations have found very disproportionate levels of social dysfunctionality relative to heterosexuals as measured by substance abuse problems (5-7 times that of heterosexuals), mental illness (3x), suicide (2-8x), and obesity (for lesbians 1.5x). While it has been fashionable to attribute these problems to growing up in a homophobic, discriminatory society, and court decisions have often used this a reason for judicial action, there is another explanation that is seldom discussed: these social dysfunctions may be symptoms of disproportionate sexual abuse of the LGBT as
Firearms regulation in Colonial America was primarily focused on encouraging gun ownership for de... more Firearms regulation in Colonial America was primarily focused on encouraging gun ownership for defense against external threats (Indians, pirates, non-British European powers) and internal threats (slave rebellions).
The phrase “dangerous or unusual weapons” has long been used by American courts to justify prohib... more The phrase “dangerous or unusual weapons” has long been used by American courts to justify prohibiting possession or carrying of particular classes of weapons. Examination of the history of this phrase shows it was neither as ancient nor as broadly prohibitive as many assume. Analogies to First Amendment case law suggest that the authority of the government may be more limited than D.C. v. Heller (2008) indicates.
In the aftermath of the Treyvon Martin shooting in Florida, Stand Your Ground laws have acquired ... more In the aftermath of the Treyvon Martin shooting in Florida, Stand Your Ground laws have acquired an unsavory reputation. These laws and their close cousin, castle doctrine, have an interesting history, especially with respect to protecting victims of domestic violence. Texas’ Stand Your Ground law differs substantially from that of Florida, with much greater restraints on use of deadly force.
The phrase “dangerous or unusual weapons” has long been used by American courts to justify prohib... more The phrase “dangerous or unusual weapons” has long been used by American courts to justify prohibiting possession or carrying of particular classes of weapons. Examination of the history of this phrase shows it was neither as ancient nor as broadly prohibitive as many assume. Analogies to First Amendment case law suggest that the authority of the government may be more limited than D.C. v. Heller (2008) indicates.
LGBTs report childhood sexual abuse at 3x-8x the rate of heterosexuals. LGBTs have similar order ... more LGBTs report childhood sexual abuse at 3x-8x the rate of heterosexuals. LGBTs have similar order of magnitude higher rates of substance abuse, suicide, mental illness and obesity (among lesbians). The failure to consider this possible causal relationship has lead to a widespread assumption that homosexuality is an inborn and immutable characteristic. Failure to consider this possible origin has also led critics of homosexuality to assume that homosexuality as a preference is a conscious choice.
americans-agreement-supreme-court-gun-rights.aspx (discussing U.S. CONST. amend. II) ("A clear ma... more americans-agreement-supreme-court-gun-rights.aspx (discussing U.S. CONST. amend. II) ("A clear majority of the U.S. public-73%-believes the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the rights of Americans to own guns."). Harris Interactive found that seventy percent of Americans agreed that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms. Harris Interactive,
americans-agreement-supreme-court-gun-rights.aspx (discussing U.S. CONST. amend. II) ("A clear ma... more americans-agreement-supreme-court-gun-rights.aspx (discussing U.S. CONST. amend. II) ("A clear majority of the U.S. public-73%-believes the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the rights of Americans to own guns."). Harris Interactive found that seventy percent of Americans agreed that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms. Harris Interactive,
LGBTs report childhood sexual abuse at 3x-8x the rate of heterosexuals. LGBTs have similar order ... more LGBTs report childhood sexual abuse at 3x-8x the rate of heterosexuals. LGBTs have similar order of magnitude higher rates of substance abuse, suicide, mental illness and obesity (among lesbians). The failure to consider this possible causal relationship has lead to a widespread assumption that homosexuality is an inborn and immutable characteristic. Failure to consider this possible origin has also led critics of homosexuality to assume that homosexuality as a preference is a conscious choice.
Examines the history and effects on crime rates of adoption of "shall issue" concealed ... more Examines the history and effects on crime rates of adoption of "shall issue" concealed weapon permit laws.
This provocative book debunks the myth that American gun culture was intentionally created by gun... more This provocative book debunks the myth that American gun culture was intentionally created by gun makers and demonstrates that gun ownership and use have been a core part of American society since our colonial origins. Revisionist historians argue that American gun culture and manufacturing are relatively recent developments. They further claim that widespread gun violence was largely absent from early American history because guns of all types, and especially handguns, were rare before 1848. According to these revisionists, American gun culture was the creation of the first mass production gun manufacturers, who used clever marketing to sell guns to people who neither wanted nor needed them. However, as proven in this first scholarly history of "gun culture" in early America, gun ownership and use have in fact been central to American society from its very beginnings. Lock, Stock, and Barrel: The Origins of American Gun Culture shows that gunsmithing and gun manufacturing were important parts of the economies of the colonies and the early republic and explains how the American gun industry helped to create our modern world of precision mass production and high wages for workers.
