"Guns Don't Kill People, People Kill People": And Other Myths About Guns and Gun Control

Debunking the lethal logic behind the pervasive myths that have framed the gun control debate

“When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.”

“An armed society is a polite society.”

“The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”

“Gun control doesn’t work because criminals don’t follow the law.”

“Gun manufacturers shouldn’t be responsible for gun crime, any more than Budweiser is responsible for drunk driving.”

“We don’t need new gun laws. We just need to enforce the ones we have.”

“Gun control is a slippery slope to complete gun bans.”

The gun lobby’s remarkable success in using these engaging slogans to frame the gun control debate has allowed it to block lifesaving gun legislation for decades. But is there any truth to this bumper-sticker logic? Dennis Henigan exposes the mythology and misguided thinking at the core of these pro-gun catchphrases, which continue to have an outsized influence on public attitudes toward guns and gun control. He counters the gun lobby’s messages by weaving together the most compelling current research and insights drawn from the grim reality of deadly gunfire in our homes and communities. Henigan charts a new path toward ending the American nightmare of gun violence.