March 1, 2002

When Critics Start Shooting Holes in a Prize-Winning Book About Guns

To the Editor:

I find the questions raised in The Chronicle's online Colloquy puzzling, and the responses astonishing in their lack of understanding of publishing, the workings of historical scholarship, and the nature of academic argument ("Did the Shootouts Over Arming America Divert Attention From the Real Issues?," February 1).

Let's look at how academic dispute usually works. A scholar publishes a book or an article. ... He or she must pass a proposed article through a

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