This book examines the controversies surrounding gun control, which are less about whether it "works" and more about whether the nation should prioritize traditional values of rugged independence or newer values of communitarian interdependence.

• Presents an unbiased analysis and explanation of the gun control/gun rights debate

• Examines the controversy in a broad historical perspective, illustrating how large social forces and prominent personalities helped to shape differing attitudes and cultures

• Explains the broader social context surrounding the debate, rendering the subject more easily understandable

• Highlights chapter material with documents, making it a useful resource for academic discussion or further scholarly research