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4.5
Lock, Stock, and Barrel is another examination of early American firearm ownership that compliments Cramer’s earlier Armed America, the thorough refutation of the discredited work of Michael Bellesiles. I would recommend this book over the former for those who are not history or Second Amendment nerds. Americans most certainly did own, build, carry, and use firearms in proliferation. The philosophy behind the development of our gun culture is not this work’s purpose, rather Cramer examines the cold hard facts. It is a work of primary research documents rather than explains our gun culture. There is a deep look at the often-forgotten and neglected sporting and defensive, instead of military, ownership and use of firearms in the pre-republic period. Unless one is interested in doing primary research themselves, I would recommend this to readers who want insight into what gun ownership and business was like in the period of the 17th through the early 18th centuries. The remainder of the book involves a general overview of Cramer’s firearms related research, including touching on the root of concealed weapons laws, racism, and debunking firearm violence misconceptions.