New doubts about gun historian

Boston Globe ^ | 9-11-2001 | David Mehegan

[farmer18th]

When Emory University historian Michael A. Bellesiles published his sweeping historical study of guns in Colonial America last fall, the reaction was electric.

His thesis that guns were relatively rare in Colonial households, and that the American ''gun culture'' didn't take hold until long after the Founding Fathers drafted the Second Amendment's ''right to bear arms,'' was immediately hailed by gun control advocates and by a host of historians impressed by his bold rewriting of conventional wisdom.

[farmer18th]

Apparently, Bellesiles is being accused of actually altering the probate transcripts he used in his book. A thirteen year old algebra student could have told you that before, of course, but now the other academics have caught up to him...

[Dudoight]

Never believed this author from the first time I heard it. Colonials HAD to augment their tables with game fowl,(they couldn't trap turkeys)venison, etc.

[Rodney King]

bump

[real saxophonist]

'Gun historian'? They misspelled 'liar'.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

The flip side of Bellesiles' theory is that friendly Indians fed and clothed the Colonists up until the evil NRA gave everyone a gun. I believe the correct response is
Haaaak-thoooie !

[Rob45and2]

As if we needed more proof that the Liberal Elite are quite able to use disinformation and propoganda to achieve their ends.

[farmer18th]

liar

That's literally what he is, apparently. I always thought his thesis was bankrupt, because I've reviewed colonial gun ownership myself, but I didn't think he would actually change the primary evidence. Silly, naive me. Never underestimate the depravity of a far-left academic.

[FormerLib]

A gun control advocate mis-representing the facts! Oh, knock me down with a feather! He-hee!

[LawProf]

See also the coverage today by National Review On-line (now off the front page because of breaking events).

Disarming America -- One of the worst cases of academic irresponsibility in memory.

http://www.nationalreview.com/01oct01/seckora100101.shtml

[Ohioan]

Socialism is now, and always has been, a philosophy that treats the deliberate lie as an acceptable tactic. All forms of the disease depend upon lies. (See The Lies Of Socialism.)

George Washington's troops were permitted to take their weapons home with them, of course; and Washington for the rest of his life tried to get Congress to appropriate funds to make sure that every household was armed--as in Switzerland, which he considered the modern model. (See The Right & Duty To Keep & Bear Arms.)

Let us hope that they so thoroughly discredit this phoney "historian," that respectable people have no further truck with him, wherever the toad may wonder. His motive appears to be to take away the freedom of our people, and he therefore deserves only the contempt of free men and women.

William Flax Return Of The Gods Web Site

[justlurking]

This is significant. The lamestream media has been falling all over themselves to heap praise on Bellesiles, and now they are realizing they have been duped.

What you are witnessing is the turning point. From here on, the vilification of Bellesiles will be merciless, and historical scholars everywhere will realize they need to be much more careful.

[farmer18th]

The lamestream media has been falling all over themselves to heap praise on Bellesiles,

Makes me feel like looking up some of those early reviews and emailing the writers for a response.

[Grut]

Citing Bellesiles on guns is like citing Velikovski on astronomy.

[Joe Brower]

KBoom.

[Bonaparte]

Maybe Bellesiles can co-write a "History of Bad Historians" with Joe Ellis. Tommy "That's the ticket!" Flanagan can edit.

[Bonaparte]

I wonder if Columbia will ask Bellesiles to return his prize for propagandistic excellence...

[Bonaparte]

BTW, the Boston Globe is a year too late. Bellesiles was exposed this historian in the National Review a year ago.

[Bonaparte]

BTW, the Boston Globe is a year too late. Bellesiles was exposed by this historian in the National Review a year ago.

[KayEyeDoubleDee]

Yep. I remember that NR article. They ripped him a new one. Lying Bstrd

[Bonaparte]

My favorite part of the NR article is: "Generally, the errors in Arming America can be divided into the following categories: out of context quotes; using sources that confirm his thesis, while ignoring sources that contradict his thesis; and intentional deception."

No academic will say that about a colleague unless he's got him dead to rights.

More of Cramer's articles on Bellesiles are here.