The Great American Gun Debate: Essays on Firearms & Violence

Book Description

Two of the leading authorities on the issue of guns and violence sort out fact from fiction.

Customer Reviews:

I liked this book a lot except..........2004-10-16

...the last 1/3 of it got bogged down in too much technical detail and repeated information that had been previously stated. That is too bad because the first 2/3 was well-written and informative.

This really is an interesting book - one that should burst some bubbles of the anti-gun crowd. The writers painstakingly analyze the statistics and the motivations of some of America's biggest gun control lobbies, including the Centers for Disease Control (did you know that they use bogus data to label handguns as a public health threat? They quote FBI data that literally does not exist - they cite the document but it does not have the statistics that they use as a justification to lobby against guns. The document doesn't even report that type of statistic!)

Don't let my comments about the last 1/3 of the book deter you from reading the rest of it - it really was worth the time and effort and firmly completed my swing from being anti-gun to being anti-gun control.

Two Liberals Go Pro-Gun (mostly).......1999-01-23

What is lost on many reviewers is the political history of the two authors which would cause some to assume that they would be viciously anti-gun. Well, they were, at one time.

Don Kates is a former "Criminologist of the Year" award winner, as is Florida State University's Gary Kleck. Kates is lawyer specializing in civil rights, and was instrumental in writing the 1964 Civil Rights Act. Part of Kate's life experience that shapes his views today were the violent attacks on the civil rights workers by roving bands of KKK. The local police would not come to their aid, so Kates found himself standing armed guard around the homes of NAACP officials. The KKK wisely kept clear. Even given this, Kates had fallen for the gun controlers ruse, "Saturday Night Special" (SNS) which are claimed to be disproportionately used by criminals. Kates later researched the subject and found that the term got its start in the post Civil War south. The original term was actually "Niggertown Saturday Night Special." It was used to villify inexpensive firearms (the only ones the newly freed slaves could afford) and resulted in only well-made and expensive guns being legal. Viola! Blacks were slowly disarmed and easily attacked by the newly formed KKK. Kates discovered that criminals actually prefer high quality firearms (just like the rest of us) and wonders, if the SNS theory is true, what the benefit would be to arm criminals with more expensive weapons the didn't "blow up, jam, or were more accurate."

Kleck is another self-described liberal Democrat. He is a member of ACLU, Common Cause, and Amnesty International. He was so firmly anti-gun that his original study was admittedly started to show that guns in the hands of peaceful citizens were not used very often to stop crime. His final study found that they were indeed used at least 2.5 million times per year in face to face confrontations to thwart crime. For this work he won the Hindelang award (most significant work by a criminologist in several years).

Despite their pro-gun data, Kleck and Kates still think that "gun control" and "registration" is a good thing in general. I don't. To find out why, look into Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership. It was founded by holocaust survivors who saw Hitler confiscate Jewish firearms using registration data just before he killed six million of them.

No pre-programmed arguments.......1998-05-18

Kates and Kleck present a reasoned discussion of the possession, control and use of guns and their impact on violence and crime in the US.

The book is a refreshing change from the pre-programmed argumentation that characterizes most of the "gun debate". As a gun owner, I dislike the lack of intellectual honesty that is endemic in the anti-gun literature but I also recognize the repetitive, almost ritual pro-gun prose.

Kates and Kleck address the traditional guns'n crime issues but also say that some types of gun control are desireable (ones aimed at disarming or disabling people who've demonstrated membership in the "criminal class").

They address in some detail the intellectual dishonesty behind much of anti-gun "science" and the biases in much of the press coverage of the "gun debate".

It's a very informative and readable book. I recommend it highly.

A Very Significant Work.......1998-05-02

This is a factual, well documented text. And that's just what it is: A text fit for an honest, college level sociology course. I found it very informative, especially the final chapter on Constitutional issues. However, I found the chapter dealing with the Fourth Estate, the press, a little curious. It seems that Kates bent over backwards giving excuses for the press's behavior, but went on to reveal a clear case of premeditated libel. Oh well, I didn't let that color my judgement of this well balanced presentation. I highly recommend this book because of the revealing statistics and their erudite presentation. A highly reliable book.

