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Whose Right Is It?: The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Guns
Discover the truth about the Second Amendment, the NRA, and the United States’ centuries-long fight over guns in this first-of-its-kind book for middle grade readers.
For the majority of the United States’ history, the right to own a gun belonged to a “well regulated militia.” That changed in 2008 with the historic District of Columbia v. Heller case, which ruled that the Second Amendment protected an individual’s right. In the years since, the debate over gun legislation has reached a crescendo. And the issue grows ever relevant to children across America, with an estimated three million exposed to shootings every year. From metal detectors to see-through backpacks to shooting drills, kids face daily reminders of the threat of guns.
Hana Bajramovic's Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Guns reveals how a once obscure amendment became the focus of daily heated debate. Filled with historical photos and informative graphics, the book will show young readers how gun legislation has always been a part of American history and how money, power, and race have long dictated our ability to own guns.
For the majority of the United States’ history, the right to own a gun belonged to a “well regulated militia.” That changed in 2008 with the historic District of Columbia v. Heller case, which ruled that the Second Amendment protected an individual’s right. In the years since, the debate over gun legislation has reached a crescendo. And the issue grows ever relevant to children across America, with an estimated three million exposed to shootings every year. From metal detectors to see-through backpacks to shooting drills, kids face daily reminders of the threat of guns.
Hana Bajramovic's Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Guns reveals how a once obscure amendment became the focus of daily heated debate. Filled with historical photos and informative graphics, the book will show young readers how gun legislation has always been a part of American history and how money, power, and race have long dictated our ability to own guns.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 22, 2020
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725 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 29, 2021
This is an absolutely terrific book! Written in modern language, but unlike a lot of high school current events books, it never talks down to kids. There are lively stories about everything from the lynching of Emmett Till to the Gunfight at the OK Corral to the Glorious Revolution of 1689. All the stories reinforce the author's general point that there have always been gun safety laws and that the right to gun ownership has never been absolute. Highly recommended!
January 30, 2021
| Read on Reader Fox |
These may seem like modern phenomena, but to start this story, we have to go back in time--all the way to 1688 and the Glorious Revolution.
Honestly, I think the most unfortunate thing about Hana Bajramovic's Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Gun Rights is that a biased mind will not be able to read it without their biases taking over. In truth, I am not entirely immune to that fact, either. It's hard to look at facts of any kind and not want to make them work in favor of your beliefs. And, by virtue of even Bajramovic's own bias, certain pieces that were included are definitely left-leaning.
Bias
That said, this book is more factual than left leaning. Yes, the author has an opinion and expresses it, but that doesn’t make the facts and figures untrue. The majority of this book is literally just laying out the facts as they are. Occasionally, commentaries crop up, but most of are quotes from important public figures in the history of gun law. And with several quotes coming from the conversation of school shootings, it's hardly surprising that those favor common sense gun laws.
So, there's a bias to the book. I won't deny that. But I think it's important to recognize that right-leaning anger about that bias is stronger not because the book is not factual, but rather because certain quotes and pieces of gun history don't align with their desires. Quite frankly, however, certain pieces of gun history don't align with left desires, either.
It is unquestionable that any book about gun laws and rights is going to be subject to political bias. That is true in the simple fact that the history of gun laws involves many differing views. To fully report on such a subject, both views will have to be discussed. And in this book, they are. For the most part, that is done in fact-based reporting.
The Author's Opinion
Yes, the author's opinion comes up. In a book like this, it's hard to expect that it wouldn't. What I think is particularly telling about this is the fact that the author spends the majority of the book simply reporting on facts, quoting research and public figures. She gives facts and figures on court cases and on gun law history throughout the course of the entire book.
And, at the end, she includes her opinion. The last thing she leaves her readers with is where she thinks the gun right debate should go. It is here, I think, that she loses a lot of the right-leaning audience. In truth, I'm not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, I agree with a lot of it. On the other, I don't know how useful that was. But, then again, it depends on who the author is trying to reach.
There's also a lot of emotion involved in the conversation of school shootings. It's difficult to have a right-leaning opinion that protects schools when the research is against you. Many would try to have us believe that putting more guns in schools would provide a safer environment, but I have yet to see any logical argument that holds up such claims.
In light of that alone, I'm wouldn't be surprised if the point is missed in favor of personal refusal to accept research that doesn't align with their views. It's unfortunate, but true.
