WHOSE RIGHT IS IT? THE SECOND AMENDMENT AND THE FIGHT OVER GUNS

Attorney Bajramovic presents a history of gun rights.

The history begins just before England’s Glorious Revolution (1688), which led to that country’s developing a Bill of Rights that would, about a century later, strongly influence the United States’ own. Unfortunately, the Second Amendment, which established a right to keep and bear arms, is surprisingly ambiguous, leading to long years of uncertainty and strife. Bajramovic informs readers that gun-ownership restrictions in past centuries were common and often racially motivated. Although mostly presented in a clear, straightforward manner, the narrative, replete with numerous graphs, is unlikely to appeal to National Rifle Association members and occasionally demonstrates unnecessary bias, such as with this unpleasant description of NRA hard-liner Harlon Carter, quoted from one of her sources: “Sweat would break out on his already glassy dome, and his face would turn as red as freshly butchered game.” Long supplemental featurettes interrupt the main story frequently, and there are many rather bothersome references to information that will be presented later. Some 800 endnotes keyed to page number within the text help to buttress the factual content. For those who persevere to the end, only two suggestions are offered for ways to help in the gun control movement: write to your politicians and vote when you reach 18.

Such a detailed history, although interesting, may have a limited audience.