Dunbar-Ortiz (An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States) is unequivocal in her interpretation of the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution; she argues that arming citizens to protect themselves from despotic government was not its historical premise. Relying on the work of historians and authors, she also emphatically contends that the "Right To Bear Arms" is rooted in the interests of early American colonists overtaking Native American lands and defending themselves against slave rebellions. This notion of the "Right To Bear Arms" has continued as an American tradition, she maintains, in the forms of racial injustice, the continued suppression of marginalized peoples, and the U.S. desire for empire. In her view, a number of American icons—including Daniel Boone, Theodore Roosevelt, and George Washington, among others—are part of the unjust tradition of the Second Amendment. For Dunbar-Ortiz, domestic mass shootings in the United States are also in the same tradition as American foreign military operations, as they relate to the slaughter of innocents.Verdict Readers interested in a different view of U.S. history and the Second Amendment will find this book appealing.—Mark Jones, Mercantile Lib., Cincinnati
Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.


ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?