The Samurai, the Mountie, and the Cowboy: Should America Adopt the Gun Controls of Other Democracies (Hardcover)

by David B. Kopel (Author) "One of the core arguments for American gun control is the following rationale: 1. The United States is the only modern democracy that does not..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, New Zealand, Firearms Act (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Given the breathtaking sweep of the material and the prodigious scholarship the author displays in his detailed discusson of civil liberties, police powers, law and national character with respect to guns in Japan, Great Britain, Canada, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia, Jamaica and the United States, it's surprising and disappointing when, in conclusion, he lamely argues that the best things Americans can do about guns here are eliminate controls and require classes in marksmanship and safety for all gun owners. Kopel, a Denver lawyer, associate policy analyst with the Cato Institute and a technical consultant to the International Wound Ballistics Association, brilliantly delineates the ways in which each nation's unique history has determined how it deals with guns. He defends vigilantism as all-American and necessary, praises the Guardian Angels, claims that many southern civil rights workers of the 1960s were armed and argues that guns are ubiquitous in the inner cities because people need them. He won't convince everyone, but he offers a lot to ponder.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Having carefully reviewed gun control policies in Japan, Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, and Switzerland, Kopel argues, quite accurately, that none provides a useful model for reducing the American crime rate. He concludes that because guns cannot be eradicated, a policy that promotes responsible gun use is more likely to prevent gun misuse. Unfortunately, Kopel spends too much time setting up straw persons at both the anti- and pro-gun extremes and then knocking them down. For a more balanced discussion of the same complicated problem, see The Gun Control Debate: You Decide ( LJ 2/1/91). Not recommended.
- John Broderick, Stonehill Coll., North Easton, Mass.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 470 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books (July 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879757566
• ISBN-13: 978-0879757564
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #898,264 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably the best place to begin studying gun control., November 3, 1998

By	[e-mail] (London, UK) - See all my reviews

Of all the political battlefields concerning gun control in America, few have seen more action than the role of guns and gun control in other societies. Kopel's book is therefore one of the most useful texts available on this issue. Kopel gives a far more rigorous analysis than the lobbyists on either side of the debate. This book has been cited in numerous books and law reviews ever since its publication. The scholarly credentials of this work are excellent: each important point is researched and well referenced. As an Englishman, I found his chapter on Great Britain to be accurate and well informed. Definitely a five star book.

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent resource, January 9, 2000

By A Customer

This is an absolutely excellent resource for anyone interested in the gun-control debate. Mr. Kopel's thesis is that effective gun-control and culture are very tightly linked. Mr. Kopel describes the gun control policies of several countries, puts each in a historical perspective, and discusses why and how well those controls work in their respective countries. He goes on to describe what form of gun-control would be best suited for the United States.

Mr. Kopel's book is superbly researched, very readable, and includes copious references. This is by far the most informative book I've found on the gun-control debate. I recommend it highly.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Revealing Look At Different Societies And Their View Of Guns, July 10, 1998

By A Customer

Reading this book gave me a reasonably educated understanding of the sociological, historical causes for the differing views among nations on guns, gun control, self-defense and the government's role in the lives of its people. The last three chapters on the U.S. explain a lot about our sense of individualism and the roots of our proud gun tradition. This is a level presentation of an emotional issue. It is that lucid proof that all Second Amendment supporters wish they had been able to make and always knew existed, and it is a reasoned argument capable of changing the position of gun control advocates, if read with an open mind.