From the École Polytechnique shootings of 1989 to the political controversy surrounding the elimination of the federal long-gun registry, the issue of gun control has been a subject of fierce debate in Canada. But in fact, firearm regulation has been a sharply contested issue in the country since Confederation. Arming and Disarming offers the first comprehensive history of gun control in Canada from the colonial period to the present. In this sweeping, immersive book, R. Blake Brown outlines efforts to regulate the use of guns by young people, punish the misuse of arms, impose licensing regimes, and create firearm registries. Brown also challenges many popular assumptions about Canadian history, suggesting that gun ownership was far from universal during much of the colonial period, and that many nineteenth century lawyers – including John A. Macdonald – believed in a limited right to bear arms. Arming and Disarming provides a careful exploration of how social, economic, cultural, legal, and constitutional concerns shaped gun legislation and its implementation, as well as how these factors defined Canada’s historical and contemporary ‘gun culture.’

From the École Polytechnique shootings of 1989 to the political controversy surrounding the elimination of the federal long-gun registry, the issue of gun control has been a subject of fierce debate in Canada. But in fact, firearm regulation has been a sharply contested issue in the country since Confederation. Arming and Disarming offers the first comprehensive history of gun control in Canada from the colonial period to the present. In this sweeping, immersive book, R. Blake Brown outlines efforts to regulate the use of guns by young people, punish the misuse of arms, impose licensing regimes, and create firearm registries. Brown also challenges many popular assumptions about Canadian history, suggesting that gun ownership was far from universal during much of the colonial period, and that many nineteenth century lawyers – including John A. Macdonald – believed in a limited right to bear arms. Arming and Disarming provides a careful exploration of how social, economic, cultural, legal, and constitutional concerns shaped gun legislation and its implementation, as well as how these factors defined Canada's historical and contemporary 'gun culture.'

How to Be Safe is the most comprehensive safety and security manual on the market, encouraging individuals to take a positive, preventive approach to their own safety. This well-researched reference, written by the founder and chairman of Guardsmark, one of the world’s largest security service companies, shows you how to protect yourself from crime even when challenged by the greatest odds. Jam-packed with unique tips and handy guidelines to deal with muggers, burglars, stalkers, and worse, HOW TO BE SAFE reveals what attracts criminals to you, your home, your loved ones, or your business and provides the proven tactics to scare them off. From securing your home with tips from the professionals to protecting your investments and arming your computer with the best virus-protection software, the information inside will help you stay one step ahead of even the savviest criminal minds. If you’re concerned about becoming a victim of crime, keep this book handy and follow its practical and personally relevant advice. Learn the secrets of the security pros and discover how to… · Secure your home while on vacation. · Establish a safe workplace. · Protect kids from violence and bullying. · Stay safe when jogging, shopping, or taking mass transportation. · Detect an unsafe college campus. · Avoid Internet scams and e-mail traps. · Select a safe nursing home or daycare center. · Deal with sexual assault and stalkers. · Respond to a terrorist attack. · And so much more!

Arming and Disarming provides a careful exploration of how social, economic, cultural, legal, and constitutional concerns shaped gun legislation and its implementation, as well as how these factors defined Canada's historical and contemporary 'gun culture.'

Geographically, the United States and Canada inherited very similar landscapes but culturally, socially, and politically, they have taken quite different paths into the 21st century. Initially, the land and its indigenous people necessitated the use of firearms for protection and food. The U.S. was born of rebellion. Canada emerged as the natural outcome of colonies becoming independent through maturation and petition. Each chose a quite different philosophical approach to society, politics, and government; and it is these differences that help us explain why America remains committed to its personal possession of firearms, with all its consequences, while Canada has chosen to foster a policy of strict and limited gun control. America’s relationship with firearms developed out of English Common Law and the English Bill of Rights which guaranteed the right to bear arms as a fundamental and, therefore, an inalienable human right and was guaranteed in the U.S. Bill of Rights. Canada’s Fathers of Confederation chose to exclude this fundamental right from its Constitution and its Bill of Rights for reasons that can now only be described as elitist and racist. To own and bear arms in Canada is a privilege and not a right. The right to own firearms is neither guaranteed nor defended by the founding documents of the nation. In fact, the laws governing firearms are part of the Canadian Criminal Code. This omission, since 1867, and the inclusion of firearms regulations within the Criminal Code, since 1892, has served to differentiate America from Canada and has permitted Canada to implement some of the most restrictive gun laws to govern law-abiding citizens in a free and democratic nation.

A provocative, timely, and deeply-researched history of gun culture and how it reflects race and power in the United States