ters on their distribution and use. The final three chapters discuss the most common types of improvised/ modified firearms. As always, myriad photographs and drawings accompany the text, which I have kept on a technical /historical track, avoiding polemic except where necessary to make a point. For example, I know that gun owners dislike being stereotyped as drooling, redneck, racist, knuckle-walking conservatives. Outdated and unimaginative terms like “liberal” and “conservative" should not even apply to gun control issues. 1 like the words 'free person' and 'would-be slave" instead. Beyond that, this issue should not pit progun folks against each other because of race, religion, education, politics, or personal beliefs. An illustrative insight on this issue came as a letter to the editor from a reader of a newspaper in California. In part, it read: ... 1 am sick and tired of hearing every problem in this counriy blamed on the Liberal Left 1 know many diehard Reagan-Bush conservatives who would like to outlaw all private ownership of any form of gun 1 am a lifelong liberal, Kennedy Democrat, homosexual, and gun owner. 1 believe the Second Amendment was written not only to protect the country from invasion, but also to protect the country from an internal takeover. . . . If religious fascists come to get this homosexual, I will defend myself and thank the National Rifle Association for protecting my Second Amendment right to possess a weapon to protect myself. 1 am a lifelong antipolitician, populist, combat vet, personal supporter of JFK/RFK, heterosexual curmudgeon, and gun owner. Tell you what, Mr. Gay Gunowner, if those demented yahoos come for you, count on me. I'll face them with you.