This encyclopedia explores violence in the US from the nation's founding to modern-day trends, laws, viewpoints, and media depictions. Providing a nuanced lens through which to think about violence in America, including underlying causes, iterations, and possible solutions, this work offers broad and authoritative coverage that will be immensely helpful to users-ranging from high school and undergraduate students to professionals in law enforcement and school administration. In addition to detailed and evenhanded summaries of key events and issues relating to violence in America, contributors highlight important events, political debates, key legal perspectives, modern dimensions, and critical approaches. Also features excerpts from important primary source documents such as legal rulings, presidential speeches, and congressional testimony from scholars and activists. Together they provide important insights into past and present patterns of violent crime, and proposed solutions.