What do you think?
Rate this book
Emily Gets Her Gun: …But Obama Wants to Take Yours
Emily Miller tells her personal story of how being a single, female victim of a home invasion drove her to try to obtain a legally registered gun in Washington, D.C. The narrative—sometimes shocking, other times hilarious in its absurdity—gives the listener a real-life understanding of how gun-control laws only make it more difficult for honest, law-abiding people to get guns, while violent crime continues to rise.
Using facts and newly uncovered research, Miller exposes the schemes politicians on Capitol Hill, in the White House, and around the country are using to deny people their Second Amendment rights. She exposes the myths that gun grabbers and liberal media use to get new laws passed that infringe on our right to keep and bear arms.
Using facts and newly uncovered research, Miller exposes the schemes politicians on Capitol Hill, in the White House, and around the country are using to deny people their Second Amendment rights. She exposes the myths that gun grabbers and liberal media use to get new laws passed that infringe on our right to keep and bear arms.
- GenresPoliticsNonfiction
384 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
3 people are currently reading
89 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews
October 26, 2013
Every time Guns or gun rights are mentioned there are certain among us who have a knee jerk reaction....to wit, "guns are bad...evil guns, bad, bad, bad guns"; People who use guns are baaaddd, people who shoot guns are bad...."
It's the narrative of most of the media. News services, TV programs whatever there's an assumption being fed to us that civilian gun ownership somehow increases violence.
It doesn't but many, many people believe it as an article of faith. I mean just ask the German Jews, Gypsies and political minorities of the late '30s. Gun registration is great. The Weimar Republic saw fit to register all the guns in Germany...and Hitler took them up, confiscated them.
Wonder if it would have made any difference if each person picked up by the Gestapo at 3:00AM had met them with a gun..possibly all the neighbors also with guns? Maybe very little, but the world might have noticed sooner.
Of course we all know that confiscation of and banning of handguns will work wonders for crime. Just look at the UK. They outlawed ownership of handguns.
Gun crime went UP 30%.
Well however you feel (and I use the word "feel" advisedly) this book tells what a woman went through simply trying to lawfully purchase a gun after being a victim of a crime.
When I posted this book as "currently reading" I got the first comment. Again as I have about other books I invite you to read it with an open mind.
It's the narrative of most of the media. News services, TV programs whatever there's an assumption being fed to us that civilian gun ownership somehow increases violence.
It doesn't but many, many people believe it as an article of faith. I mean just ask the German Jews, Gypsies and political minorities of the late '30s. Gun registration is great. The Weimar Republic saw fit to register all the guns in Germany...and Hitler took them up, confiscated them.
Wonder if it would have made any difference if each person picked up by the Gestapo at 3:00AM had met them with a gun..possibly all the neighbors also with guns? Maybe very little, but the world might have noticed sooner.
Of course we all know that confiscation of and banning of handguns will work wonders for crime. Just look at the UK. They outlawed ownership of handguns.
Gun crime went UP 30%.
Well however you feel (and I use the word "feel" advisedly) this book tells what a woman went through simply trying to lawfully purchase a gun after being a victim of a crime.
When I posted this book as "currently reading" I got the first comment. Again as I have about other books I invite you to read it with an open mind.
October 11, 2013
This book turns out to be a very worthy read (for both sides of the gun "debate"). Basically, it is the story of a Washington DC journalist who decided to write a story documenting the process involved in getting a firearm permit in DC after the DC ban was struck down by the Supreme Court. What was anticipated to be a brief series of articles over a week or two to describe the process turned in to almost a half-year long ordeal documenting the bizarre, onerous, and frankly - absurd - process politicians have created. The book is well written, and from the perspective of someone who starts off knowing nothing about firearms. (The author had never held or fired a gun before this. She experienced a break in scare, decided she wanted to get a gun for home defense, and asked her boss if she could write an article for the Washington Times about the process to educate others. And that's how this started.
The book's strengths are its near unbelievable details about the lengths to which politicians and "the system" have gone to make things convoluted, difficult, and purposely absurd. (The DC process for the author involved 17 steps, ~$600 in fees and permits, taking about 4 days off from work, and over 4 months of waiting). It also documents the ways politicians and beauracrats then used the system to prosecute people in entirely ridiculous manners for breaking byzantine aspects of the DC laws. (These descriptions occur near the end of the book and are entirely chilling.) Did you know that you could be fined $1000 and sent to prison for 1 year for possessing an empty brass shell in DC? (Not a gun, not a live round, but an empty shell that had been fired at some point? Say you are coming back from a range and have a single piece of brass in your car...yep, that's all it takes)
The only" weakness" is that the author is a staunch political player (Republican) connected to various bigwig politicians on both sides. There's a bit of political grandstanding that runs throughout that, at least at times, is over the top. But overall, the strengths outweight the weaknesses by a considerable margin.
The book's strengths are its near unbelievable details about the lengths to which politicians and "the system" have gone to make things convoluted, difficult, and purposely absurd. (The DC process for the author involved 17 steps, ~$600 in fees and permits, taking about 4 days off from work, and over 4 months of waiting). It also documents the ways politicians and beauracrats then used the system to prosecute people in entirely ridiculous manners for breaking byzantine aspects of the DC laws. (These descriptions occur near the end of the book and are entirely chilling.) Did you know that you could be fined $1000 and sent to prison for 1 year for possessing an empty brass shell in DC? (Not a gun, not a live round, but an empty shell that had been fired at some point? Say you are coming back from a range and have a single piece of brass in your car...yep, that's all it takes)
The only" weakness" is that the author is a staunch political player (Republican) connected to various bigwig politicians on both sides. There's a bit of political grandstanding that runs throughout that, at least at times, is over the top. But overall, the strengths outweight the weaknesses by a considerable margin.
October 7, 2013
Interesting take on Emily's attempt to get a permit for a hand gun in Washington DC. It is now legal to own a handgun in DC. But you cannot conceal carry. Only in your home and on the way to a shooting range. She goes into great detail on completing a 17 step process to purchase a handgun. It took her over 4 months to complete the steps. I didn't detect any major objections to the process, it was more frustration in how to complete the steps. There is only one Federal Arms Dealer in DC and the city has gone to great lengths to make sure that there won't be any more.
What struck me with the DC rules and regulations is that the government is doing everything it can to basically confiscate the legal possession of handguns by law abiding citizens.
Did you know that you can not even possess an empty shell casing in DC? Its illegal and you could be fined up to $1000 and spend a year in jail. Nuts.
She reviews a couple instances where a couple of veterans traveling through Washington were arrested, locked up and charged with crimes that in other areas of the country would be outright dismissed as unconstitutional. Eventually both Vets got out, but waited in one case for years to get his property back.
This in a city where the crime rate is one of the highest in the nation.
There are many stats she gathers for the reader on the actual crime rate in different parts of the country. Interesting book and was good for me to read because it alerted me to the gun laws in different parts of the country if I am traveling with a gun.
What struck me with the DC rules and regulations is that the government is doing everything it can to basically confiscate the legal possession of handguns by law abiding citizens.
Did you know that you can not even possess an empty shell casing in DC? Its illegal and you could be fined up to $1000 and spend a year in jail. Nuts.
She reviews a couple instances where a couple of veterans traveling through Washington were arrested, locked up and charged with crimes that in other areas of the country would be outright dismissed as unconstitutional. Eventually both Vets got out, but waited in one case for years to get his property back.
This in a city where the crime rate is one of the highest in the nation.
There are many stats she gathers for the reader on the actual crime rate in different parts of the country. Interesting book and was good for me to read because it alerted me to the gun laws in different parts of the country if I am traveling with a gun.
July 11, 2015
It is refreshing to read the "real story" documented in this book so clearly. The text flows with a chapter on the story of Emily's journey to handgun ownership followed by a chapter on Second Amendment issues. It was also very enlightening to hear the first-hand story from a woman's perspective. I hope this book is widely read throughout this country to spread the word which is systematically covered up by the rest of mainstream media. Than you Emily Miller for taking the time to write this book, and more importantly to fight for your rights and be the voice of others who want to utilize theirs!
