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GUN IN AMERICA - THE ORIGINS OF A NATIONAL DILEMMA

NCJ Number
25448
Author(s)
L KENNETT; J L ANDERSON
Date Published
1975
Length
349 pages
Annotation
THE AUTHORS CONTEND THAT THE ROLE OF FIREARMS IN AMERICAN HISTORY IS UNPARALLELED BY THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES, LARGELY BECAUSE OF THE UNIQUE ORIGINS OF AMERICAN SOCIETY.
Abstract
SINCE SETTLEMENT AND EXPANSION TOOK PLACE IN AN OFTEN HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT, THE POPULATION WAS COMPELLED TO DEFEND ITSELF BY THE MOST PRACTICAL MEANS THEN AVAILABLETHE GUN. IDEOLOGICALLY, EIGHTEENTH-CENTURY PHILOSOPHERS ENCOURAGED THE NOTION THAT THE CITIZEN-SOLDIER WAS THE BEST GUARANTOR OF HIS OWN FREEDOM. THIS IDEA BECAME EMBODIED IN THE MYTH OF THE MINUTEMAN AND ENSHRINED IN THE SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION. DURING THE NINETEENTH CENTURY, WESTWARD EXPANSION WITHOUT THE PROTECTION OF A MILITARIZED FRONTIER, ALONG WITH THE DISTINCTLY AMERICAN IDEA THAT WILDLIFE RESOURCES WERE AN INEXHAUSTIBLE PUBLIC PROPERTY, FURTHER PERPETUATED THE PERMISSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARD FIREARMS. SOON THE AMERICAN FIRARMS INDUSTRY GAINED INTERNATIONAL REPUTE THROUGH ITS TECHNOLOGICAL ACHIEVEMENTS. THE APPROACH OF 'THE GUN IN AMERICA' IS ESSENTIALLY HISTORICAL AND CHRONOLOGICAL, STEERING A COURSE BETWEEN THE HEAVILY TECHNICAL AND THE SENSATIONAL.

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