Arming America

Arming America: The Origins of a National Gun Culture
by Michael Bellesiles

Bellesiles and his thesis has been discredited, but for those interested in pursuing the subject in more depth, and with more reliable sources, start at http://www.constitution.org/cs_defen.htm , and see particularly the collection of books by James B. Whisker, a Professor of Political Science at West Virginia University, the Whisker Militia Treatises, at http://www.constitution.org/jw/jbwhisker.htm , which shows clearly the falsity of Bellesiles thesis and supports the high level of militia activity and firearms usage with an abundance of evidence that Bellesiles conveniently chose to ignore. Any serious study of the subject needs to begin with Whisker's work.