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America’s Gun Fantasy
Article

America’s Gun Fantasy

Three percent of the nation owns half the firearms—to prepare for an ultraviolent showdown that exists only in their imagination.

Slate, 2017

автоматическое преобразование текста в аудио
автоматическое преобразование текста в аудио

Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Controversial
  • Eye Opening
  • Eloquent

Recommendation

To the outside observer, the inability or unwillingness of the American government to restrict gun ownership makes no sense. With more than 33,000 annual gun deaths, the US’s gun violence is an outlier in the developed world. As author and radio host Kurt Andersen explains, however, both love of guns and the notion of a fundamental right to bear arms are deeply ingrained in the American psyche. But while gun sales have skyrocketed in recent decades, the number of adults who own firearms has in fact shrunk dramatically. Why do a small number of gun zealots continue to amass weapons? The reasons, Andersen argues, range from far-fetched to disturbing. 

Take-Aways

  • 3% of American adults own about half of all privately-owned guns in the US.
  • American gun enthusiasts often amass guns to live out personal fantasies, which can range from being a movie hero to a militiaman protecting the public from terrorists.
  • The notion that citizens need guns to defend themselves against a tyrannical government has gained increased public acceptance in the US.

About the Author

Kurt Andersen is an American writer and host of the Peabody-winning public radio program Studio 360.


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