Good Guys with Guns

The Appeal and Consequences of Concealed Carry

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Social Science, Discrimination & Race Relations, Gender Studies, Sociology
Cover of the book Good Guys with Guns by Angela Stroud, The University of North Carolina Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Angela Stroud ISBN: 9781469627908
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press Publication: June 1, 2016
Imprint: The University of North Carolina Press Language: English
Author: Angela Stroud
ISBN: 9781469627908
Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press
Publication: June 1, 2016
Imprint: The University of North Carolina Press
Language: English

Although the rate of gun ownership in U.S. households has declined from an estimated 50 percent in 1970 to approximately 32 percent today, Americans' propensity for carrying concealed firearms has risen sharply in recent years. Today, more than 11 million Americans hold concealed handgun licenses, an increase from 4.5 million in 2007. Yet, despite increasing numbers of firearms and expanding opportunities for gun owners to carry concealed firearms in public places, we know little about the reasons for obtaining a concealed carry permit or what a publicly armed citizenry means for society. Angela Stroud draws on in-depth interviews with permit holders and on field observations at licensing courses to understand how social and cultural factors shape the practice of obtaining a permit to carry a concealed firearm. Stroud's subjects usually first insist that a gun is simply a tool for protection, but she shows how much more the license represents: possessing a concealed firearm is a practice shaped by race, class, gender, and cultural definitions that separate "good guys" from those who represent threats.

Stroud's work goes beyond the existing literature on guns in American culture, most of which concentrates on the effects of the gun lobby on public policy and perception. Focusing on how respondents view the world around them, this book demonstrates that the value gun owners place on their firearms is an expression of their sense of self and how they see their social environment.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Although the rate of gun ownership in U.S. households has declined from an estimated 50 percent in 1970 to approximately 32 percent today, Americans' propensity for carrying concealed firearms has risen sharply in recent years. Today, more than 11 million Americans hold concealed handgun licenses, an increase from 4.5 million in 2007. Yet, despite increasing numbers of firearms and expanding opportunities for gun owners to carry concealed firearms in public places, we know little about the reasons for obtaining a concealed carry permit or what a publicly armed citizenry means for society. Angela Stroud draws on in-depth interviews with permit holders and on field observations at licensing courses to understand how social and cultural factors shape the practice of obtaining a permit to carry a concealed firearm. Stroud's subjects usually first insist that a gun is simply a tool for protection, but she shows how much more the license represents: possessing a concealed firearm is a practice shaped by race, class, gender, and cultural definitions that separate "good guys" from those who represent threats.

Stroud's work goes beyond the existing literature on guns in American culture, most of which concentrates on the effects of the gun lobby on public policy and perception. Focusing on how respondents view the world around them, this book demonstrates that the value gun owners place on their firearms is an expression of their sense of self and how they see their social environment.

More books from The University of North Carolina Press

Cover of the book Bittersweet Legacy by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Southern Cultures by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Reality Radio, Second Edition by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Town Creek Indian Mound by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Making Home Work by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book A Field Guide to Mushrooms of the Carolinas by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Tuskegee's Truths by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book To Save the Land and People by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Exiles from a Future Time by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Allies and Adversaries by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book The Sin of Sloth by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Revolt of the Provinces by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book The Artistry of Anger by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Remembering the Modoc War by Angela Stroud
Cover of the book Conceiving the Future by Angela Stroud
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy