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Under Fire : How Australia's violent history led to gun control
This is a history of Australia, measured by the gun. From bushrangers and soldiers to the many farmers and recreational shooters shooting animals and each other, the firearm is an inescapable part of Australia’s story and its characters.
But just as guns have been a part of Australia’s modern identity, so too has gun control. After the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, Australia became a world-leader in firearms regulation. Yet even before this tragedy, questions had long been brewing: questions over who could shoot what, where, and when. This is the story of the answers we negotiated.
In Under Fire, acclaimed popular historian Nick Brodie takes a closer look at the role of guns in Australia and how we removed ourselves from the firing line.
But just as guns have been a part of Australia’s modern identity, so too has gun control. After the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, Australia became a world-leader in firearms regulation. Yet even before this tragedy, questions had long been brewing: questions over who could shoot what, where, and when. This is the story of the answers we negotiated.
In Under Fire, acclaimed popular historian Nick Brodie takes a closer look at the role of guns in Australia and how we removed ourselves from the firing line.
304 pages, Paperback
Published May 1, 2020
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
December 19, 2021
Trigger warnings: gun violence, death, death of a child, mass shooting, colonialism, racism.
I've read Nick Brodie's The Vandemonian War and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was very interested to see what he could do with a more modern take on Australian history.
I definitely wanted there to be more of an examination of Port Arthur and its aftermath than there was, but it's possible that's because Port Arthur happened when I was 13 and it very definitely had the same impact on Australian millennials that 9/11 had on American millennials.
All in all, I found it fascinating how many controls were put in place on firearms by the various colonies throughout Australia's history. And I definitely gave the book some aggressive side-eye when there was discussion of how US gun groups and gun lobbies were pushing their agendas on an Australian market...
So while it didn't have as modern a focus as I was hoping for, it was still a fascinating read.
I've read Nick Brodie's The Vandemonian War and thoroughly enjoyed it, so I was very interested to see what he could do with a more modern take on Australian history.
I definitely wanted there to be more of an examination of Port Arthur and its aftermath than there was, but it's possible that's because Port Arthur happened when I was 13 and it very definitely had the same impact on Australian millennials that 9/11 had on American millennials.
All in all, I found it fascinating how many controls were put in place on firearms by the various colonies throughout Australia's history. And I definitely gave the book some aggressive side-eye when there was discussion of how US gun groups and gun lobbies were pushing their agendas on an Australian market...
So while it didn't have as modern a focus as I was hoping for, it was still a fascinating read.
January 5, 2021
A well researched book that gives a great historical narrative to guns and gun control in Australia.
I especially like the newspaper cippings that riddle the book.
I especially like the newspaper cippings that riddle the book.
April 29, 2023
Insightful and engaging history of colonial Australia's relationship with firearms.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews