Weapons Law in Western Europe, 1550-2020 (Routledge Studies in Modern European History)

Synopsis

This book is a transnational history of European weapons law that utilizes the law and primary sources to trace the development from early portable firearms to modern-day weapons.Challenging many conventional assumptions, this book establishes that weapons control in the current sense is a new phenomenon. Control with possession only became dominant between 1918 and 1939, thereby establishing a high degree of uniformity for the first time. Weapons law is old in Western Europe, but only as a palette of possible solutions. Possession control triumphed as a tool against Communist and Fascist attacks on democracy and remained as an instrument against crime and accidents. It is argued that previously the laws on possession furthered rather than hindered ownership. For centuries, governments sought security by encouraging trusted men to arm themselves, rather than disarming the suspect. Legislators used a range of carrying restrictions, sometimes many but mostly few, as a tool against armed crime. The author examines attitudes and policies towards power, law, violence, social hierarchy, national defence, and civic freedom.This volume offers historians and social scientists a new perspective on the long-term development of Western European states and societies, and it will be of value to undergraduate and postgraduate students of history, sociology, and politics.

Copyright:

2025

Book Details

Book Quality:

Publisher Quality

ISBN-13:

9781040267158

Related ISBNs:

9781040267073, 9781003452218, 9781032589381

Publisher:

Taylor & Francis

Date of Addition:

12/09/24

Copyrighted By:

Gunner Lind. The right of Gunner Lind to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in accordance with sections

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

History, Nonfiction, Social Studies

Submitted By:

Bookshare Staff

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.