The Seven Myths of Gun Control : Reclaiming the Truth About Guns, Crime, and the Second Amendment

Rating:
Summary: New information and convincing arguments
Review: As a firearm owner and supporter of the right of self-protection, I thought that I was familiar with most of the information on liberty and guns. Thankfully, this book proved me wrong.

Mr. Poe includes so much new and astounding information, I had to stop reading on several occasions and ask myself if the stories were true. Of course, statistics and news items were supported with references that the interested reader could use as a starting point for further research. Even if you are familiar with the history of the Swiss militia or with comments made by prominent anti-self-defense hypocrites, this book explores stories and angles untouched by the mainstream media.

Additionally, the epilogue ("The End of Manhood") provides the author's insight on the left's attempt to eradicate masculinity from American culture.

I am going to buy additional copies of this book and send them to my misguided, gun control supporting friends. I know that if I still believed as they do, this book would force me to question my life philosophy.

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: Excellent primer
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.