Guns in America: An Introduction and Overview

The conversational, balanced Guns in America: An Introduction and Overview provides readers with a brief examination of critical gun issues in the United States.

The opening chapter discusses the main types of guns and ammunition as well as their functions and related accessories. Additional chapters present a historical overview of guns; the legal uses of guns, including hunting, gun sports, self-defense, and occupational use; and the dark side of gun use, including crime, suicides, and accidents. Readers learn about the vast economy of guns, ammunition, and accessories, including both the legal gun industry and illegal gun markets, as well as the financial activist powerhouses on both side of controversial gun issues. The text also addresses legal issues surrounding guns and gun ownership, including a discussion of the balance between freedom and public safety, the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and the definition of self-defense according to the law. A capstone chapter discusses the prevention of gun violence, including programs developed through the criminal justice system, the educational system, the public health system, and social organizations.

Designed to provide readers with foundational knowledge, Guns in America is an ideal supplemental text for courses in criminal justice, violence, and policy.

Michele W. Covington, Ph.D. is an associate professor of criminal justice at the University of South Carolina Upstate. She holds a Ph.D. in sociology and deviance and a graduate certificate in crime analysis from the University of Central Florida. Dr. Covington's areas of specialty include policing, violence, firearms, crime analysis, and community-based research. She is coauthor of chapters in the Handbook of Research on Mass Shootings and Multiple Victim Violence and Controversial Issues in Criminal Justice.