From Booklist
Gr. 7-12. This timely, evenhanded book expresses the authors' concern about rising gun violence in America without stridently taking sides in the gun-control debate. The goal is to encourage readers to investigate, then take a knowledgeable stand on gun control. Toward that end, Dolan and Scariano explore not only many aspects of the current situation and controversy, but also America's historical relationship to firearms. There's a consideration of what the Gun control Act of 1968 does and doesn't do, a chapter about the 1993 Brady Bill, and attention to some relatively recent issues, among them, gun possession among women and young people. A final chapter entitled "What You Can Do to Help" and an extensive bibliography, which includes many newspaper and magazine articles, will help readers focus their attention more effectively. A good introduction to the issue for the independent reader, the well-documented book will also be a fine resource for report writers and debate students. Chapter source notes are appended. Stephanie Zvirin