A Voice of Reason Amid Emotional Agitprop.......1998-04-29

Don Kates, Gary Kleck and numerous other contributing researchers have produced a well documented and scholarly but highly readable examination of a hazy issue which unfortunately has become an emotionally driven, ideological litmus test in our society.

Not only do the authors exhaustively and convincingly argue of the positive social utility of lawful, privately owned firearms, they effectively demolish or refocus many long-held assumptions that we in the US and overseas often have about firearms misuse, crime, criminals, crime statistics and the means by which we try to define and "combat" crime. In turn, they effectively rebut many scholarly critics of the "right to keep and bear arms" by looking at the 2nd Amendment not as an isolated aberration. Rather, they view it as a keystone of a closely interwoven Constitutional philosophy well grounded in English history and common law as well as in the political theory of George Mason, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, not to mention the philosophy of John Locke, David Hume, Adam Smith and others.

The most fascinating part of the book is the writers' detailed exposure of the disturbing attitudes and behavior of many of those calling for ever-tighter gun controls if not for complete abolition of their ownership by private citizens. Among these are the relentless character assassination, crude ad hominem attacks, heavy editorial bias, routine scaremongering and bigoted stereotypy directed by anti-gun members of the mainstream news media, the clergy and intelligentsia (ordinarily so self-congratulatory about their presumably unassailable sense of objectivity, tolerance, fairness, balance and impartiality) toward law abiding firearms owners. Whether one is pro or anti-gun or none of the above, this phenomenon alone is a cause for serious concern.

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The Forgotten Lattimer Massacre
The Guns of Lattimer, Tragedy that Sparked Real Change

The Guns of Lattimer

Manufacturer: Transaction Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Labor Policy | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Popular Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Labor & Industrial Relations | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Labor & Industrial Relations | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1560007648

Customer Reviews:

The Forgotten Lattimer Massacre.......2007-06-15

This 1978 hardcover book is the true story of a massacre of unarmed striking coal miners and the resulting trial of the deputies. The United States is the third largest nation with eastern European descendants in the world; nearly one in ten Americans. Yet their history has been neglected (p.xi). The open and peaceful protest could not have occurred in the Austro-Hungarian Empire (p.xii); they would have been violently suppressed. Yet this happened near Hazleton Pennsylvania on September 10, 1897. The 'Introduction' says the accessible records tell about the mine owners and their agents. The author sought out memoirs to learn about the Slovaks, Lithuanians, and Poles from that region (p.xiii). Novak explains his use of a composite character to tell about the events of that time. [It detracts from the story.] The written records came from those who suppressed the strike. It was not easy to get information from the striker's descendants; they have a long history of fear of strangers (p.xv). Three-quarters of the world's anthracite is found in a small section of NE Pennsylvania (p.2). 1893 had the worst depression in 19th century America. Immigrants from eastern Europe came to America to work and save. They were resented by those who came to America earlier. County government is the basis of Pennsylvania politics (p.7), sheriffs then were quite powerful. There was high unemployment in 1897. Coal brought riches to a few, poverty and death to many, and blighted the landscapes to enrich Philadelphia and New York (p.9). Hazleton's ruling class was composed of a few families (pp.35-43). Pages 45-50 tell of life for the working class. The strike began when a superintendent tried to make the mule tenders work longer hours for the same pay (pp.18-20). This book tells about life in a small hard coal mining town. New taxes on immigrants caused the men to go out on strike (p.63). This tax was quickly ruled unconstitutional (p.81). But it created a larger strike.

On September 10, 1897 the orders were to stop the striking miners from peaceably assembling by shooting them (p.116). The Sheriff's deputies attacked some marchers, this provided the "disorder" needed to halt the march (pp.120-121). The Chief of Police countermanded the Sheriff's order, they miners could march around the edges of West Hazleton (map page 72). At Lattimer Sheriff Martin tried to stop the march. The deputies opened fire at the men in the road. Those who ran away were shot in the back (p.129). Some deputies laughed and boasted of their killing (p.131). [Novak claimed their Winchesters held 16 bullets each 3 inches long (p.132). That would need 4 feet, which seems unbelievable.] Most of the dead were shot in the back (p.137). Citizens at a public meeting condemned the Sheriff and deputies (p.147). Some of the deputies went into hiding (p.151). The National Guard prevented the arrest of the 102 deputies and the sheriff (p.155). A Constable was arrested by the National Guard to let a man wanted for murder go free (p.161)! The strike continued (p.172). Almost all joined the United Mine Workers union (p.175). There was unity among the ethnic groups (p.176). The ruling class wanted and got an acquittal (p.180). Part 5 tells of the trial. It was fixed for an acquittal, it was a sham (p.233)

