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Rating: 
Summary: Must for anyone interested in gun control.
Review: Anyone who is interested in the gun control debate, whether they are on the gun rights side, anti-freedom (pro-gun control) side, or still sitting on the fence, would do well to read this book. For the gun rights advocates, this book will serve as valuable ammunition against the fear monger liberals who's arguments rely only on emotional pleas to the weak minded. If you're a gun control advocate, you are in serious need of this book. It's time to engage your brain and look at the facts. As for those still sitting on the fence, if this book can't push you in the right direction, nothing can.In very clear and straightforward language anyone can understand, Richard Poe dispels each and every argument the left has made against guns in the course of the debate. Just see the table of contents above (great feature). Each myth named, he dispels quite clearly and concisely. Not only are the empirical statistic based arguments there, so are the logical and historical arguments. Even if you're relatively new to this topic and haven't done much research on the issue before, this would be the book for you if you are now interested in getting your feet wet. As he dispels the arguments of the left, he also lays down the case for the right. If you've found yourself believing any one of those myths outlined in the table of contents, or unable to respond to those arguments from the left, this book is for you.
Rating: 
Summary: Use your head
Review: Apart from the occasional person who pops up to give this book one star and vehemently advocate trigger locks, no one is going to read this book except the people who agree with Mr. Poe. His views on the seven myths are probably right. I say "probably" because he only cites people who agree with him. When he uses an occasional quote from a dissenter, the reader has no idea what the context is. It seems like he often takes a few words from another's work and expands them to fit the assumptions he uses. He also has an annoying tendency of stating his argument, giving us a singular example supporting his argument, and concluding that his argument is obviously right. Does this make him wrong? No, but it probably makes him a bad writer. For this reason, his book will serve only as assurance to us gun owners and want-to-be gun owners that we are correct. He is not going to change anyone's mind or even sway someone who is on the fence.
Rating: 
Summary: A Must Read
Review: In the past, I tacitly believed many of these myths. If you
believe any of these statements, then you must read this book:
- Guns increase violent crime
- Pulling a gun on a criminal endangers you more than the criminal
- Guns pose a special threat to kids
- The 2nd Amendment applies only to miliamen
- The 2nd Amendment is obsolete
- We should treat guns as cars, requiring licenses
- "Reasonable" gun control is not a threat
The author writes in an easy-reading style, working in statistics
as well as many anecdotes. If you haven't thought deeply
about these issues and your opinion has been shaped by the
mainstream media, then you MUST read this. Everybody
else should read it anyway -- no matter which side of the fence
you are on.
Rating:
Summary: Accurate, easy to understand data
Review: In very clear and straightforward language anyone can understand, Richard Poe dispels each and every argument the left has made against guns in the course of the debate. Just see the table of contents above (great feature). Each myth named, he dispels quite clearly and concisely. Not only are the empirical statistic based arguments there, so are the logical and historical arguments. Even if you're relatively new to this topic and haven't done much research on the issue before, this would be the book for you if you are now interested in getting your feet wet. As he dispels the arguments of the left, he also lays down the case for the right.
Rating: 
Summary: Very good book -- but only to a point.
Review: The author of this book, while doing a very good job of detailing the facts of his subject, falls into one of the all-too-common failings of those who write to support a subject. He goes beyond the facts themselves to make some fairly unsupported interpretations of those facts. For example, he completely dismantles the claims that the Constitution only supports state-controlled organizations -- such as the National Guard -- right to "keep and bear arms." This is untrue on its' face, and the author does an excellent job of showing this myth to be exactly that -- a myth. This is only one example out of many that could be pointed out. In fact, each of the seven myths he lists, are shown to be, in fact, myths. Unfortunately, he didn't stop at that point. He went on to create what might seem to be a myth of his own, that America has lost its' "warrior" culture, and that our present culture wants nothing more than to "emasculate" all men. This view is opinion, and he has a right to that opinion, and to express that opinion. However, it does seem to weaken his case. His facts are indisputable (well, many will dispute them, of course, but without merit), his opinions are questionable -- as are the opinions of anyone else. It is my opinion that the author would have made a much stronger case if he had simply stuck to the facts of the matter. As is, anyone who disagrees with his opinion will feel more justified in dismissing the entire book.
Rating:
Summary: Very good book -- but only to a point.
Review: The author of this book, while doing a very good job of detailing the facts of his subject, falls into one of the all-too-common failings of those who write to support a subject. He goes beyond the facts themselves to make some fairly unsupported interpretations of those facts. For example, he completely dismantles the claims that the Constitution only supports state-controlled organizations -- such as the National Guard -- right to "keep and bear arms." This is untrue on its' face, and the author does an excellent job of showing this myth to be exactly that -- a myth. This is only one example out of many that could be pointed out. In fact, each of the seven myths he lists, are shown to be, in fact, myths. Unfortunately, he didn't stop at that point. He went on to create what might seem to be a myth of his own, that America has lost its' "warrior" culture, and that our present culture wants nothing more than to "emasculate" all men. This view is opinion, and he has a right to that opinion, and to express that opinion. However, it does seem to weaken his case. His facts are indisputable (well, many will dispute them, of course, but without merit), his opinions are questionable -- as are the opinions of anyone else. It is my opinion that the author would have made a much stronger case if he had simply stuck to the facts of the matter. As is, anyone who disagrees with his opinion will feel more justified in dismissing the entire book.
Rating:
Summary: No changing anyones mind
Review: This is an excellent primer for those who are new to the pro-gun owner movement, for fence riders, or for anti-gun owners who are wondering what all the fuss is about. Your unlikely to find anything new in the main body of this book if you're already familiar with the issue, though. The book seems geared toward the newcomer, and it is written with solid examples and easily followed ideas. Bbecause of that, it leaves out most of the technical arguements that help support some of its arguments. Reading this in addition to John Lott's "More Guns, Less Crime" will give you a good foundation in both the technical and the idealistic aspects. That said, even if you've read every book that deals with the 2nd amendment to date, you should still read this book for the epilogue. Frankly, I think its one of the best written pieces on a subject not often discussed in today's American culture. I thank the author for the book, but also for the suggested reading he mentions.
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding argument for armed citizenry
Review: To the reviewer who wrote " A VERY MISLEADING BOOK" on March 25,2003: The Constitution (Second Amendment) gives the people the right to "KEEP" and "bear" arms. If you read the Federalist Papers or any correspondence of any Founding Father, you will clearly see that "KEEP" means the right to have on person or property.
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