Nieman Reports: McWhirter on the writing of American Gun
In the latest issue of Nieman Reports, Cameron McWhirter writes about why he and co-author Zusha Elinson, both U.S. news reporters for...
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AMERICAN GUN
The True Story of the AR-15
“[A] magisterial work of narrative history and original reportage."
—The New York Times Book Review
“A riveting exploration of the cost of the nation’s fascination with an iconic weapon.”
— Kirkus starred review
“[R]iveting history....This book is not to be missed." —Esquire
“An indispensable read.”—THe Guardian
American Gun Blog
Feb 28
American Gun shortlisted for a J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize
We're thrilled that American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15 has been shortlisted for a J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize. The prize is given...
Feb 24
Ex-NRA Chief Wayne LaPierre ordered to Pay More Than $4 Million Back to Gun-Rights Group
It's a stunning downfall for LaPierre, 74 years old, who helmed the powerful National Rifle Association for decades. In the New York...
Feb 20
American Gun authors on "Burned By Books" podcast
Chris Holmes, chair of the English department at Ithaca College and host of the popular "Burned By Books" podcast, had Zusha Elinson and...
Feb 12
Police: Shooter at MegaChurch used and AR-15
A person entered the Texas church of well-known television preacher Joel Osteen and opened fire with an AR-15 on Sunday afternoon, police...
Jan 7
#OTD in 1959, Colt buys rights to the AR-15
On January 7, 1959, the firearms maker Colt acquired manufacturing and sublicensing rights to the AR-15 and AR-10 rifle's gas...
Jan 4
McWhirter talks about American Gun and the AR-15 on "America Trends" Podcast
Larry Rifkin, host of the long-running "America Trends" podcast, spoke at length with Cameron McWhirter, co-author of American Gun: The...
Dec 4, 2023
OTD 1961: Defense Dept. Spy Agency approves purchase of AR-15s for testing in Vietnam
On Dec. 4, 1961, the Defense Department’s Advanced Research Projects Agency approved the purchase of a thousand AR-15 rifles from Colt to...
Dec 1, 2023
A GENERAL, WATERMELONS AND THE AR-15
A key moment in the history of the AR-15 rifle — an event that led to the gun’s ultimate adoption by the U.S. military — came on July 4,...
Nov 26, 2023
Biden's Blunt Remark about the 1994 Assault-Weapons Ban
During intense negotiations in 1994 about the large crime package and an attached assault-weapons ban, then-Senator Joe Biden of Delaware...
Nov 21, 2023
McWhirter on Word Balloon podcast to talk about American Gun
Thanks to John Siuntres, host of the comics and culture podcast "Word Balloon," for having Cameron McWhirter on the show to talk about...
Nov 10, 2023
C-SPAN creates American Gun educational material
McWhirter and Elison spoke with author Paul Barrett on C-SPAN's BookTV about American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15. You can watch it...
Nov 8, 2023
McWhirter at Texas Book Festival on Nov. 12 in Austin
Cameron McWhirter, co-author of American Gun: The True Story of the AR-15, will join prominent author/journalist/professor Jeff Sharlet...
Nov 8, 2023
The National Book Review Picks American Gun as one of its "Five hot Books"
The National Book Review, an online journal about new books with leading journalists and critics as contributors, has chosen American...
Nov 1, 2023
Lewiston Shooter used an Ar-10 rifle, similar to the AR-15 and also invented by Eugene Stoner
The perpetrator of the horrific mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, does not appear to have used an AR-15 in his attacks, but instead an...
