At Gunpoint: Firearms Violence from a Psychiatrist's Perspective - Paperback

by Rahn Kennedy Bailey (Author)

Firearms violence is as American as apple pie in a country where the right to bear arms is enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Yet, our forefathers could not have imagined armor-piercing bullets, automatic assault rifles in the hands of criminals and suspects using such weapons to kill concert attendees, church-goers and school children. Dr. Rahn Bailey and his coauthors take a hard look at firearm violence from the seat of a medical professional, the issues behind such violence and, finally, how the medical community should be responding to such issues. There is a notion by some, pushed by the National Rifle Association that the only way to stop a "bad guy with a gun is a gun is a good guy with a gun." Dr. Bailey and his colleagues take on that notion head on. His has seen firearm violence up close as a physician and what it does to the victim and everyone around him or her. As an African-American psychiatrist, Dr. Bailey has something to say on the subject that is authoritative, noteworthy and one many should hear. There is a prevailing feeling among some that bringing more guns into a situation will actually make an area or situation safer. That simply is not true. Dr. Bailey's book will examine the impact of suicide and guns, active shooters, how guns are used interpersonally. Many are dying needlessly simply because guns have been introduced into a situation. That does not mean fist fights do not lead to deaths, or conflicts with knives, bats, rocks, etc. will leave people dead. When someone can take a weapons that can fire off hundreds of rounds of ammunition in minutes - even seconds - victims have little chance to survive much less fight back. Gun violence is a health care issue and must be acknowledged as such, researched and treated in such a manner. Dr. Bailey and his colleagues will make that case in the following pages.