In the aftermath of the Treyvon Martin shooting in Florida, Stand Your Ground laws have acquired ... more In the aftermath of the Treyvon Martin shooting in Florida, Stand Your Ground laws have acquired an unsavory reputation. These laws and their close cousin, castle doctrine, have an interesting history, especially with respect to protecting victims of domestic violence. Texas’ Stand Your Ground law differs substantially from that of Florida, with much greater restraints on use of deadly force.
Murder and burglary rates are very strongly correlated: much more so than any other crimes record... more Murder and burglary rates are very strongly correlated: much more so than any other crimes recorded by the FBI's Uniform Crime Reports program. This paper asks if both of these crimes are so strongly correlated because both are proxies for drug abuse, and suggests that this relationship may justify more examination of a causal connection by researchers with more statistical skills. While studying a rather different problem, the effectiveness of one gun a month laws for reducing crime rates, 2 I found myself startled by the very strong correlation between murder and burglary rates; much stronger than for other crimes reported by the FBI's Uniform Crime reports program. On a national level, burglary and murder rates from 1960-2012 are very strongly correlated: r=0.934. Over the same period, the correlation of murder rates to rates for other Uniform Crime Report crimes is strong, but far less impressive: rape (r=0.530); robbery (r=0.896); larceny/theft (r=0.735); motor vehicle theft (r=0.802). The low correlation of murder and rape rates may be indicative of low reporting rates in the early part of the 1960-2012 period. Looking at particular ranges of years produces odd results:
For a number of years, surveys of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) populations hav... more For a number of years, surveys of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) populations have found very disproportionate levels of social dysfunctionality relative to heterosexuals as measured by substance abuse problems (5-7 times that of heterosexuals), mental illness (3x), suicide (2-8x), and obesity (for lesbians 1.5x). While it has been fashionable to attribute these problems to growing up in a homophobic, discriminatory society, and court decisions have often used this a reason for judicial action, there is another explanation that is seldom discussed: these social dysfunctions may be symptoms of disproportionate sexual abuse of the LGBT as
Firearms regulation in Colonial America was primarily focused on encouraging gun ownership for de... more Firearms regulation in Colonial America was primarily focused on encouraging gun ownership for defense against external threats (Indians, pirates, non-British European powers) and internal threats (slave rebellions).
The phrase “dangerous or unusual weapons” has long been used by American courts to justify prohib... more The phrase “dangerous or unusual weapons” has long been used by American courts to justify prohibiting possession or carrying of particular classes of weapons. Examination of the history of this phrase shows it was neither as ancient nor as broadly prohibitive as many assume. Analogies to First Amendment case law suggest that the authority of the government may be more limited than D.C. v. Heller (2008) indicates.
In the aftermath of the Treyvon Martin shooting in Florida, Stand Your Ground laws have acquired ... more In the aftermath of the Treyvon Martin shooting in Florida, Stand Your Ground laws have acquired an unsavory reputation. These laws and their close cousin, castle doctrine, have an interesting history, especially with respect to protecting victims of domestic violence. Texas’ Stand Your Ground law differs substantially from that of Florida, with much greater restraints on use of deadly force.
The phrase “dangerous or unusual weapons” has long been used by American courts to justify prohib... more The phrase “dangerous or unusual weapons” has long been used by American courts to justify prohibiting possession or carrying of particular classes of weapons. Examination of the history of this phrase shows it was neither as ancient nor as broadly prohibitive as many assume. Analogies to First Amendment case law suggest that the authority of the government may be more limited than D.C. v. Heller (2008) indicates.
LGBTs report childhood sexual abuse at 3x-8x the rate of heterosexuals. LGBTs have similar order ... more LGBTs report childhood sexual abuse at 3x-8x the rate of heterosexuals. LGBTs have similar order of magnitude higher rates of substance abuse, suicide, mental illness and obesity (among lesbians). The failure to consider this possible causal relationship has lead to a widespread assumption that homosexuality is an inborn and immutable characteristic. Failure to consider this possible origin has also led critics of homosexuality to assume that homosexuality as a preference is a conscious choice.
americans-agreement-supreme-court-gun-rights.aspx (discussing U.S. CONST. amend. II) ("A clear ma... more americans-agreement-supreme-court-gun-rights.aspx (discussing U.S. CONST. amend. II) ("A clear majority of the U.S. public-73%-believes the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the rights of Americans to own guns."). Harris Interactive found that seventy percent of Americans agreed that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms. Harris Interactive,
americans-agreement-supreme-court-gun-rights.aspx (discussing U.S. CONST. amend. II) ("A clear ma... more americans-agreement-supreme-court-gun-rights.aspx (discussing U.S. CONST. amend. II) ("A clear majority of the U.S. public-73%-believes the Second Amendment to the Constitution guarantees the rights of Americans to own guns."). Harris Interactive found that seventy percent of Americans agreed that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to bear arms. Harris Interactive,
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Papers by Clayton Cramer