A BASIC THEME UNDERLYING THE STATED REASONS FOR OPPOSITION TO HANDGUN CONTROLS IS THE UNACCEPTABILITY OF DENYING THE NECESSARY MEANS OF PROTECTION (HANDGUNS) TO PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN A SOCIETY THAT CANNOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT THEM. THE SEVERE RESTRICTION OF HANDGUNS IS LIKENED TO RESTRICTING SALE AND USE OF LIQUOR DURING THE PROHIBITION, AN ERA IN WHICH NORMAL, LAWABIDING CITIZENS DEFIED THE LAW. AN ESSAY ON THE HISTORY OF HANDGUN PROHIBITION IN THE U.S. REVIEWS HISTORICAL MISCONCEPTIONS BASED ON INAPPROPRIATE PROJECTIONS OF PRESENT ATTITUDES TOWARDS FIREARMS AND RESTRICTIONS IN THE PAST, ATTITUDES TOWARDS FIREARMS OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS, AND VARIOUS STATES' LEGISLATION. COMPARATIVE CROSS-CULTURAL STATISTICS ARE USED IN A DISCUSSION OF HOMICIDE, ROBBERY, AND FIREARMS ACCIDENTS IN GREAT BRITAIN, THE U.S., SWITZERLAND, MEXICO, AND JAMAICA IN TERMS OF THE FIREARMS LEGISTRATION AND OF THE AVAILABILITY OF DIFFERENT KINDS OF FIREARMS IN EACH OF THESE COUNTRIES. A CRITIQUE OF HANDGUN PROHIBITION FINDS THE ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT OF SUCH LEGISLATION FAULTY, ESPECIALLY IN THOSE CITING STATISTICS TO PROVE THE NEED FOR HANDGUN RESTRICTIONS. NEXT, TWO ESSAYS CONSIDER THE EFFECT OF HANDGUN PROHIBITIONS IN REDUCING VIOLENT CRIME. THE HANDGUN-BANNING STATES ARE FOUND TO HAVE EQUIVALENT OR HIGHER LEVELS OF VIOLENT CRIME THAN THE HANDGUN-ALLOWING STATES, WITH THE POINT MADE THAT ILLEGAL MANUFACTURE OF HANDGUNS WOULD REPLACE THEIR LEGAL MANUFACTURE IF A BAN WERE IMPLEMENTED. A DISCUSSION OF SELF-DEFENSE FOCUSES ON WOMEN AND HANDGUNS AND MAINTAINS THAT HANDGUN ACCESS IS PARTICULARLY VITAL TO UNDERPRIVILEGED AND MINORITY WOMEN (AND MEN) LIVING IN AREAS WHERE THE POLICE HAVE GIVEN UP ON CRIME CONTROL. FINALLY, THE CONSTITUTIONAL AND CIVIL LIBERTIES IMPLICATIONS OF HANDGUN PROHIBITION ARE EXAMINED; DISCUSSION OF THE SECOND AMENDMENT AS A RESTRAINT ON STATE AND FEDERAL FIREARM RESTRICTIONS, THE NECESSITY OF FIREARMS ACCESS BY DISSENTERS AND MINORITIES WHOM THE GOVERNMENT IS UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO PROTECT, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES VIOLATIONS IN ENFORCING HANDGUN PROHIBITIONS ARE INCLUDED. TABLES, FOOTNOTES, AND BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF CONTRIBUTORS ARE PROVIDED. (PRG)