From the Revolutionary War to the national crisis brought about by mass shootings in the 21st century, Guns in America provides a historical look at the controversial debate over gun rights and gun control.

Table of Contents

• Publisher's Note
• Introduction
• Historical Timeline
• 1. Foundations of Control: The History of Gun Control in Pre-Constitutional America (1600-1791)
• 2. Lost Meaning: Interpretations of the Second Amendment (1791)
• 3. Courting the States: Case Law in the States and the Perception of Individual Rights (1619-1879)
• 4. Armed Rebellion: Slavery, the Civil War, and Gun Control (1865)
• 5. Shooting Straight: The Creation of the National Rifle Association and the Introduction of the Gun Lobby (1871)
• 6. Sobering Realities: The Rise of Urban Crime and the Emergence of Government Gun Control (1927)
• 7. Dealing With the Problem: Roosevelt and the New Deal on Crime (1934)
• 8. Who Should Own Guns?: The Debate over Federal Registration and Felon Rights (1938)
• 9. Precedent All Around: United States v. Miller and Second Amendment Interpretation (1939)
• 10. Fear of a Black Country: The Impact of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements (1967)
• 11. Assassination Nation: The Gun Control Act of 1968 and Radical Activism (1968)
• 12. The Problem of Enforcement: The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (1972)
• 13. A Rifle Revolution: The Shift of the NRA's Stance and Gun Rights (1975-1977)
• 14. Rolling Back with Reagan: Reagan-Era Conservatism and the Ascendancy of the NRA (1980-1986)
• 15. The Right to Hide: The Legality of Hidden Weapons (1988)
• 16. Child Welfare: The Phenomenon of School Shootings and the Impact of Guns on Children (1990)
• 17. The Far Right to Bear Arms: The Right-Wing Militia Movement and the Gun-Rights Debate (1992)
• 18. Gun Control Takes a Step Forward: The Jim Brady Handgun Bill (1993)
• 19. Assault Rifles and Civilian Use: The Assault Rifle Ban in 1994, 2013, and 2020 (1994)
• 20. Studies under the Gun: The Prohibition on Federal Studies of Gun Violence (1995-1998)
• 21. Innocence Lost: The Columbine High School Massacre (1999)
• 22. The Civil Rights Debate: Civil Litigation against Gun Sellers and Manufacturers (2003-2005)
• 23. Regional Rights: City and State Jurisdiction over Gun Law (2008-2010)
• 24. Hate Crimes: Gun Rights and Domestic Terrorism (2013-2016)
• 25. Peripheral Issues: The Debate over Gun Modifications and Controversial Equipment (2017-2019)
• 26. In the Hands of the Youth: The Emerging Youth Movement and the March for Our Lives (2018)
• 27. Politics, Race, and Hate: The 2019 Mass Shootings and the Government Response
• 28. Tons of Guns: Civilian Gun Ownership and Gun Violence (2020)
• 29. Conclusion: A Moment of Reflection
• Appendixes
• Primary & Secondary Sources
• Glossary
• Historical Snapshots
• Bibliography
• About the Author