In Conclusion
Overall, I'd say this was a well researched compilation of the history of gun rights and law. I genuinely do feel that I learned a lot from it. Occasionally, I found myself angry and frustrated. Sometimes I had to check my own opinions on the matter and change them based on the evidence presented.
I recognize fully that the author does have an opinion on the subject and she makes that clear after the facts have been presented. This will likely infuriate many right-leaning readers, which I understand. I hope any frustration stemming from the anger doesn't result in unresearched disavowing of what facts were presented.
It's one thing to read the book, recognize and acknowledge what information is straight factual data and still disagree with the final conclusion the author reaches in regards to gun rights and law. It's another thing entirely to condemn the whole book and the presented facts because you don't like that the author disagrees with you and included such in a very small portion of the book.
Narration
Suzie Althens did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. I really enjoyed listening to the book, particularly when I was doing chores and housework. This is an incredibly heavy and deep topic. On several occasions I even found myself needing to rewind to ensure I understood everything.
I do feel that the audiobook does miss out on the graphs and pictorial data that is presented in the novel, though. I wish there were a way to account for that loss with the differing formats. Fortunately, I had the ability to cross check the two, but I don't think everyone else will.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Reader Fox Links |
These may seem like modern phenomena, but to start this story, we have to go back in time--all the way to 1688 and the Glorious Revolution.
Honestly, I think the most unfortunate thing about Hana Bajramovic's Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Gun Rights is that a biased mind will not be able to read it without their biases taking over. In truth, I am not entirely immune to that fact, either. It's hard to look at facts of any kind and not want to make them work in favor of your beliefs. And, by virtue of even Bajramovic's own bias, certain pieces that were included are definitely left-leaning.
Bias
That said, this book is more factual than left leaning. Yes, the author has an opinion and expresses it, but that doesn’t make the facts and figures untrue. The majority of this book is literally just laying out the facts as they are. Occasionally, commentaries crop up, but most of are quotes from important public figures in the history of gun law. And with several quotes coming from the conversation of school shootings, it's hardly surprising that those favor common sense gun laws.
So, there's a bias to the book. I won't deny that. But I think it's important to recognize that right-leaning anger about that bias is stronger not because the book is not factual, but rather because certain quotes and pieces of gun history don't align with their desires. Quite frankly, however, certain pieces of gun history don't align with left desires, either.
It is unquestionable that any book about gun laws and rights is going to be subject to political bias. That is true in the simple fact that the history of gun laws involves many differing views. To fully report on such a subject, both views will have to be discussed. And in this book, they are. For the most part, that is done in fact-based reporting.
The Author's Opinion
Yes, the author's opinion comes up. In a book like this, it's hard to expect that it wouldn't. What I think is particularly telling about this is the fact that the author spends the majority of the book simply reporting on facts, quoting research and public figures. She gives facts and figures on court cases and on gun law history throughout the course of the entire book.
And, at the end, she includes her opinion. The last thing she leaves her readers with is where she thinks the gun right debate should go. It is here, I think, that she loses a lot of the right-leaning audience. In truth, I'm not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, I agree with a lot of it. On the other, I don't know how useful that was. But, then again, it depends on who the author is trying to reach.
There's also a lot of emotion involved in the conversation of school shootings. It's difficult to have a right-leaning opinion that protects schools when the research is against you. Many would try to have us believe that putting more guns in schools would provide a safer environment, but I have yet to see any logical argument that holds up such claims.
In light of that alone, I'm wouldn't be surprised if the point is missed in favor of personal refusal to accept research that doesn't align with their views. It's unfortunate, but true.
In Conclusion
Overall, I'd say this was a well researched compilation of the history of gun rights and law. I genuinely do feel that I learned a lot from it. Occasionally, I found myself angry and frustrated. Sometimes I had to check my own opinions on the matter and change them based on the evidence presented.
I recognize fully that the author does have an opinion on the subject and she makes that clear after the facts have been presented. This will likely infuriate many right-leaning readers, which I understand. I hope any frustration stemming from the anger doesn't result in unresearched disavowing of what facts were presented.
It's one thing to read the book, recognize and acknowledge what information is straight factual data and still disagree with the final conclusion the author reaches in regards to gun rights and law. It's another thing entirely to condemn the whole book and the presented facts because you don't like that the author disagrees with you and included such in a very small portion of the book.
