Control of Violence, Control of Fear: The Progression of Gun Control in San Francisco, 1847-1923

This paper focuses on gun control in San Francisco between 1847 and 1923, from the control of the rowdy men of the gold rush, to the management of the Chinese, to the control of the sale and distribution of firearms. For the purpose of this study, the main sources used to understand public perceptions are newspapers, specifically the <em>Daily Alta California, San Francisco Call, </em>and <em>San Francisco Chronicle</em>. While it is impossible to completely recreate the attitudes towards guns, newspapers provide a window into public opinion, while also providing multiple opinions on the same or similar subjects. In addition, government records provide specific information on municipal and state gun laws passed in the wake of the published opinions. From the first ban on discharging weapons in San Francisco to the first concealed weapons ban, San Franciscans examined their relationship with firearms in the rapidly growing city. As the Chinese population increased, the gun control discourse shifted to include the perceived threat of the Chinese “highbinder,” generated by local newspapers. The conversation was further altered in the early twentieth century as white San Franciscans began criticizing the relationship between society and firearms, and lobbied for statewide gun control.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Arts (MA)

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

History

Year dc:date.available

2015

Author dc:creator

• Huerta, Josselyn P.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Daniel Herman
• Brian Carroll
• Jason Dormady

• Gun Control
• California
• San Francisco
• American West
• Chinese Americans
• Social History
• United States History

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.cwu.edu/etd/149

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.cwu.edu:etd-1156