Novak explains the traits of the Slavs that set them apart from others. They lived in extreme poverty yet could save prodigious amounts (p.xvi). Smiling was considered impolite among strangers, or to look a superior in the eye. The 'Bibliography' lists the Books, Articles, Public Documents, Interviews, and Newspapers used by the author. One result from that event was Pennsylvania founded the first state police force in the nation in 1905. Its mission was to keep order among the laborers; the miners referred to them as "the Cossacks" (p.243). The 'Epilogue' has the author's comments on history. Was the Lattimer massacre really a "ritual slaying" (p.245)?

The Guns of Lattimer, Tragedy that Sparked Real Change.......2001-03-13

Michael Novak has taken a unique approach to telling the story of a tragedy that happened in Lattimer, PA in 1897. Most of the book is the fact-filled history of a day when about 400 unarmed Slovak anthracite coal miners from Harwood marched to Lattimer to call on Lattimer miners to join their strike. They were met by the seriff and a heavily-armed posse of citizens. As the sheriff tried to stop them, someone yelled "Fire!" and the ensuing slaughter is known as the Lattimer Massacre. Nineteen miners died, many shot in the back as they tried to flee, and many others were badly injured. At the following trial, in which the defense attorney played on the prejudices of the jury, the sheriff and posse were acquitted. Novak personalizes the story by including the fictional story of a Slovak miner in separate chapters, and while I think this feature is unnecessary, it does make the reader even more aware of the injustice done that day. After Lattimer, the miners realized fully that they needed a strong leader and a strong organization, and John Mitchell of the United Mine Workers was on the scene to take advantage of that fact. I found The Guns of Lattimer to be an unexpectedly moving book. Novak is not an historian. The book combines all the best features of well-researched history with social commentary. Novak is himself descended from Slovak immigrants so the reader is able to see this story from their point of view. It's biased, yes, but factual. I recommend it highly.

The Guns of Lattimer The true story of a massacre and a trial August 1897-March 1898

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The Guns of Lattimer The true story of a massacre and a trial August 1897-March 1898
Michael Novak
Manufacturer: Basic Books, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J0W01S

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Guns of Lattimer: The True Story of a Massacre and a Trial, August 1897-March 1898
Michael Novak
Manufacturer: Basic Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Labor & Industrial Relations | Economics | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Labor & Industrial Relations | Politics | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0465027938

The Great American Gun Debate : Essays on Firearms and Violence

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The Great American Gun Debate : Essays on Firearms and Violence
Don B.; Kleck, Gary; Boen, James R.; Lattimer, John K. Kates
Manufacturer: Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PS0BVU

Guns of Lattimer: The True Story of a Massacre and a Trial, August 189

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Guns of Lattimer: The True Story of a Massacre and a Trial, August 189
MICHAEL NOVAK
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RQ98AK

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THE GUNS OF LATTIMER: THE TRUE STORY OF A MASSACRE AND A TRIAL, AUGUST 1897-MARCH 1898.
Michael. Novak
Manufacturer: NY, Basic, 1978. 276 pp., illus., maps. First edition in dust jacket, in very good condition.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UDWU32

Product Description

Includes: Understanding Financial Statements; Forecasting Cash Flow; Obtaining Financial Through Banks and Other Sources. Business people--especially managers--need to understand how "the numbers" work for their business and if they're adding up. Designed for managers in small through mid-sized companies, this invaluable guide to key financial concepts will help those in business understand the basics of finance and how it affects their business.

Customer Reviews:

Love the book, but who the hell is that firebush.......2005-05-21

Mofo on the cover? I would've given it 5 stars except for that unpatriotic redhead, who I hear is the "nasty side of politics". heehee. Just kidding! that's our mans D Blaze!!

