August 18, 2014
Alternating between a factual argument against gun violence and a scathing indictment of the NRA, former congresswoman Giffords and her husband, retired astronaut Kelly, take a long hard look at the fight to strike a balance between responsible gun ownership and Second Amendment rights. Drawing on the tragedies of the recent past—Newtown, Columbine, Virginia Tech, and Giffords' own near-fatal experience—they look at the cost to society, and argue for better background checks and sensible regulations. Time and again, they return to the largest obstacle in their path: the NRA, which has deep ties to the weapons-manufacturing industry and politicians and blocks every attempt to regulate gun control. Written from Kelly’s point of view and studded with contributions from Giffords, the book makes a straightforward yet impassioned argument. At times incredibly personal, at others somewhat preachy, this study nevertheless presents its case in a way that will leave many readers upset and angry—although it may leave the NRA true-believers unmoved. The pitch for Giffords and Kelly’s new organization, Americans for Responsible Solutions, which seeks to implement “moderate, commonsense policy shifts” for gun control is reasonable and accessibly presented. Agent: Robert Barnett, Williams & Connolly