Guns in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture and the Law, 3rd Edition

January 2023

ABC-CLIO 

https://www.abc-clio.com/products/a5930c/

3 vols, 1091 pp.; ISBN Number: 978-1-4408-6773-6  (363.330973)

REVIEW

--American Library Association's Booklist (March 2023)

Passing gun-safety legislation in 2022 was a Herculean effort, as Americans are so divided on the issue of gun control. This work, now in its third edition, is a reference for gun-related issues in America, drawing from diverse fields such as politics, cultural studies, law, medicine, history, and economics. Alphabetized entries cover types of weapons (AK-47, plastic guns), people (Franklin Zimring), salient state and federal court cases, organizations and corporations, events (Killeen shooting), and general topics (poverty and gun violence). Entries have been updated and are cross-referenced, and each provides a list of additional sources. As in the second edition, there are appendixes of state and federal laws, judicial developments, and organizations. The total number of entries has been reduced, though there are new entries, such as those on bump stocks and Giffords Law Center. Like the second edition, this work approaches the subject matter from an interdisciplinary perspective, is based on research, and provides multiple perspectives, making it an excellent reference for high-school or college students seeking an introduction to not only ownership and use of firearms but also the wider issues related to gun rights and gun control and general attitudes toward guns in America. [A starred review, indicating that “this title is exceptional in its genre.”]

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