22 THE A°UDU BION] BU se 
z1educed once abundant wildlife. They are the main tool of the poacher, the 
are the joy of the marksman and hunter. Without guns, most televisio 
programs would have to find another format, and without guns, som 
persons would never bother to write their congressmen and other publi 
officials. It is no wonder that the subject arouses intense interest an 
emotion. Gun control legislation is passionately discussed pro and cor 
and debate reaches new heights when some famed person is murderec 
but lapses into silence when the headlines and drama disappear. 
Carl Bakal has made a penetrating and useful study of the subject an 
examines it from many angles. As the whole picture unfolds, one’s interes 
becomes more consuming; it is a book that is hard to put down. The facet 
which Bakal reveals are terrifying: The U.S.A. is a dumping ground fo 
75% and more of the world’s war-surplus weapons. Over 5 million weapon; 
some old and new poured into the country between 1959 and 1963—primaril 
because Americans have the money and the desire to buy firearms, and n 
other nation in the world so readily permits its citizens to purchas 
weapons. Each page of the book contains similar facts and figures. It i 
well documented and researched. 
Bakal examines many facets of the gun controversy. He delves int 
the publication area, commenting on the numerous American magazine 
devoted to guns, their sale, use and exploitation. He examines the crim 
situation, the political stalemate in the nation’s capitol and in the severe 
states where effective gun legislation has been stalled. His article on th 
National Rifle Association, which he calls “the vigilante on the Potomac, 
is a tale of awesome power of this vast organization, now numbering oye 
cne million members. In 1963, there were some 19,000,000 purchases c 
tags, hunting licenses, permits and stamps; there are doubtless some du 
plications in these figures. Recent information suggests that more tha 
$150 million is spent annually for hunting fees and for dues and contribution 
to wildlife clubs. Hunting is a 1.5 billion dollar industry. 
Though legal protection is gaining for our American raptors, an 
steadily so since 1962, only about half of the states now protect our hawk 
and owls. The failure of other states to pass protective legislation is du 
to opposition from gunners and apathy on the part of the average citizel 
Some states protect no birds of prey. Since 1900, Americans have witnesse 
the disappearance of almost 20 species of wildlife, among them the Heat 
Hen and the Passenger Pigeon. Others on the endangered species list are th 
Timber Wolf, the Grizzly Bear, the Key Deer, the Southern Bald Eagle, an 
the Whooping Crane, to mention a few. 
Gun control legislation is inevitable in this nation for at least tw 
reasons: Congress, which is often the most unresponsive body in th 
structure of our government, cannot much longer ignore the desire ¢ 
over 76% of the nation’s citizens for stronger controls; secondly, our natio 
will burgeon with over 350,000,000 persons in less than 35 years. Most ¢ 
them will live in urban areas, making it less desireable that anyone in th 
biock have ready access to an arsenal. For a book filled with statistic 
Bakal’s volume reads like a racy western tale of sheriffs and vigilante: 
good guys and bad guys. It will be a standard reference for years to com 
—Raymond Mosie 
