The Second Amendment: The Right to Own Guns (Constitution (Springfield, Union County, N.J.).)

Presents an overview of the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution and examines the debate that has surrounded the right to bear arms.

Gr 6-8-In 1994, 38,166 people died from gunshot wounds. During the times that parents are not at home, 1.2 million elementary-age children have access to guns in their houses. Though these statistics are shocking, they show that guns are an everyday reality in American life. When questions arise about stricter control, supporters of gun ownership cite the Second Amendment. Hanson addresses that argument with a mixture of historical background, case studies, legal precedents, and statistical data. She presents an intelligent and studied case for a wide debate of the issue, and includes accounts of both sides of the argument. The book is suitable for individual student use, but would serve as a useful classroom tool to encourage debate and foster understanding of the issues involved. The text is logically arranged and the illustrations add interest. Chapter notes and other bibliographic data contribute to the overall authority of the presentation. The author's stand is clearly for stricter gun control, but her open, frank, and obviously well-researched documentation keeps the book from being too emotional or preachy.-Lisa Denton, J. S. Russell JHS, Lawrenceville, VA

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