THE BOOK OPENS BY DESCRIBING 19 GUN MURDERS, ACCIDENTS, AND SUICIDES WHICH OCCURRED ACROSS THE COUNTRY ON ONE SPECIFIC DAY; AMONG THE INCIDENTS RECOUNTED IS THE ASSASSINATION OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY. AN OVERVIEW OF THE POLICIES AND REGULATIONS OF VARIOUS STATES AND OTHER COUNTRIES ILLUSTRATE THE INADEQUENCY OF GUN CONTROLS IN THE UNITED STATES AND THE EASE WITH WHICH ANYONE CAN OBTAIN FIREARMS. EXCERPTS FROM CONVERSATIONS WITH GUN DEALERS AND MANUFACTURERS SHOW THE ATTITUDES AND PHILOSOPHIES OF THOSE WHO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH FIREARMS. THE MURDER RATES OF MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES ARE EXAMINED, ALONG WITH THE FREQUENCY WITH WHICH GUNS ARE USED IN THE COMMISSION OF OTHER CRIMES. A SEPARATE CHAPTER IS DEVOTED TO A DISCUSSION OF CASES IN WHICH FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, LOVERS, AND RELATIVES HAVE SHOT AND KILLED EACH OTHER WITH EASILY OBTAINED GUNS, MANY OF THEM OVER TRIVIAL ARGUMENTS. SEVERAL MULTIPLE MURDERS, MOTHERS KILLING ALL OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THEN THEMSELVES, ARE ALSO REPORTED. THE PECULIAR AMERICAN ATTRACTION FOR GUNS, THE 'FIREARMS MYSTIQUE,' IS ANALYZED. POPULAR SPORTS (E.G., SKEET, TARGET SHOOTING, AND HUNTING), THE LEGENDS OF AND FASCINATION WITH THE AMERICAN WEST AND ITS EMPHASIS ON GUN HANDLING ABILITY, AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSES OF THE ATTRACTION TO FIREARMS ARE DISCUSSED. THE POSITIONS OF VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AGAINST GUN CONTROLS (SUCH AS THE NATIONAL RIFLE ASSOCIATION -- NRA, THE KU KLUX KLAN, AND HUNTING PUBLICATIONS) OR FOR THEM (NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION, THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE) ARE PRESENTED. THE LOBBYING EFFORTS OF THE NRA IN PARTICULAR ARE HIGHLIGHTED. INEFFECTIVE STATE LAWS AND AN ENTIRE HISTORY OF FEDERAL FAILURE TO IMPLEMENT EFFECTIVE FIREARMS CONTROLS ARE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH. THE ISSUE OF FIREARMS SAFETY AND THE NRA'S EMPHASIS ON SAFETY EDUCATION RATHER THAN SAFETY LAWS IS ALSO TREATED. GUN CONTROL OPPONENTS' ARGUMENTS OF THE NEED FOR A WELL-ARMED CITIZENRY IN CASE OF A FOREIGN INVASION OF THE U.S. IS CRITICALLY EXAMINED, AND THE SUPPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS, ALONG WITH SUPREME COURT INTERPRETATIONS OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT, ARE EXPLORED. FINALLY, A DISCUSSION OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF GUN CONTROL LEGISLATION WHICH COULD BE ENACTED AND OTHER ACTION WHICH COULD BE TAKEN TO RESTRICT FIREARMS IS PRESENTED. APPENDIX PROVIDES SUMMARIES OF FEDERAL AND STATE FIREARMS LAWS; TABLES SHOWING THE NUMBER OF DEATHS DUE TO FIREARMS IN THE U.S. AND IN 15 OTHER COUNTRIES FROM 1900 TO 1964; AND A STATEMENT OF POLICY OF THE NRA. A BIBLIOGRAPHY, NOTES, AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. (VDA)