Customer Reviews

Nation of Cowards

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Whether or not you like guns, you'll find it hard not to appreciate "Nation of Cowards." It is a collection of essays revolving around the issue of firearms in civic and personal life, but at its heart, it isn't about guns at all - it is about *people*.

Snyder's arguments are compelling: they hinge on several easy-to-swallow propositions.

First, he asserts that we have rights, and first amongst those is our right to life. From that right, he infers a right to self defense, without which the right to life is rendered meaningless. Thus, with a right to self defense, one has the right to posess the means with which to render such defense effective - ergo, the right to own and use a firearm.

Second, he asserts that classical liberal theories of government hinge on the notion of "government deriving its just powers from the consent of the governed." Sound familiar? This is the idea of government by consent set forth in the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson. Snyder argues that consent is meaningless without the ability to object, and to enforce such a negative vote. Thus, firearms allow the citizenry to collectively enforce their will on their subject, and any infringement upon their rights (already established above) to own and use them violates the principle of consensual government.

The arguments hardly stop there - Snyder continues to logically follow the arguments of gun control to their conclusions, thus demonstrating the grounds on which he calls them self-contradictory and immoral.

Amongst other topics, Snyder launches attacks against irresponsibility, instrumentalism (denier of will), and utilitarianism (the destroyer of rights). While many of the same arguments are repeated throughout the text, one must remember that the chapters are merely a collection of columns, speeches, and articles written throughout the years. While this does detract from the cogency of the text as a whole, it is undeniably admirable as a purely ethical defense of arms-bearing.

If there's only one book you buy about gun control, make it this one.

Unlike most books on the subject of gun control, this book is not about whether gun control works (i.e., prevents crime and suicide, reduces the severity of injuries from violent assault, and saves more lives). Nor is it about whether the right to keep and bear arms works (i.e., prevents crime, saves more lives, etc.). Instead, the essays in this book examine the ethics of gun control, and what the gun control debate reveals about our character. Along the way it also examines the nature of modern American law and government, civil disobedience and revolution, and the relationship of freedom and responsibility. You can find copies of the published reviews of the book, as well as commentary by George Will on the title essay, at nationofcowards.net. Thanks for considering the book!

"Nation of Cowards" is a superb collection of essays on the American condition. This book not only addresses the gun rights issue but also makes you aware how far our country has deviated from our forefathers intent - and why. Every page is a thought-provoking masterpiece of insight. While the author sometimes resorts to long sentence structures, if read conversationally, they make imminently good old-fashioned common sense. This should be required reading in every institute of learning across the land. The writers of the Federalist Papers, Hamilton, Madison, and Jay would be proud to call Jeff Snyder one of their own. Highest recommendation!

Jeff Snyder's "Nation of Cowards" breaks new ground in the gun control debate. While there have been several fine works exploring aspects such as the historical origins of the Second Amendment, or on the ineffectiveness of gun control laws, "Nation of Cowards" makes the case against gun control from an entirely fresh perspective - ethics.

Snyder makes a persuasive argument that self-defense is a personal responsibility, and that those who rely on the state (or its paid agents) for protection are shirking their ethical duty. Gun control laws are therefore impediments to ethical action by preventing people from utilizing the most effective means of self-defense.

"Nation of Cowards" is a must read for those who have an interest in the gun control debate. But be warned: Reading "Nation of Cowards" may force you to think, and to reconsider the way you look at yourself, government, the law, and their interrelationships.

More than a collection of essays on gun control, J. Snyder's "Nation of Cowards" dares one to examine the current condition of our society. He exposes some uncomfortable truths, including the willingness of some of the citizenry of our great country to simply let others take responsibility for their safety and welfare in general. If the reader is willing (and able) to think logically, without emotion, about Mr. Snyder's comments, he cannot remain aloof about his own responsibilities.

The essays are clearly written, well thought out, and concise. I highly recommend this book to everyone who truly considers themselves a Citizen of the U.S.A.

This brilliant book offers a new perspective on freedom and responsibility. Although gun-control laws are used as a recurrent symbol of the erosion of our liberty they are incidental in the authors main point in that statistics and "studies" of the effectiveness (or lack thereof) of gun- control laws are irrelevant. Should I feel compelled to explain to the government or to any other entity the reasons why I exercise my personal freedoms and whether or not they are for the "greater good" of society? Snyder challenges the reader to examine the "BIG " picture on the attacks on our personal freedoms and warns against obsessing over statistics to justify them. I highly recommend this book.

Nation of Cowards is a collection of amazingly well thought out essays. Jeff Snyder is clearly among the most knowledgeable, well-read scholars writing about guns today. He clearly shows gun control advocates for what they really are. Most importantly, he makes a passionate, intellectual argument on the ethical aspects of gun ownership. He argues convincingly that aside from being unconstitutional and elitist, gun control is also deeply unethical. This book belongs in the library of anyone who believes that people have a right to defend themselves.

I found this book on the ethics of gun control festinating reading, especially so in light of the President Obama's recent election and his selection of cabinet members and advisors. Not since the Clinton administration have we had so many rabid anti-second amendment officials in power.
Several times on the campaign trail, Obama told voters "I'm not going to take your guns away." He said it at rallies in Duryea, Pennsylvania and in Boise, Idaho. He also said during a news conference that "Lawful gun owners have nothing to fear". I think his comment " I think people can take me at my word" and subsequent appointments says all we need to know about his personnel ethics. The close to 50% increase in firearm and ammunition sales nationwide also speaks volumes about the popular perception of the worth of his word.
How incredibly ironic that Clinton's Attorney General Janet Reno's former gun control poster boy, present Attorney General Eric Holder chose to plagiarize Jeff Snyder's 2001 book of essays "A Nation of Cowards" with his recent race card comment' A Nation of Cowards deals with the mindset of the anti-gun/anti-civil liberties crowd and should have had nothing to do with Holder's disingenuous racial comments. With people with his track record being appointed to virtually all positions of power in the Obama Administration, is there any question that gun control will again be a major policy issue? These people plan to disarm Americans and reading these essays can give the reader an insight into their tactics. In my opinion that makes this book even more relevant today than when it was written.

This is probably the most influential book that I've read on the topic of gun control. The author's discussion of the ethics of gun control--not simply the utilitarian calculus that gets bandied about constantly in the current political environment--helped me to enhance my own understanding of the issue and to start avoiding some of the pitfalls inherent to the utilitarian approach. More importantly, the author spends some time on the perils of being overly focused on this one issue and what the implications are for the maintenance of a free society. I highly recommend this book to anyone trying to understand the competing philosophies behind the gun control issue. Far from being a simplistic and one sided analysis of the issue, the book just might have something to make people on all sides of the debate think.

This book is extremely well written and doesnt dwell a lot on numbers and stats except when needed to enforce a point of view. If you are interested in a second amendment viewpoint others than facts and figures this book will do the job.