Armed America: The Status of Gun Control

Elaine Landau has worked as a newspaper reporter, an editor, and a librarian. She loves to research and write books for young people. The problem for any generalist is a lack of technical knowledge about a subject, and this leads to mistakes. A "semiautomatic rifle" cannot spray a hundred bullets (p.3). The AK-47 is not "high-powered" compared to World War I rifles. Landau notes the drug problem in America but does not tell the whole story about drug dealing, only about the consumers (p.6). Why does this happen in areas that have the most gun prohibition (p.7)? Do the nightly TV news shows about crime victims have a hidden agenda? Landau claims "today" many want a gun for protection (p.10)! She then gives one example (p.14), and then explains "practical shooting" (p.15). Landau explains the need for guns (p.17). Simple mathematics says one weapon is not available for every adult and child in the United States (p.17). Chapter 2 has a history of guns, not "weaponry". The importance of a gun is that an ordinary person could equal an armed knight on horseback. Rifles in the 19th century led to revolutions against the oppression of aristocracies. Landau correctly points out that guns secured freedom, justice, and liberty. "Only well-armed people are free of domestic or foreign tyranny" wrote Machiavelli. [Some of these paragraphs seem to be derived from Wild West fiction.] Landau's description of the Johnson County War by Powder River Wyoming is not quite correct. She quickly passes over the conflicts in the cattle and mining boom towns; don't believe Hollywood films. Landau admits that a gun for self-defense can be important, like a fire-extinguisher in the home (p.28). Chapter 3 has the reasons for being armed. Landau tells how important this is for business owners (p.31). Gun ownership prevents the home invasions common in some European countries (p.34). Landau was wrong about prohibition of whiskey; it was beer that was desired (p.35). That "rise in violence" (p.37) followed gun control laws, and ignores the economic facts of life on page 38 (poverty results in crime). Landau contrasts the treatment of Bernhard Goetz to Austin Weeks (p.41-46). Chapter 4 has the argument for gun control. The vast majority of gun-related deaths for children occurred from playing with guns found in their homes (p.49). [Did this happen in the 19th century?] The right of the people to keep and bear arms was well-known in the 18th and 19th century (p.51). Restrictions only began in the 20th century. The paragraph on page 54 doesn't tell you about gun control in Switzerland and Israel, or their rates of violent deaths (murder and suicide). Dr. Kellerman's article was a one-sided hoax, it didn't compare the rates in homes without guns (p.56). Most violent deaths take place in the home. Areas where guns are banned have more home invasions. The use of plastics in guns follows their use in cars, televisions, appliances, etc (p.68). Chapter 5 tells of Florida's restoration