Patrick Sharkey

Princeton University Website

Patrick Sharkey is Professor of Sociology and Public Affairs at Princeton University. He holds a Ph.D. in Sociology and Social Policy from Harvard University.

Voting History

Mass violence

Red flag laws, allowing police or family members to petition a court to temporarily remove firearms from a person who presents a danger to themselves or others, would reduce the frequency or severity of mass violence.

Vote Confidence
Agree 3
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 7
Comments

Mass shootings defined in terms of high-fatality incidents where the violence is not related to other criminal activity are rare enough that we don't have any solid evidence about what makes them less common. I am thus interpreting the question as whether the policy reduces gun violence. In this case there are mixed results, but there is enough suggestive evidence to think that this approach could merit consideration.

Universal background checks, which would require almost all firearm sales in the US to go through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, would reduce the frequency or severity of mass violence.

Vote Confidence
Agree 3
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Agree 5
Comments

Again, my response is in relation to all gun violence. I think there is enough evidence on background checks and gun violence to "agree" with the statement.

Increasing the presence of armed security at schools and other public venues would reduce the frequency or severity of mass violence.

Vote Confidence
Neutral/No Opinion 1
Median Survey Vote Median Survey Confidence
Neutral/No Opinion 5
Comments

I have not seen strong enough evidence on this question to make a strong conclusion. Armed security probably reduces violence in public spaces generally, but the literature on schools that I've read is not clear. Equally or more important than the effects on violence are the potential costs and harm from turning to armed security in schools--we should be looking at other outcomes, like school discipline, academic performance, sense of belonging alongside outcomes related to violence.