A review by syds_shelves
American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 by Zusha Elinson, Cameron McWhirter

dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

3.75

Works really well as a whole book. Beginning is pretty slow and felt bogged down with a lot of gun facts and info that went over my head, as someone who doesn't know about guns. It works interestingly when paired with the rest of the book if you continuously think "They were trying to streamline this" and all the ramifications. The second half of this is pretty grim because it makes you realize that we aren't ever going to get meaningful gun reform without politics changing in a way I don't think politicians are willing to let happen. All other gun reform will just be used to further militarize the police and military while criminalizing (largely) black and brown people. This is the only "gun" book I've read outside of Columbine and the difference in the number of shootings mentioned is horrifying. Some of the worst shootings in the past don't even crack "top worst" now and everyone is numb to it.