DonP
Member
A couple of weeks ago, when the publisher announced they were dropping Arming America from their lists, I started collecting the articles on Bellisles resignation and the peer group critiques from different sources on his phony research. I topped the folder off with the details of Knopf dropping the book.
I tried to make sure the articles were from major papers and a few left leaning ones at that. I took them to my local library, found the two copies they had on their shelf and brought both to the front desk. I very politely brought the issue to the attention of the head libararian with out sounding like a ranting and raving "gun nut".
She asked what I wanted them to do about it. I said at minimum I would like the book moved from the non-fiction section and have an errata page placed in the front of the book. My preference was to totally remove the book from the shelves because of its false presentation of supposedly factual data.
She said it's very unusual to totally remove a book like that. I pointed out all the books they have removed early in the 1900's that used pseudo science to prove racial superiority or Lomboroso's theory of criminal pre-disposition. In my mind this book fell into the same category. False information, presented as scientific fact, used to further a predetermined agenda. She agreed to consider the issue.
The good news is that she brought the issue to the attention of their board and Arming America has been removed from the shelves in the entire district.
I'm happy to report that it is gone, but John Lott's book is still there.
I was lucky to have a reasonable and more open minded librarian. (Plan "B" was to lose all the copies over in the quilting section)
Good luck with your libraries.
Don P.
I tried to make sure the articles were from major papers and a few left leaning ones at that. I took them to my local library, found the two copies they had on their shelf and brought both to the front desk. I very politely brought the issue to the attention of the head libararian with out sounding like a ranting and raving "gun nut".
She asked what I wanted them to do about it. I said at minimum I would like the book moved from the non-fiction section and have an errata page placed in the front of the book. My preference was to totally remove the book from the shelves because of its false presentation of supposedly factual data.
She said it's very unusual to totally remove a book like that. I pointed out all the books they have removed early in the 1900's that used pseudo science to prove racial superiority or Lomboroso's theory of criminal pre-disposition. In my mind this book fell into the same category. False information, presented as scientific fact, used to further a predetermined agenda. She agreed to consider the issue.
The good news is that she brought the issue to the attention of their board and Arming America has been removed from the shelves in the entire district.
I'm happy to report that it is gone, but John Lott's book is still there.
I was lucky to have a reasonable and more open minded librarian. (Plan "B" was to lose all the copies over in the quilting section)
Good luck with your libraries.
Don P.
