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Robert J. Spitzer

Adjunct Professor, College of William and Mary School of Law
Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science, Emeritus, SUNY Cortland
Chapter Member: Virginia SSN
Areas of Expertise:

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Professional Profile

About Robert

Spitzer's research focuses on all aspects of gun policy, the American presidency, and American politics.

Contributions | No Jargon Podcast | In the News | Publications

Contributions

The Evidence Shows That "Stand Your Ground" Laws Undermine Law Enforcement and Public Safety

Key Findings Brief,

No Jargon Podcast

Episode 161:
Guns in America, Part 2

Episode 160:
Guns in America, Part 1

In the News

"For Most of U.S. History We've Had Both Gun Rights and Gun Regulations," Robert J. Spitzer, Ideas + Guns, Time, June 6, 2023.
"Stand-Your-Ground, the Castle Doctrine, and Public Safety," Robert J. Spitzer, Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium, Rockefeller Institute of Government, May 3, 2023.
"What Our Past Tells Us About Young People and Guns," Robert J. Spitzer, Opinon > Judiciary, The Hill, March 28, 2023.
"Guns at Voting Sites Have Long Sparked Fears of Intimidation and Violence – Yet Few States Ban Their Presence," Robert J. Spitzer, Politics + Society, The Conversation, November 2, 2022.
"Understanding the New Gun Policy Collision," Robert J. Spitzer, Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium, Rockefeller Institute of Government, July 12, 2022.
"US Tragedies From Guns Have Often – but Not Always – Spurred Political Responses," Robert J. Spitzer, Politics + Society, The Conversation, June 23, 2022.
"How the Supreme Court Rewrote History To Justify Its Flawed Gun Decision," Robert J. Spitzer, Politics & Policy, NBC Think, June 23, 2022.
"Texas and New York: A Tale of Two State Gun Laws," Robert J. Spitzer, New York Daily News, January 25, 2022.
"The NRA Could Be Winning Its Long Game Even As It Appears To Be in Dire Straits," Robert J. Spitzer, The Conversation, November 24, 2021.
"The Coming Collision of Gun Laws and Rights," Robert J. Spitzer, Expert Opinion, Rockefeller Institute of Government, May 10, 2021.
"The Supreme Court’s Intent Isn’t Concealed: Conservatives Are Hell Bent on Expanding Gun Rights," Robert J. Spitzer, The New York Daily News, April 26, 2021.
"The Problem With a Self-Pardon," Robert J. Spitzer, History News Network, January 14, 2021.
"Capitol Riot a Fitting End to Trump Presidency Built on Lies," Robert J. Spitzer, Opinion, Syracuse Post-Standard, January 8, 2021.
"Guns and the 2020 Elections," Robert J. Spitzer, Election Analysis - United States, November 15, 2020.
"Originalism, Shot Full of Holes: A Primer for Amy Coney Barrett," Robert J. Spitzer, New York Daily News, October 14, 2020.
"President Trump’s Record on Promises: Did He Keep Them? (Analysis)," Robert J. Spitzer, Syracuse.com, October 1, 2020.
"Guns Don’t Belong Near Polling Places. Right Wingers Want Them There Anyway," Robert J. Spitzer, Perspective, The Washington Post, September 30, 2020.
"The NRA Is Doomed. It Has Only Itself To Blame," Robert J. Spitzer, The Washington Post, August 8, 2020.
"Why Are People Bringing Guns to Anti-Quarantine Protests? To Be Intimidating," Robert J. Spitzer, The Washington Post, April 27, 2020.
"There’s No Second Amendment Right to Large-Capacity Magazines," Robert J. Spitzer, New York Times, August 5, 2019.
"The Gun-Safety Issue Is Actually Helping Democrats," Robert J. Spitzer, The New York Times, November 12, 2018.
"Laws We Used to Have on the Books Could Have Prevented the Florida School Shooting," Robert J. Spitzer, The Washington Post, February 15, 2018.

Publications

"The Politics of Gun Control, (9th Edition)" (Routeledge, Forthcoming August).

Brings together the latest developments and research in gun politics, policy, law, history, and criminology to provide a comprehensive and accessible source widely used by scholars, journalists, and in classrooms. Illustrates among the new topics covered in this edition are the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, new Supreme Court protections for concealed carry permits, and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on gun violence and policy. Provides a unique window into how and why that polarization drives our politics.

"The Gun Dilemma: How History is Against Expanded Gun Rights" (Oxford University Press, 2023).

Examines those gun controversies in the light of our gun history and contemporary policy environment, covering gun policy areas including assault weapons, ammunition magazines, silencers, public gun brandishing and display, and the emergent Second Amendment sanctuary movement. Reveals and illuminating as that history is, argues that we should not be straitjacketed by that history, but rather informed by it as the nation struggles with how to frame its gun policies.

"Guns across America: Reconciling Gun Rules and Rights" (Oxford University Press, 2015).
Argues that our understanding of the gun issue as it has evolved in the U.S. is upside down, looking at gun law history, the Second Amendment, stand your ground laws, and New York State gun laws.
"The Politics of Gun Control (8th Edition)" (Routledge, 2021).

Applies policy theory to the key elements of the gun debate, including analysis of the Second Amendment, cultural-historical factors, interest group behavior, criminological consequences, legislative and executive politics.

"Saving the Constitution from Lawyers: How Legal Training and Law Reviews Distort Constitutional Meaning" (Cambridge University Press, 2008).
Offers a sweeping indictment of the legal community when it enters into the realm of constitutional interpretation.
"The Presidency and the Constitution: Cases and Controversies" (with Michael A. Genovese) (Palgrave/Macmillan, 2005).
Analyzes and examines the courts’ view of presidential power.
"President and Congress: Executive Hegemony at the Crossroads of American Government" (McGraw-Hill; and Temple University Press, 1993).
Provides an analytical and critical treatment of presidential-congressional relations.
"The Presidential Veto: Touchstone of the American Presidency" (SUNY Press, 1988).
Discusses the constitutional antecedents and modern applications of the veto power, including contemporary controversies.