So, with earnest good intentions, I dedicate myself once again to write at least once a week on my blog. I'm back in the US again, writing up the dissertation, so tales of my adventures are less likely to appear. But if you, dear readers, are interested in reading about Latin American politics and other interesting things related to my research that has caught my eye, give my blog another gander. Here's what I've got for you today:
NPR has an interesting story on firearms today. It looks at the history of the Glock, the Austrian handgun that has become ubiquitous in the US. According to the author of the book Glock: The Rise of America's Gun, Paul Barrett, this particular handgun became popular not only because it is easy to learn to use but because the manufacturer gave discounts to police departments for bulk orders, it was featured in movies and television, and (my favorite reason) it was featured in rap lyrics--in part because Glock was easy to rhyme with, as the author puts it, "words you might want to use in rap lyrics."
The most interesting part of the article for me, however, is Barrett's discussion of the role Glock played in the Assault Weapons bill here in the US, and how large capacity firearms like the Glock ended up on the street after police stations replaced their older weapons with new guns. For anyone interested in the connections between politics, capitalism, and crime, this interview is worth a listen (or a read, if you're so inclined).
I followed a link from NPR to this Washington Post investigation on guns in the US. The various articles linked to this page are fascinating and also worth some time to check out. I especially recommend the articles that trace the path guns follow from first sale to recovery at a crime scene.
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