Book Description

This book demonstrates the scientific principles behind plant breeding. It integrates plant breeding, population genetics, quantitative genetics, probability theory and statistics to provide an objective basis for plant selection and breeding.

Breeding of winterhardy forms of Persian walnut by selection methods =: Vyvedenie zimostoikh form gretskogo orekha metodami selektsii

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Breeding of winterhardy forms of Persian walnut by selection methods =: Vyvedenie zimostoikh form gretskogo orekha metodami selektsii
F. A Shchepotʹev
Manufacturer: published pursuant to an agreement with The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and the National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C., by the Israel Program for Scientific Translations
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007JP9DM

Methods of tobacco seed selection (Bulletin / Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station)

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Methods of tobacco seed selection (Bulletin / Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station)
W. W Cobey
Manufacturer: Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Smoking | Recovery | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000884MYE

Milch cows and dairy farming. Comprising the breeds, breeding, and management in health and disease, of dairy and other stock;: The selection of milch ... method; the culture of forage plants

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Milch cows and dairy farming. Comprising the breeds, breeding, and management in health and disease, of dairy and other stock;: The selection of milch ... method; the culture of forage plants
Charles Louis Flint
Manufacturer: J.E. Tilton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

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Milch cows and dairy farming: Comprising the breeds, breeding and management in health and disease, of dairy and other stock; the selection of milch cows ... method, the culture of forage plants, & C
Charles Louis Flint
Manufacturer: J.E. Tilton and co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Alchemists through the ages;: Lives of the famous alchemistical philosophers from the year 850 to the close of the 18th century, together with a study ... of alchemical and hermetic philosophy
Arthur Edward Waite
Manufacturer: Rudolf Steiner Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General & Reference | Chemistry | Science | Subjects | Books
General & Reference | Chemistry | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006CPKVQ

Book Description

This book/software edition provides a complete set of computational models that describe the physical phenomena associated with scanning tunneling microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and related technologies. Its self-contained presentation spares researchers the valuable time spent hunting through the technical literature in search of prior theoretical results required to understand the models presented. Mathematica code for all examples is included both in the book and at the accompanying ftp site, affording the freedom to change, at will, the values and parameters of specific problems or even modify the programs themselves to suit various modeling needs.

Exploring Scanning Probe Microscopy with Mathematica is both a solid professional reference and an advanced-level text, beginning with scanning probe microscopy basics and moving on to cutting-edge techniques, experiments, and theory. In the section devoted to atomic force microscopy, Dr. Sarid describes the mechanical properties of cantilevers, atomic force microscope tip-sample interactions, and cantilever vibration characteristics. This is followed by an in-depth treatment of theoretical and practical aspects of tunneling phenomena, including metal-insulator-metal tunneling and Fowler-Nordheim field emission. The final section features chapters covering density of states in arbitrary dimensions, quantum wells and dots, and electrostatics.

Customer Reviews:

A ready made computational lab - all your own.......2004-06-19

There is a considerable body of theory behind Atomic Force Microscopy/STM. In how it works, and in the modelling of the potential energy at a surface under study. This can be a problem for those who want to use an AFM, and who might perhaps be new to the field. At the modelling level, the book shows the multitude of possible models, and their associated parameters, that can be used. This presents an obstacle. Because typically, you have to start by building those computational model code bodies from scratch, based on guidelines in books or papers.

This is especially a problem if you are an experimentalist, where your interests are not necessarily in modelling.

Sarid does the reader a huge favour. By offering not just equations, but functional code, implemented in a Mathematica framework, that you can tweak to your delight. Basically, the book and its website give you a computational lab, fully equipped.

The book also shows how Mathematica has become indispensible in research, by providing the necessary computational framework.

Book Description

The only translation of Bulgakov's entire first collection of short stories, works which range from the surreal to science-fiction to parody.

Contents: Diaboliad, The Fatal Eggs, "No. 13, the Elpit-Rabkommun Building," "A Chinese Tale," and "The Adventures of Chichikov."

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Diaboliad and Other Stories
Mikhail; Proffer, Ellendea & Carl R. eds.;trs. Proffer, Carl R. Bulgakov
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OQC5H6

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Diaboliad and Other Stories by Mikhail Bulgakov
Mikhail Bulgakov
Manufacturer: Indiana University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000M4YDXY

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