Abstract
Chapter 1 introduces a fairly large and diverse literature on gun culture. Gun culture focuses attention on the distinctive meanings that people attach to guns. For some, guns symbolize power and violence, while for others guns signify protection and freedom. These contrasting meanings are central to understanding the deep political divisions about guns that exist in the United States. This chapter covers three different research approaches to gun culture: ethnographic, historical, and quantitative. After a comprehensive presentation of gun culture and the institutional forces that shape it, the author anticipates a substantial gap between gun owners’ and nonowners’ political choices and attitudes.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