September 3, 2013
Emily Miller is a Second Amendment warrior. Chapters alternate between her personal story of navigating a completely absurd bureaucratic maze to exercise an individual, fundamental right which "shall not be infringed," and a thorough analysis of the lies, ignorance, and distortion used by the left, the media, and the current administration to undermine your rights. Ms. Miller included several appendices and meticulously documented her work with references to primary sources which increases the value of this resource immensely. Ms. Miller's writing style is easy and entertaining, making for a rapid read without losing any of the substance.
March 28, 2014
Follow Emily through the hoops and downright silliness of laws when trying to get a permit to own a gun in DC. It's a real eye opener. She peppers the book with crime stats and sources that prove the inaccuracies put out by the anti-gun folks. Great read.
October 27, 2013
This book scared the hell out of me. I thought it was bad in NJ. Obama really has an agenda and it's not good for the Second Amendment.
November 18, 2016
So how did that whole "OBAmA IS GoING TO TAKe MY gUSN OH NOES!!!1111!!!!!" work out for ya, Ems?
September 11, 2015
I liked the narrative about her experiences with getting her gun purchased in the highly regulated DC community. That was mostly alternated with her describing the threat to our second amendment that was well documented with references.
While some parts might be a somewhat dry read, it was hard to put down and I felt that her story of her experience was especially compelling and interesting. I've brought this book up in conversation numerous times after reading it - that's how much the book struck a chord with me and how much I really liked it.
Emily's tale, and her accounts of how others have been wronged, are good examples of what we should fear and how the threats are taking shape. To detail these with such precision and still make it a compelling read is difficult. But Emily finds that balance and drives home some very real concerns.
I know a book is exceptional when I still think of it often and mention it to others, as I have done many times long after reading it.
While some parts might be a somewhat dry read, it was hard to put down and I felt that her story of her experience was especially compelling and interesting. I've brought this book up in conversation numerous times after reading it - that's how much the book struck a chord with me and how much I really liked it.
Emily's tale, and her accounts of how others have been wronged, are good examples of what we should fear and how the threats are taking shape. To detail these with such precision and still make it a compelling read is difficult. But Emily finds that balance and drives home some very real concerns.
I know a book is exceptional when I still think of it often and mention it to others, as I have done many times long after reading it.
April 23, 2014
Wow.
The first half of the book covers the sisyphean task of getting a handgun permit in Washington, D.C., now that the City cannot ban their possession. That's angering enough. The SECOND half of the book covers several cases of where the District's draconian gun laws have been applied to, not career criminals, but to ordinary everyday taxpaying citizens (which excludes NBC's David Gregory, who violated one such law ON TELEVISION). That part inspires the Red Curtain of Blood.
If you want to know what passes for "common-sense gun laws" in the minds of the opponents of gun rights, you need to read this book. Highly recommended.
The first half of the book covers the sisyphean task of getting a handgun permit in Washington, D.C., now that the City cannot ban their possession. That's angering enough. The SECOND half of the book covers several cases of where the District's draconian gun laws have been applied to, not career criminals, but to ordinary everyday taxpaying citizens (which excludes NBC's David Gregory, who violated one such law ON TELEVISION). That part inspires the Red Curtain of Blood.
If you want to know what passes for "common-sense gun laws" in the minds of the opponents of gun rights, you need to read this book. Highly recommended.
October 15, 2013
Ms. Millers trashing of the liberal media over her feeling that they miuse the word "gun" avoids one important fact and that is whether the gun/device in question is a semiautomatic, a rifle, a pistol, doesn't matter--what matters is that these devices have led to an untold number of people being killed. Ms. Millers main point is one on semantics--and whether she likes it or not, people are getting killed.
December 20, 2014
I loved it! Shows where the REAL war on women takes place, and a war against self reliance, self defense and controlling ones destiny. Emily Miller has led the Washington, DC. establishment out of their self righteous nonsense and into the light!
