鈥淭he tendency is for the public to look to male, Republican leaders when concerns about terrorism run high,鈥� says , co-author of Democracy at Risk: How Terrorist Threats Affect the Public and many other articles on how terrorist threats affect evaluations of political leaders. 鈥淚t also helps if those leaders are incumbents.鈥�
Clinton could change the tide of public opinion, though.
鈥淭he biases against female leadership can be overcome when women leaders are seen as holding countervailing characteristics, such as experience with national security,鈥� Zechmeister says.TERRORIST THREATS Zechmeister鈥檚 research demonstrates how a terrorist threat increases: 鈥� Social distrust, intolerance, and authoritarianism in the public鈥� Voter鈥檚 preferences for strong leadership鈥� Voter鈥檚 preferences for hawkish and hardline policies鈥� Public鈥檚 willingness to give up certain civil liberties
鈥淭he electorate responds to strong leadership, hawkish policies and is willing to forgo certain civil liberties in exchange for stronger security measures if it makes them feel safer,鈥� she says.
Democracy at Risk is the first of Zechmeister鈥檚 three books. She is also director of the WHAT ABOUT GUNS?
Mass shootings like Orlando are unpredictable, but gun violence is highly preventable, says , Vanderbilt psychiatrist, sociologist and director of the 鈥淭his horrific shooting yet again shows us that no community is safe from the scourge of gun crime in America, and the most marginalized communities are frequently the most targeted,鈥� Metzl said.
In his research, 鈥淢ental Illness, Mass Shootings and the Politics of American Firearms,鈥� published in the American Journal of Public Health, Metzl analyzed data and literature linking guns and mental illness over the past 40 years.
People are much more likely to be the victim of gun violence by someone who is close to them, Metzl鈥檚 research shows.
鈥淲e should set our gun policies on the everyday shootings, not just on sensational shootings, because everyday gun death is often predictable and preventable,鈥� says Metzl.
SIGNS TO PREDICT GUN VIOLENCE
The factors that often lead to gun violence are:
鈥� Drug and alcohol use鈥� History of violence鈥� Access to firearms鈥� Personal relationship stress
鈥淧eople are far more likely to be shot by relatives, friends, enemies or acquaintances than they are by random strangers, terrorists or lone violent psychopaths,鈥� Metzl says. 鈥淲e need to keep this in mind when we address gun crime.
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