Thesis (M.S. in Electrical Engineering)--Naval Postgraduate School, March 2007. / Thesis Advisor(s): Alexander L. Julian, William B. Maier. "March 2007." Includes bibliographical references (p. 53). Also available in print.

Doctor of Philosophy / Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work / Don L. Kurtz / How and why individuals choose to become gun owners is a complicated issue. Historically, in America, firearms have been associated with patriotism, citizenship, and freedom. Also, historically, much of the research on gun owners has primarily focused on males. Despite the fact that many women do, indeed, own firearms; women, even today, are still often considered an anomaly when it comes to owning guns and participating in the shooting sports. This research utilized an historical analysis, direct interviews with female gun owners, and participation-observation at National Rifle Association (NRA) sponsored Women on Target events, to explore and examine how and why women become owners; as well as how they negotiate the often masculine world of the shooting sports. The data is analyzed through a gender lens, primarily focusing on doing gender, othering, and boundary maintenance. Findings show that firearms ownership is a complex issue and that stereotypical gender believes strongly influences the interaction and images of men and women shooters alike.

The history of forensic firearms examination was evaluated to determine how the field has developed during the past 200 years; especially within the past 100 years. As aresult of this evaluation, some related issues were identified for study. The economic and general uses of firearms reference collections were considered as the collections represent potential security considerations within forensic laboratories. A survey was conducted to determine how firearms examiners used their collections, as well as their receptivity to augmenting the collections with modem technology such as photographs and CD-ROM's. A world-wide survey resulted in responses from 110 forensic laboratories. Examiners stated that the collections were used for training, repairing damaged evidence firearms, and demonstration purposes, and whilst they were prepared to accept modem techriology to augment their collection, stated that such augmentation could not replace the actual collection. Research was conducted to partially answer some legal issues, such as Daubert, et al., by test firing bullets from consecutively rifled barrels to obtain best known 'match' and 'non-match' bullets. To date, some 201 examiners from several countries have evaluated the bullet test sets with no errors. Further research was conducted by test firing four cartridges from 617 similar 9mm Glock pistols and microscopically evaluating the fired cartridge casings to determine if they were identifiable to themselves and not the other casings. All of the casings were identifiable to themselves and not to the other 616 casings. Advances in technology have allowed the development of automated ballistics imaging systems. Research, using the previously cited test bullets and cartridge casings, was conducted to evaluate the capability of the various systems, in conjunction with the abilities offirearms examiners. Three different automated systems were used to evaluate the bullets from the l0-barrel test results. One automated system was used to evaluate the 617 cartridge casings, again with excellent results.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Central Florida, 2008. / Adviser: Stephen T. Holmes. Includes bibliographical references (p. 153-165).

This study explores relationships among attitudes about mental illness and guns in order to shed some light on two issues often mentioned in the same realm: mental illness and gun violence. This study also explores if personality variables relate to these attitudes about guns and mental illness. The results of this study found that those who reported more positive attitudes toward guns will have more negative attitudes toward mental illness. The data supported another part of the hypothesis that males would report more positive attitudes towards guns and more negative attitudes towards mental illness than females. This study did not support one part of the hypothesis that those participants with higher ratings of openness to experiences and conscientiousness will have more positive attitudes towards mental illness. Exploring these attitudes may advance our understanding of misconceptions, stereotypes, and stigma. This may also increase understanding of what leads to polarizing and divisive opinions on these issues.

The panelists will be sharing information about gun violence in the U.S, proposed firearm legislation in Tennessee, research examining gun violence patterns in other states, and education to help parents and others prevent unintentional shootings by children.

This thesis is an examination of a firearm identification system that creates a three-dimensional image of a bullet in order to record the depth and length of striations occurring along the bullet's surface. Ballistics evidence is an area of forensics in great need of further development. The advent of more sophisticated firearms such as semi-automatic and automatic weapons has increased the need for a matching system that connects bullets found at crime scenes with suspect guns. In the past, control bullets matching ones found at the crime scene have been test fired and then examined by a comparison microscope for similarities with the evidence bullet. The purpose of this thesis is to examine data collected by an emerging system that uses three-dimensional technology by way of a laser and convex mirrors to create a digitized representation of the lands and grooves of a bullet. This representation is a measure of the depth of striations or markings created on the bullet's surface during the firing event. The objective of this thesis is to statistically examine the data collected by this system, which consists of bullets produced by eight different manufacturers. The data for this thesis comes from a pilot study conducted by the creators of a three-dimensional system called SCICLOPS. Variables examined include the maximum and minimum number of striations recorded, the relative position of the bullet (as determined by the six lands and grooves measured by the system), and the manufacturer type. It is hypothesized that there will be differences in the number of striations measured across manufacturer types. Results indicate that manufacturer type may play an important role in how bullets "take" striations or markings during the firing event. Implications for the SCICLOPS system and future research are discussed.

Abstract: This dissertation explores how cultural meanings around race, class, and gender shape concealed handgun licensing in Texas. This project utilizes in-depth interviews with 36 concealed handgun license holders and field observations at licensing courses and gun ranges to understand why people get a license, what their gun carrying practices are, and how they imagine criminal threat and self-defense. Through my analysis of interviews, I find that masculinity is central to how men become gun users and why they want to obtain a concealed handgun license. Women explain their desire for a CHL as rooted in feelings of empowerment. While traditional conceptions of “fear of crime” are not a motivating factor for most of the license holders I interviewed, I find that CHL holders feel vulnerable to potential crime because they assume that criminals are armed. These interviews also suggest that perceptions of criminality are highly racialized, as predominantly black spaces are marked as threatening. As I argue, part of the appeal of concealed handgun licenses is that they signify to those who have them that they are the embodiment of personal responsibility. / text

The present study deals with the development of a single-stage implosion-driven hypervelocity launcher. A thin-walled tube filled with helium surrounded by explosives acts as a driver for the launcher. Implosion of the tube drives a strong shock that reflects back and forth between the projectile and the implosion pinch, generating very high temperatures and pressures. Simple analytic models were used to approximate the performance of the pump tube and its use as a driver for a launcher. Experiments to evaluate the implosion dynamics and performance of the pump tube were carried out, and implosion-driven launcher experiments demonstrated muzzle velocities above 4 km/s with 5-mm-diameter aluminum projectiles. Projectile integrity was verified by high-speed photography. Disagreement of experimental data with the analytical models of performance is mostly due to failure to seal the chamber of the launcher, resulting in loss of driver gas, and pump tube expansion, which weakens the precursor shock.

What does current campus carry policy in the south look like and how has it developed though the state legislatures? Eleven out of fifty states now allow some form of campus carry and the amount of legislation introduced in states across the country is growing each year. This thesis examines the language of attempts to pass campus carry legislation at the state level throughout the south. I examine the evolution of policy language in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and Texas and what current campus carry policy in each state looks like. The conclusions of this examination point to a moderation in policy as it passes through the legislative process, even in Republican dominated state legislatures.