June 22, 2015
It's an awesome book. Emily tells the leftists real agenda about the "gun control issue". The second amendment is plain and simple about the gun issue. Also it's shows how difficult it was to own a gun in the nation's captial.
November 14, 2013
This book will fire you up to support and defend the 2nd Amendment.
March 21, 2014
excellent book. a must read. the stuff in here is just outlandish.
March 27, 2014
informative. makes me glad I live in a shall issue state. :-)
April 29, 2015
Clear, step by step narrative on how this young woman went about buying a handgun for home protection.
January 6, 2016
Excellent documentation of excersising 2d amendment rights in Washington DC
August 15, 2017
A few pages into Emily Gets Her Gun I realized that I should be highlighting some of this. But I soon realized it would be pointless because I could highlight every single page. It's that good.
September 13, 2017
I'm in the process of listening to this book now. The content is good, but the narration is WAY too monotone and the cadence doesn't sound natural to me.
January 3, 2019
It is very good and informative.
September 7, 2023
Better than I expected it would be. It's very good investigative journalism about Washington DC gun laws.
February 17, 2014
This book was…well, it was a little better than I expected it to be.
First off, I did agree with the author more than I expected to. She made some solid points, she told some good stories (in particular, about veterans being arrested in DC on gun charges), and she pointed out some things that most people don't seem to know: yes, violent crime is going down. Yes, most people are unaware of that fact. Yes, assault weapons bans are effectively useless because they target guns that are used in an incredibly small percentage of crimes.
But, she did the kind of thing that really gets on my nerves in books like this, and make the same kind of errors she blames others for. Here's one example, speaking about the Obamas:
> It defies belief that two Harvard-educated lawyers in the White House don’t know that automatic weapons are not used in crime.
That is an entirely valid point to make: both the President and First Lady have incorrectly referred to automatic weapons being used in mass-shootings here in the US, and that's simply false.
But, later:
> Costas doubled down two days later, saying all semiautomatic guns should be banned. That would leave only revolvers and shotguns allowed in the U.S.
I know this is a small one, but if someone is going to be [rightfully] picky about terminology, I'd expect them to understand the concept of rifles that aren't semi-auto (and shotguns that are). This is the only example I bothered to highlight; there were quite a few that I kind of glossed without noting because I knew what she was getting at.
And then there's the repeated refrain, for which I've little patience:
> Politicians who talk about “assault” weapons are not using the term correctly when they are referring to modern semiautomatic sporting rifles that have cosmetic features that make them look like military arms.
> …
> In response to this effort, the anti-gun groups have adjusted their terminology to “military style” in order to continue the push to confuse the public into thinking that, for example, a semiautomatic AR-15 is the same as a fully-automatic M-16. The mainstream media has fallen for this trick, and you’ll often see reporters use the term “military-style rifle.”
> …
> The Colt version of the MSR was, as Obama would say, “military-style” because it was based on the M4 platform, but of course it is only semiautomatic.
This is not unique to Miller, but it grates on me that the same people who will so quickly jump to correct "clip" with "magazine" keep buying into this twisted logic. The idea that an AR-15 just looks like an M-4 or M-16, but is otherwise ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, is patently absurd. The difference is in the safety switch. The AR-15 has positions for safe and semiautomatic fire; the military versions have an additional position for automatic fire. They shoot the same ammunition and are otherwise the exact same. The "cosmetic features that make them look like military arms" are, really, ALL of the features, except that one. I find the pro-gun people who fight so hard to make this distinction just as ridiculous as the anti-gun people who can't understand it. I don't see the need to convince people that the AR-15 is just like or not at all like its big brother, but it seems to be important to people at both ends.
Anyway: that's less about the book and more about the issue. As I said, the book was OK. It was certainly interesting to read what a mess the DC registration was. At the end of the book, she quickly noted some of the changes that had been made since she went through the process, but I would have enjoyed a more thorough look at it. I suspect that most readers will simply find themselves more entrenched in their existing beliefs after reading this, though I suppose that's true of just about any politically-charged book.
