Historian Dominique Erdozein talks about his new book, American gun culture, and the Second Amendment at a book event.

Historian Dominique Erdszyn spoke about the politics, culture and laws surrounding guns in the United States in a Wednesday talk about his book “One Nation Under Guns.”

In “One Nation Under Guns,” Erdozein argues that the Second Amendment never guarantees an individual’s right to bear arms, and that the United States has failed to critically examine the role of guns in a democracy. claims. His book talk, hosted by the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, was moderated by Yeva Jusionite, associate professor of international security and anthropology.

Modern American gun culture “is inconsistent with our democratic values ​​and constitutional goals,” President Erdozein said.

“This modern idea of ​​free and open access to deadly firepower is not simply a departure from the legal norms of American history,” he said. “This is a violation of the principles of freedom as defined in our democratic tradition. It turns out that it provides a much more powerful and coherent account of freedom than this kind of muscular freedom.

He said the Founding Fathers “would harshly criticize the reckless individualism that is currently associated with gun rights.”

A key argument in Erdzein’s book is that the Founders believed that “the liberal state exists to protect us not just from tyrannical rule, but from tyrannical behavior within all of us.” It means that it was.

President Erdozein disputed the idea that the Second Amendment was written to guarantee the right of all individuals to bear arms, and instead argued that the Second Amendment was written to protect the right of rulers as dictators. He characterized it as an anti-war measure to prevent a “professional military from allowing government to rule.”

He also emphasized the connection between slavery and gun ownership. “The argument against slavery was based in part on the fact that by encouraging slavery you were encouraging an armed society,” he said.

In his speech, President Erdozein also challenged the embrace of gun culture witnessed across the country. When he arrived in the United States from England, he said he was “alarmed by liberal fatalism about firearms as a badge of right-wing recklessness.”

Participants said the event was educational and inspiring.

“I felt (the talk) was a gift to the community. Dr. Eldzein is amazing,” said Fraser Lang ’67.

“It was interesting to hear about the connection between gun violence and slavery,” said Betty Lang, another attendee.

Melissa Carden, executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Gun Violence, also attended the event.

“People are not being taught the history of the Second Amendment,” Carden said, noting that 120 people are killed every day in the United States due to gun violence. “In light of today’s gun violence, the more honest conversations we have based on data and truth, the better.”