This Book Is Not a Gun

You CAN do something about gun violence. This Book Is Not a Gun leads your way by revealing its causes, countering misconceptions, guiding introspection and inspiring action. * From the young-adult non-fiction series that brought you the #1 New York Times bestseller This Book Is Anti-Racist * Who are you? What is your experience with gun violence? How does gun violence affect the world? What can we do to change it? This fourth instalment in the critically acclaimed Empower the Future series meets teens where they are to break down the sensitive and urgent topic of gun violence. Tia Bell, a community leader and gun prevention expert, explains the root causes of the problem, both societal and personal, exploring systemic obstacles and the reasons why a person might pull the trigger. From practising compassion and understanding, to finding community and being a leader, this book is packed with practical advice and personal experience. Each chapter concludes with an off-page activity to develop and solidify knowledge. Brought to colourful life by Aurelia Durands exuberant illustrations, these pages explore: Who you are Your social identity, your community and your life experience with guns Guns and the world Gun laws, facts and figures about gun violence and who is most at risk How society loads the gun Gun violence as a public health issue, collective social trauma and how intervention is wrongly favoured over prevention What you can do How you can combine knowledge and empathy with civic engagement to prevent gun violence This book is not a gun, but a hopeful and inclusive tool that equips our future leaders with the knowledge and confidence they need to stop the infectious spread of gun violence.