Narration
Suzie Althens did a fantastic job narrating the audiobook. I really enjoyed listening to the book, particularly when I was doing chores and housework. This is an incredibly heavy and deep topic. On several occasions I even found myself needing to rewind to ensure I understood everything.
I do feel that the audiobook does miss out on the graphs and pictorial data that is presented in the novel, though. I wish there were a way to account for that loss with the differing formats. Fortunately, I had the ability to cross check the two, but I don't think everyone else will.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Reader Fox Links |
December 25, 2020
Whose Right Is It? is geared towards students to talk about the history of the second amendment. It is for older students (not children) as it gets very detailed into the history of gun legislation and the NRA. Those who are gun rights advocates will not like this book at all and those who support gun control will get even more frustrated with the NRA and the courts. But one of the nice things is that it really does layout the history of the second amendment and what courts have believed over the years.
So often parties on either side of contentious issues do not have the framework to start and this book gives that historical framework. We are told that this is an individual right but as Bajramovic lays out it was not until much more recently that this was the believe.
I do hope that people read this with an open mind to understand the history of these laws and don't pass this one by because they think it is a gun control book.
So often parties on either side of contentious issues do not have the framework to start and this book gives that historical framework. We are told that this is an individual right but as Bajramovic lays out it was not until much more recently that this was the believe.
I do hope that people read this with an open mind to understand the history of these laws and don't pass this one by because they think it is a gun control book.
September 8, 2020
I will admit I requested this book because I was curious what they would say to children about the Second Amendment. Let me start off by saying this book is not appropriate for children. Maybe some higher grades in high school but it is way over the heads of children. I was expecting some pictures and short paragraphs explaining the Second Amendment to children, not a 500 plus page book with charts and graphs. I was also disappointed that this book seemed more left leaning that a just stating the facts. To me they had an agenda to promote and did so. Yes school shooting are terrible, yes gun violence has gotten out of control. But education on gun safety and other mental health awareness would help stop some of the violence we see. Gun control only gives guns to criminals, not to the good guys.
January 30, 2021
| Read on Reader Fox |
These may seem like modern phenomena, but to start this story, we have to go back in time--all the way to 1688 and the Glorious Revolution.
Honestly, I think the most unfortunate thing about Hana Bajramovic's Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Gun Rights is that a biased mind will not be able to read it without their biases taking over. In truth, I am not entirely immune to that fact, either. It's hard to look at facts of any kind and not want to make them work in favor of your beliefs. And, by virtue of even Bajramovic's own bias, certain pieces that were included are definitely left-leaning.
Bias
That said, this book is more factual than left leaning. Yes, the author has an opinion and expresses it, but that doesn’t make the facts and figures untrue. The majority of this book is literally just laying out the facts as they are. Occasionally, commentaries crop up, but most of are quotes from important public figures in the history of gun law. And with several quotes coming from the conversation of school shootings, it's hardly surprising that those favor common sense gun laws.
So, there's a bias to the book. I won't deny that. But I think it's important to recognize that right-leaning anger about that bias is stronger not because the book is not factual, but rather because certain quotes and pieces of gun history don't align with their desires. Quite frankly, however, certain pieces of gun history don't align with left desires, either.
It is unquestionable that any book about gun laws and rights is going to be subject to political bias. That is true in the simple fact that the history of gun laws involves many differing views. To fully report on such a subject, both views will have to be discussed. And in this book, they are. For the most part, that is done in fact-based reporting.
The Author's Opinion
Yes, the author's opinion comes up. In a book like this, it's hard to expect that it wouldn't. What I think is particularly telling about this is the fact that the author spends the majority of the book simply reporting on facts, quoting research and public figures. She gives facts and figures on court cases and on gun law history throughout the course of the entire book.
And, at the end, she includes her opinion. The last thing she leaves her readers with is where she thinks the gun right debate should go. It is here, I think, that she loses a lot of the right-leaning audience. In truth, I'm not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, I agree with a lot of it. On the other, I don't know how useful that was. But, then again, it depends on who the author is trying to reach.
There's also a lot of emotion involved in the conversation of school shootings. It's difficult to have a right-leaning opinion that protects schools when the research is against you. Many would try to have us believe that putting more guns in schools would provide a safer environment, but I have yet to see any logical argument that holds up such claims.
