The Truth About Gun Control (Encounter Broadsides) Paperback – April 16, 2013

I don't know much about David Kopel but if he's from the Cato Institute he's alright to me. This book is yet another excellent Encounter Broadside. It's concise, covers the essential arguments, and puts forth the case for liberty. Another valuable aspect of the work is that--in the last 15 minutes or so--he reveals to readers the totalitarian nature of the gun control activist who would rather see us be murdered than defend ourselves. This mindset is but another example of the masochism of the political left. They want to suffer as it enhances their feelings of self-righteousness. Let them suffer but the general public would be best served by turning those pusillanimous cowards into pariahs and maintaining the rights we still possess in the United States of America.

The Truth About Gun Control is quick read about the current state of gun control in the US. This is a great read if you need to brush up on the last year of gun control in the US. It reads from a pro-gun position, which is not a bad thing, but anti-gun people might not make it very far.If you're recommending a gun control book to an "anti-gunner" I would send them to "Gun Fight" by Adam Winkler. Gun Fight has a narrative story that includes Dave Kopel and the DC vs Heller court case but does it in a way that plays to both sides of the debate and feels more "balanced" to non-2A advocates.

Kopel cuts through the noise and fury surrounding gun control and succinctly lays out the background and case for gun ownership. He cuts to the heart of the matter by pointing out this is ultimately the issue of who will be sovereign. Will we be a free people or will we be ruled by an elite? Kopel did not include many of the quotes and references available to make his case. That is the challenge in working with such a short format. I hope he follows this pamphlet with a more in depth treatment for those of us who would like to pursue his train of thought further.

Clear, concise, well documented and told with the voice of conviction and leadership. I too was fooled by the lies. As a woman, a retired police detective sergeant who spent my entire career teaching, coaching others how to protect themselves, and not to rely on the police - government - I should have realised it sooner. Kopel provides the history that supports the logic. Read and SHARE.

The point of these 'broadside' books is to lay the basics out there to encourage people to seek out more information. In the hands of an inquisitive reader, this little book would be a good start. I suspect my anti-gun friends whose minds are made up would call it a mess of unsupported accusations. Either way, for those of us enthusiasts who have kept up with the debate at least enough to write an intelligent letter to our congressbeings now and then, there's nothing new here. Still a fun, short read, to be shared with willing readers.

In one hour you will suddenly learn the REAL reason for our founders Second Amendment!!!Learn WHY Jefferson agreed with Adams that citizens such as slaves MUST own guns!You will be embarrassed by your gross ignorance!David B Kopel testified before Congress and PERSONALLY shot down OBAMA gun proposals.Then type his name in the above Search area and hit GO!See some of his MANY previous books where you can learn the DETAILS.His many books are for lawyers and for the man on the street.Books such as: "No More Wacos" and "The Samurai.........

A must read for all citizens. This little publication addresses many of the misconceptions about gun control and no matter what side of the "debate" you find yourself on this book will add to your knowledge. This 44 page booklet covers the history of the Second Amendment and the history of the regulating laws that have sought to weaken it right up to the current administration. There is much to ponder between the covers of Mr. Kopel's book and if you have a open mind it will be filled.

Let me start by saying that I agree with everything in this very short treatise. If it had been a magazine article, it would be a good overview of the state of the gun rights/gun control issue. However, there is nothing new here. Gun rights supporters will know all of these arguments by heart -- and in greater detail than they are presented here. Those who are ambivalent on the issue and seek to learn more will find the arguments weak. Not because they are wrong, but because they lack citation. The author presents many sweeping generalizations without any supporting evidence or documentation. A couple of footnotes would have gone a very long way to buoy their credibility. For example, when the author makes the claim that, "Every major congressional bill that has been introduced in the past several years under the title of "background checks" was written by Michael Bloomberg's staff and contained provisions for national gun registration," he needs to back that up with some kind of evidence. Cite a source. Footnote a study. Do something other than just make what appears to be an exaggerated claim. Any fifth grader reading the author's description of the battle of Lexington & Concord will know that a good deal of information has been left out, and what is there is overgeneralized to the point of being highly questionable. Those are just two of many examples. Unfortunately, this tract isn't going to change anybody's mind.In short: too broad, lacks detail or credible sources, not worth the $5 or the 20 minutes to read it. Three stars because the points it does make are valid and important.

For a European this was an interesting new perspective on the firearms debate. This is especially true in the light of a growing belief that you cannot trust governments to protect the individual citizen.