Book distributors are beginning to pitch the highly anticipated second edition of Professor Michael Bellesiles’ Arming America, which is due out soon. The new book "answers his academic critics, providing updated research addressing their legitimate concerns, while finding that the underlying thesis of his book remains as solid as ever," according to the blurb. The book also has a new forward written by constitutional scholar and distinguished historian Richard B. Bernstein, who examines "the virulent power of the American Right to obliterate those voices which speak out in opposition to their own." Sounds like what I’ve been preaching here. If the NRA still has problems with the text, maybe they will find the accompanying book jacket photo less objectionable. The photo features a young girl with racks of guns behind her, a hauntingly poignant portrait of our gun culture today.
Perhaps the beneficent and deep-pocketed Mr. Fought will bulk purchase some advance copies for those here who have expressed an interest in studying and reporting on the new edition. Personally however, I am skeptical that ideologically biased lawyers, linguists and internet scholars can give an adequate critique of Arming America. It’s rather like Rush Limbaugh offering his opinion on football.
by Benny Smith on October 2, 2003 at 8:07 PM