Do guns make us free?
Subtitle: democracy and the armed society
By: Firmin Debrabander
Publisher: Yale University Press
Published: 2015
Language: eng
Number of pages: 274
ISBN-13: 9780300208931
Subjects: Gun control; Law and legislation; Firearms; Firearms and crime
Description: Possibly the most emotionally charged debate taking place in the United States today centers on the Second Amendment to the Constitution and the rights of citizens to bear arms. In the wake of the Sandy Hook school massacre in Connecticut, the gun rights movement, headed by the National Rifle Association, appears more intractable than ever in its fight against gun control laws. The core argument of Second Amendment advocates is that the proliferation of firearms is essential to maintaining freedom in America, providing private citizens with a defense against possible government tyranny, and thus safeguarding all our other rights. But is this argument valid? Do guns indeed make us free? In this insightful and eye-opening analysis, the first philosophical examination of every aspect of the contentious and uniquely American debate over guns, Firmin DeBrabander examines the claims offered in favor of unchecked gun ownership. By exposing the contradictions and misinterpretations inherent in the case presented by gun rights supporters, this provocative volume demonstrates that an armed society is not a free society but one that actively hinders democratic participation.
Notes: Includes bibliographic reference (pages 235-261) and index.
Table of contents: title: Preface: "This time is different"; title: The culture of fear; title: Guns, government, and autonomy; title: The face of oppression; title: Guns and the threat to democracy; title: Power and democracy.