In light of that alone, I'm wouldn't be surprised if the point is missed in favor of personal refusal to accept research that doesn't align with their views. It's unfortunate, but true.
In Conclusion
Overall, I'd say this was a well researched compilation of the history of gun rights and law. I genuinely do feel that I learned a lot from it. Occasionally, I found myself angry and frustrated. Sometimes I had to check my own opinions on the matter and change them based on the evidence presented.
I recognize fully that the author does have an opinion on the subject and she makes that clear after the facts have been presented. This will likely infuriate many right-leaning readers, which I understand. I hope any frustration stemming from the anger doesn't result in unresearched disavowing of what facts were presented.
It's one thing to read the book, recognize and acknowledge what information is straight factual data and still disagree with the final conclusion the author reaches in regards to gun rights and law. It's another thing entirely to condemn the whole book and the presented facts because you don't like that the author disagrees with you and included such in a very small portion of the book.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Reader Fox Links |
These may seem like modern phenomena, but to start this story, we have to go back in time--all the way to 1688 and the Glorious Revolution.
Honestly, I think the most unfortunate thing about Hana Bajramovic's Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Gun Rights is that a biased mind will not be able to read it without their biases taking over. In truth, I am not entirely immune to that fact, either. It's hard to look at facts of any kind and not want to make them work in favor of your beliefs. And, by virtue of even Bajramovic's own bias, certain pieces that were included are definitely left-leaning.
Bias
That said, this book is more factual than left leaning. Yes, the author has an opinion and expresses it, but that doesn’t make the facts and figures untrue. The majority of this book is literally just laying out the facts as they are. Occasionally, commentaries crop up, but most of are quotes from important public figures in the history of gun law. And with several quotes coming from the conversation of school shootings, it's hardly surprising that those favor common sense gun laws.
So, there's a bias to the book. I won't deny that. But I think it's important to recognize that right-leaning anger about that bias is stronger not because the book is not factual, but rather because certain quotes and pieces of gun history don't align with their desires. Quite frankly, however, certain pieces of gun history don't align with left desires, either.
It is unquestionable that any book about gun laws and rights is going to be subject to political bias. That is true in the simple fact that the history of gun laws involves many differing views. To fully report on such a subject, both views will have to be discussed. And in this book, they are. For the most part, that is done in fact-based reporting.
The Author's Opinion
Yes, the author's opinion comes up. In a book like this, it's hard to expect that it wouldn't. What I think is particularly telling about this is the fact that the author spends the majority of the book simply reporting on facts, quoting research and public figures. She gives facts and figures on court cases and on gun law history throughout the course of the entire book.
And, at the end, she includes her opinion. The last thing she leaves her readers with is where she thinks the gun right debate should go. It is here, I think, that she loses a lot of the right-leaning audience. In truth, I'm not sure how I feel about it. On the one hand, I agree with a lot of it. On the other, I don't know how useful that was. But, then again, it depends on who the author is trying to reach.
There's also a lot of emotion involved in the conversation of school shootings. It's difficult to have a right-leaning opinion that protects schools when the research is against you. Many would try to have us believe that putting more guns in schools would provide a safer environment, but I have yet to see any logical argument that holds up such claims.
In light of that alone, I'm wouldn't be surprised if the point is missed in favor of personal refusal to accept research that doesn't align with their views. It's unfortunate, but true.
In Conclusion
Overall, I'd say this was a well researched compilation of the history of gun rights and law. I genuinely do feel that I learned a lot from it. Occasionally, I found myself angry and frustrated. Sometimes I had to check my own opinions on the matter and change them based on the evidence presented.
I recognize fully that the author does have an opinion on the subject and she makes that clear after the facts have been presented. This will likely infuriate many right-leaning readers, which I understand. I hope any frustration stemming from the anger doesn't result in unresearched disavowing of what facts were presented.
It's one thing to read the book, recognize and acknowledge what information is straight factual data and still disagree with the final conclusion the author reaches in regards to gun rights and law. It's another thing entirely to condemn the whole book and the presented facts because you don't like that the author disagrees with you and included such in a very small portion of the book.
