New Books in American Studies Jens Ludwig, "Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence" (U Chicago Press, 2025)
Feb 2, 2026
Jens Ludwig, a University of Chicago policy professor and Crime Lab director, discusses the surprising situational roots of gun shootings. He explores how many shootings begin as brief arguments, the role of neighborhood dynamics and businesses, behavioral interventions and training, and targeted community violence prevention alongside policing.
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Gun Violence Has Stalled Nationally
- The U.S. homicide rate has barely changed since 1900 despite overall mortality improvements.
- Jens Ludwig compares recent drops to a 600-pound man losing 100 pounds: progress but still a major problem.
Guns Plus Violence Equals Fatality
- More guns raise lethality even if they sometimes deter crime or enable self-defense.
- Ludwig: gun availability matters but so does the local willingness to use guns to harm.
Most Shootings Are Heat-Of-The-Moment
- Conventional views focus on bad people or poverty and assume rational premeditation.
- Ludwig shows most shootings are heated arguments, not calculated crimes.
