American gun : the true story of the AR-15 / Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson.
In American Gun, the veteran Wall Street Journal reporters Cameron McWhirter and Zusha Elinson track the AR-15 from inception to ubiquity. How did the same gun represent the essence of freedom to millions of Americans and the essence of evil to millions more? To answer this question, McWhirter and Elinson follow Stoner--the American Kalashnikov--as he struggled mightily to win support for his invention, which under the name M16 would become standard equipment in Vietnam. Shunned by gun owners at first, the rifle's popularity would take off thanks to a renegade band of small-time gun makers. And in the 2000s, it would become the weapon of choice for mass shooters, prompting widespread calls for proscription even as the gun industry embraced it as a financial savior. Writing with fairness and compassion, McWhirter and Elinson explore America's gun culture, revealing the deep appeal of the AR-15, the awful havoc it wreaks, and the politics of reducing its toll. The result is a moral history of contemporary America's love affair with technology, freedom, and weaponry.-- Provided by publisher.
Record details
- ISBN: 9780374103859
- ISBN: 0374103852
- Physical Description: xiii, 473 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
- Edition: First edition
- Publisher: New York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2023.
- Copyright: ©2023
Content descriptions
- Bibliography, etc. Note:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 383-449) and index.
- Formatted Contents Note:
- Part I. The boy who liked explosions -- Men against fire -- The rifleman -- Hollywood moon shot -- Springfield's rifle -- The space-age gun is born -- The bureaucracy strikes back -- Hunting big game -- The spy who saved stoner's rifle -- "Brave soldiers and the M16" -- "Tragedy and betrayal" -- "Borders on criminal negligence" -- Part II. The sporter -- Big guns come in -- Bush ban -- Three senators -- The end of compromise -- Bad boys -- A precise request -- AR-15 takes off -- Here come the hedge funds -- The man card -- "I'm a killer, I guess" -- "You wouldn't understand" -- Molon labe -- Trump slump -- Burning boots -- Lockdown nation -- Come and take it nation -- Beyond the talking points -- "Are any residents safe in this country anywhere?" -- Valerie's road home.
Search for related items by subject
- Subject:
- AR-15 rifle > History.
Assault weapons > History.
Semi-automatic rifles > History.
Gun control > United States > History.
Firearms and crime > United States > History. - Genre:
- Informational works.
Available copies
- 28 of 29 copies available at NC Cardinal. (Show)
- 1 of 1 copy available at McDowell County Public Library.
Holds
- 0 current holds with 29 total copies.
Show Only Available Copies
| Location | Call Number / Copy Notes | Barcode | Shelving Location | Status | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marion Library | 683.422 MCW (Text) | 37810435807945 | Adult Nonfiction | Available | - |