I was provided a free copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
| Reader Fox Links |
December 27, 2023
i disagree with the reviews that suggest this is a book with an agenda. i say that because i came into reading this as someone who was pretty pro- gun control, and after reading the thorough research and data-backed information, i found myself somewhere in the middle. i see more clearly why the issues exist, and i don't feel firmly anti-gun like i was leaning before.
i think this is a really thoughtful, open-hearted book about a difficult topic, and it's worth checking out.
i think this is a really thoughtful, open-hearted book about a difficult topic, and it's worth checking out.
October 27, 2020
As you can probably guess from the title, this book argues against the expansive interpretation of the second amendment promoted by the NRA and many gun rights advocates. As such, you can expect a partisan review by most folks ... and I am probably not immune to that.
The book opens with a sensationalist listing of high school shootings, which unfortunately reveals an early bias that will immediately put many folks on the defensive. I probably would have put this at the end if the author really felt it was needed. It is a type of emotional appeal that doesn't really convince anybody of anything. After that, the author goes back into history to talk about the inspiration for the second amendment in the Protestant/Catholic conflict in England. The author makes a solid connection between the English Bill of Rights and the American Constitution here and sets the ground work for understanding what the founding fathers may have really intended when they wrote it. The author then walks through the historical context of gun regulations showing a fairly consistent interpretation of the law ... until ... the late 20th/early 21st century. Prior to that, the hypocrisy on this issue was simply astounding, but does kind of explain how we got here. Despite the slightly sarcastic tone, I thought the historical review to be well done (generally accurate with some commentary to remind you which side the author is on). I have not yet seen any dispute on the actual history as presented from either side.
The author also does a decent walk through the other Bill of Rights. A decent review, but I am not sure how such fits into the interpretation of the second amendment other than to outline any existing limits to said rights. For example, there actually are some limited to the right to free speech or free press.
I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#WhoseRightIsIt #NetGalley
The book opens with a sensationalist listing of high school shootings, which unfortunately reveals an early bias that will immediately put many folks on the defensive. I probably would have put this at the end if the author really felt it was needed. It is a type of emotional appeal that doesn't really convince anybody of anything. After that, the author goes back into history to talk about the inspiration for the second amendment in the Protestant/Catholic conflict in England. The author makes a solid connection between the English Bill of Rights and the American Constitution here and sets the ground work for understanding what the founding fathers may have really intended when they wrote it. The author then walks through the historical context of gun regulations showing a fairly consistent interpretation of the law ... until ... the late 20th/early 21st century. Prior to that, the hypocrisy on this issue was simply astounding, but does kind of explain how we got here. Despite the slightly sarcastic tone, I thought the historical review to be well done (generally accurate with some commentary to remind you which side the author is on). I have not yet seen any dispute on the actual history as presented from either side.
The author also does a decent walk through the other Bill of Rights. A decent review, but I am not sure how such fits into the interpretation of the second amendment other than to outline any existing limits to said rights. For example, there actually are some limited to the right to free speech or free press.
I was given this free advance review copy (ARC) audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.
#WhoseRightIsIt #NetGalley
October 21, 2020
This book should be titled The Argument for Gun Control. This is not an unbiased book to inform students regarding the second amendment. Evidently the author believes that they are above Supreme Court Justices. The author goes into detail regarding the Supreme Court Justices and the background of each (president that nominated and the party affiliation). And in conclusion suggest how the different branches of government could overrule a Supreme Court decision.
This audio is being targeted for students.
This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
This audio is being targeted for students.
This book was provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 5, 2021
After very quickly realizing the author's biases, I found this to be an interesting read. While I was aware of the 2nd Amendment and the controversies associated with it, I was less informed about the history of gun rights.
I am not a fan of end notes as a documentation format, so I had a difficult time discovering where the author's information came from. I will recommend this book to my students, but I will also advice them to be on the lookout for bias and proper documentation.
I am not a fan of end notes as a documentation format, so I had a difficult time discovering where the author's information came from. I will recommend this book to my students, but I will also advice them to be on the lookout for bias and proper documentation.
January 4, 2022
Good book. Its not a neutral perspective in the book. The Author is very much one-sided, but since I have the same position on this issue it was reaffirming of my beliefs.
I would recommend this to people who are looking for further support of Gun Control legislation, as there are some strong facts included.
I would recommend this to people who are looking for further support of Gun Control legislation, as there are some strong facts included.
January 2, 2025
It is an interesting book, though at times, it skips around, and asks rhetorical questions that it doesn’t answer for pages and pages, and while targeting kids, it is really for adults.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews