Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie [Hardcover]

Clayton E. Cramer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 16, 2007

In this true story of our nation's love affair with firearms, Clayton E. Cramer debunks the myths and takes readers along a winding historical trail full of surprising revelations and riveting anecdotes, explaining the roots of America's gun culture.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Cramer, an adjunct lecturer in history at Boise State University and George Fox University, took on Michael Bellesiles even before his book Arming America was discredited, and now goes further to prove wrong Bellesiles's claim that guns were uncommon in early America. Cramer finds that guns "were the norm" in that period, people relied on guns to hunt, and gun ownership was key to the success of colonial militias. His most intriguing argument is that, as they became "tied to defending political rights," guns also became a symbol of citizenship. Cramer draws on many primary sources, from newspaper accounts to probate records, and compiles impressive data supporting his case. Still, he misses many opportunities for analysis and interpretation. For example, he finds that it was "not terribly unusual" for free women to own guns, but offers no nuanced discussion of what said gun ownership tells us about gender roles. His attack on academia—which, in Cramer's view, has been blinded by ideology and excludes political conservatives—distracts from his central theme and will only alienate pro–gun-control readers, leaving him with an equally narrow, if opposite, readership. (Feb. 6)
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Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 16, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1595550690
• ISBN-13: 978-1595550699
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,233,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #85 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Current Events > Gun Control

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

125 of 131 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Truth Can Be Hard To Swallow, February 9, 2007

By 

S. Seigel (Planet Earth) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie (Hardcover)

Thomas Jefferson noted (I believe adroitly) that "Laws that forbid the carrying of arms disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."

Michael A. Bellesiles "Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture" (2000), argued that over the course of United States history guns were substantially rarer, and more rigorously controlled, than popular culture (and particularly gun-rights advocates) want us to think. For pandering to the vast, far-left-leaning communications/education machine, he was copiously honored and praised for his work; he was even awarded the Bancroft Prize, America's highest award for a history book!

Just two years later, Bellesiles' scholarship had been exposed as a sham. This resulted in the loss of his professorship at Emory University. His Bancroft was withdrawn and his publisher removed his book from circulation.

More than anyone else, the person who made this all possible was Clayton Cramer. In "Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie," Cramer debunks an era of anti-gun myths. He also guides his readers on a survey of surprising history. Cramer truly lays the foundation of America's gun culture bare--and brilliantly supports his position that this aspect of America has contributed mightily to the greatness of the nation.

Cramer's book challenges numerous popular conceptions, its scholarship is extremely solid--and its subject is increasingly relevant. It may seem that the needs of society today are increasingly at odds with our Second Amendment rights. However, my sense is that this appearance is more likely to be the result media and academic of craftiness than any true indication of changes in human nature!

I almost gave it 5 stars, but I am hesitant to class this book with timeless classics. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it for all readers who cherish freedom (and are over 17 years of age)!

75 of 80 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye opening book, March 11, 2007

By 

John R. Lott Jr. - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie (Hardcover)

Review of Book that Appeared in the March 11, 2007 New York Post

Did you know that in New York City, through 1969 virtually all the public high schools had riflery teams?

Thousands of students carried their rifles on subways, buses and streets on their way to school, when they went to practice in the afternoon and on their way home. And until 1963, all commercial pilots were required to carry guns and were allowed to carry guns until 1987.

Gun laws have certainly changed over time.

Today towns such as Kennesaw, Ga., Greenfeld, Idaho and Geuda Springs, Kan., which all require residents to own guns, are considered the oddity. But Clayton Cramer's terrific new book, "Armed America," shows that, in fact, gun ownership has been deeply woven into this country's since the colonial period.

Cramer shows that guns aren't inherently the problem. In our day, criminals may have replaced Indians as a danger facing most citizens, but it may also shock many readers to learn how comfortable Americans once were with their guns.

In colonial times, as Cramer argues, people didn't own guns just for hunting. Numerous laws mandated that people have guns for personal defense and defense of the community, at home, while traveling and even in church.

Heads of households, whether men or women, were required to have a gun at home and fines of up to a month's wages were imposed on those who failed to meet this requirement.

In some states such as Maryland, fines were paid directly to inspectors so that authorities had a strong incentive to check. The only people exempt from these rules were Quakers, some indentured servants, or, in the South, blacks.

Fear of attack by Indians and England's European enemies meant that people were required to own and carry guns when traveling, though sometimes older people were exempted.

At least six colonies required people have guns with them at church. Church officials were required to check parishioners when they arrived for services to ensure they had a gun. Clergymen were required to have guns, too. Contrast that with the political firestorms that erupt these days when states merely let churches decide whether concealed handgun permit holders can carry guns on church property.

In our day, only about 45 percent of households own a gun, whereas gun ownership in colonial America was much higher, as measured by probate recirds. Guns were bequeathed to the next generation in about 70 percent of cases.

The fascinating firsthand historical accounts that Cramer provides indicate that guns were cheap, readily available and essentially everywhere. Given America's historical amnesia, Cramer's book helps to remind us about that part of our history many now find improbable.

John Lott is the author of "The Bias Against Guns."

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Revisionists' Bane, Or How The Standard Version Was Right All Along, April 19, 2007

By 

RKV (Santa Barbara, Ca USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Armed America: The Remarkable Story of How and Why Guns Became as American as Apple Pie (Hardcover)

Cramer writes a focused work, detailing the presence and use of firearms in the colonial, revolutionary and early Republic periods of American history. He compiles a wealth of specific examples based on primary sources like wills, newspapers, legislation, travel books, etc. He demonstrates a deep knowledge of the topic and the sources, showing the range and breadth of early American experience with firearms for use in personal defense and in a military context. Some of the material can be dry, and this book is not one for those looking for a rollicking story - it's a history, of the kind useful for professionals or amateurs with a specific, rather than a general interest in the topic. Occasionally Cramer restates the obvious - of course, given the inability of some of our countries "best" historical scholars on the Bancroft Committee to pick up on the obvious inconsistencies between Bellesiles' writing in Arming America and the original records, he should be forgiven. Armed America should be seen as a refutation of Bellesiles and his ilk - as the academic frauds that they have been demonstrated to be. After reading Armed America you will be convinced that Cramer had the right of it.

4 stars - it's a solid work, and well executed.