Lethal Passage

Erik Larson decided to address gun control issues by examining one school shooting, which occurred in 1988. Six years later, he looked at the gun used, the store in which it was purchased, and the other details surrounding the case. It is a novel approach at examining the overwhelming amount of school shootings in America, and highlights the amount in which gun manufacturers, retailers, and politicians all deny responsibility for the gun epidemic. When I read it, I was sad that this book was written in 1994 and discussed old federal law instead of the current ones. Unfortunately, everything else discussed in the book still applies, 30 years and dozens upon dozens of school shootings later.

The content is disturbingly relevant, but the issues around school shootings are very well known at this point. The most interesting part of the book was getting to hear from individuals directly, if only partially, responsible for a school shooting. Larson works hard to not point too many fingers, and the actual shooter is already known. So, while there is stuff to be learned from this book, most of the people who would benefit from reading it are the least likely to do so. It’s worth a read if you are interested in American gun violence, but I’d recommend something more recent with a more updated list of possible solutions.