First off, I did agree with the author more than I expected to. She made some solid points, she told some good stories (in particular, about veterans being arrested in DC on gun charges), and she pointed out some things that most people don't seem to know: yes, violent crime is going down. Yes, most people are unaware of that fact. Yes, assault weapons bans are effectively useless because they target guns that are used in an incredibly small percentage of crimes.
But, she did the kind of thing that really gets on my nerves in books like this, and make the same kind of errors she blames others for. Here's one example, speaking about the Obamas:
> It defies belief that two Harvard-educated lawyers in the White House don’t know that automatic weapons are not used in crime.
That is an entirely valid point to make: both the President and First Lady have incorrectly referred to automatic weapons being used in mass-shootings here in the US, and that's simply false.
But, later:
> Costas doubled down two days later, saying all semiautomatic guns should be banned. That would leave only revolvers and shotguns allowed in the U.S.
I know this is a small one, but if someone is going to be [rightfully] picky about terminology, I'd expect them to understand the concept of rifles that aren't semi-auto (and shotguns that are). This is the only example I bothered to highlight; there were quite a few that I kind of glossed without noting because I knew what she was getting at.
And then there's the repeated refrain, for which I've little patience:
> Politicians who talk about “assault” weapons are not using the term correctly when they are referring to modern semiautomatic sporting rifles that have cosmetic features that make them look like military arms.
> …
> In response to this effort, the anti-gun groups have adjusted their terminology to “military style” in order to continue the push to confuse the public into thinking that, for example, a semiautomatic AR-15 is the same as a fully-automatic M-16. The mainstream media has fallen for this trick, and you’ll often see reporters use the term “military-style rifle.”
> …
> The Colt version of the MSR was, as Obama would say, “military-style” because it was based on the M4 platform, but of course it is only semiautomatic.
This is not unique to Miller, but it grates on me that the same people who will so quickly jump to correct "clip" with "magazine" keep buying into this twisted logic. The idea that an AR-15 just looks like an M-4 or M-16, but is otherwise ENTIRELY DIFFERENT, is patently absurd. The difference is in the safety switch. The AR-15 has positions for safe and semiautomatic fire; the military versions have an additional position for automatic fire. They shoot the same ammunition and are otherwise the exact same. The "cosmetic features that make them look like military arms" are, really, ALL of the features, except that one. I find the pro-gun people who fight so hard to make this distinction just as ridiculous as the anti-gun people who can't understand it. I don't see the need to convince people that the AR-15 is just like or not at all like its big brother, but it seems to be important to people at both ends.
Anyway: that's less about the book and more about the issue. As I said, the book was OK. It was certainly interesting to read what a mess the DC registration was. At the end of the book, she quickly noted some of the changes that had been made since she went through the process, but I would have enjoyed a more thorough look at it. I suspect that most readers will simply find themselves more entrenched in their existing beliefs after reading this, though I suppose that's true of just about any politically-charged book.
January 22, 2014
Great read for anyone in the gun rights community.
Ms. Miller chronicles her absurdly long, arduous and expense journey to become a 'lawful' gun owner in the District of Columbia. In between chapters documenting the unbelievable hoops an honest DC resident must go through, she highlights many of the most current issues in this seemingly unending debate.
This book is clear indication of why gun rights supporters will 'win'. Even someone who does not live/breathe the 2nd Amendment can if they open their eyes see the true value to society when honest people are free to decide how best to protect themselves and their families from violence and an ever more oppressive government.
Ms. Miller chronicles her absurdly long, arduous and expense journey to become a 'lawful' gun owner in the District of Columbia. In between chapters documenting the unbelievable hoops an honest DC resident must go through, she highlights many of the most current issues in this seemingly unending debate.
This book is clear indication of why gun rights supporters will 'win'. Even someone who does not live/breathe the 2nd Amendment can if they open their eyes see the true value to society when honest people are free to decide how best to protect themselves and their families from violence and an ever more oppressive government.
November 26, 2015
This book is a detailed look at the DC gun control/regulation issue and one woman's attempt to own a firearm for personal defense. I thought I knew how ridiculous the laws are but this was an eye-opener.
Displaying 1 - 25 of 25 reviews