Overview

"Fraga ""... traces America's history ... from the days of Bleeding Kansas to the long tradition of political assassination; exploring the ways that American gun culture has become more radical over time. Related issues of racism; police violence; mental health; and suicide are discussed; as are the numerous ways that efforts to legislate gun control have been stymied at all levels of government. Fraga is a skilled writer; and his matter-of-fact prose captures the mundane terror of these stories . . . ""-Kirkus Reviews New Zealand reined in gun violence; why can't the US? Fraga explains how rural voters in the US have more clout than their counterparts in New Zealand; and they are the fiercest advocates of gun rights. Not long ago; a Texas congressman evaded a metal detector in the Capitol. He was reported to have sneered; ""You can't stop me."" Another congressman told police who tried to scan him after he set off the machine; ""Nah; I'm not going to do that."" And a third member of Congress refused to let the police search her handbag after she bragged that she was going to carry a loaded Glock to Congress. Many in rural states believe you fight guns with guns. Fraga examines the Heartland; specifically Kansas. 'Bleeding Kansas"" he reminds the reader; is ""home to Dodge City; the cow town so beset by violence that it invited Wyatt Earp to be its Marshall. The City Council instituted a 'Deadline' along Front Street, separating the north end of town where guns were prohibited-cowboys packing heat there were arrested and immediately packed off to jail-from the free-wheeling south end where pretty much any behavior went unchecked."" Unpacking the right to bear arms and the 2nd Amendment; Fraga exposes the history of the NRA up to and including the Russian Maria Butina's involvement in the NRA in 2016. Robert Fraga wrote The Greening of Oz (2012); about the town of Greensburg in western Kansas, that ""came back green"" after a tornado almost wiped it out; and The Road through San Judas (2020), about the struggle between landless farmers and the wealthy Mexican family who wanted them gone. His latest, A Parade of Grief, is an important read."

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9781941237991

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Reviews

""". . . With this book, the author, a retired professor, documents the proliferation of appalling and grief-inducing incidents of gun violence that have marred contemporary American life, including infamous mass shootings and smaller events like the one that affected his friends' son. He traces America's history with the subject, from the days of Bleeding Kansas to the long tradition of political assassination, exploring the ways that American gun culture has become more radical over time. Related issues of racism, police violence, mental health, and suicide are discussed, as are the numerous ways that efforts to legislate gun control have been stymied at all levels of government. Fraga is a skilled writer, and his matter-of-fact prose captures the mundane terror of these stories . . . ""-Kirkus Reviews ""A topic as serious as gun violence is hard to distill, Fraga has outlined the salient points with the skill of a veteran writer. His last chapter should be a must-read for anyone concerned about our children's future, ""What Can Be Done?"" Fraga's answer is practical and achievable."" -Mitch Cearbhall, From Imagination to Manifestation (2021)"

"PRAISE FOR A PARADE OF GRIEF: Gun Violence in America In A Parade Of Grief: Gun Violence in America by Robert Fraga, the author goes into great detail about the United States' history of gun violence. He explains what the NRA is and how they deal with gun violence. He also talks about kids who have survived mass shootings and how they are involved in fighting back. He explains how the government is involved. The author also gives hope and ideas on what can be done. I thought that A Parade of Grief by Robert Fraga was a real eyeopener. The first chapter was about my hometown, and I have even frequented that rest stop multiple times. I had heard that particular story but didn't know all the details. I really appreciated how he was able to get all the facts. I loved that he shared both sides of the story of all the shootings. I love how the author goes into great detail. But, a fair warning, some of it might make you queasy. I was surprised by the Charlton Heston quote. I love that no matter what side you're on, there will be times when this will make you angry. I appreciated that the author gave a detailed history that you wouldn't learn in a history class. I loved the ending, because not only did Robert Fraga give us hope, but also ideas on how to achieve it. If you want to learn more about the gun violence epidemic in the United States, I highly recommend this book. It will give you a lot to think about. - Renee Guill, Reviewer for Readers' Favorite In 2016, the author received a Christmas newsletter from some friends in which he learned that the couple's son, a college student, had been shot six times by a stranger at a highway rest stop. Though the son survived, his horrific experience stuck with Fraga. ""An extraordinary story?"" writes the author. ""An isolated instance of butchery? Not so extraordinary, unfortunately. Not so isolated either. The country is awash in guns. People use them to kill other people."" With this book, the author, a retired professor, documents the proliferation of appalling and grief-inducing incidents of gun violence that have marred contemporary American life, including infamous mass shootings and smaller events like the one that affected his friends' son. He traces America's history with the subject, from the days of Bleeding Kansas to the long tradition of political assassination, exploring the ways that American gun culture has become more radical over time. Related issues of racism, police violence, mental health, and suicide are discussed, as are the numerous ways that efforts to legislate gun control have been stymied at all levels of government. Fraga is a skilled writer, and his matter-of-fact prose captures the mundane terror of these stories ... - Kirkus Reviews ""A topic as serious as gun violence is hard to distill, Fraga has outlined the salient points with the skill of a veteran writer. His last chapter should be a must-read for anyone concerned about our children's future, ""What Can Be Done?"" Fraga's answer is practical and achievable."" -Mitch Cearbhall, From Imagination to Manifestation"

Author Information

"Robert Fraga grew up in Los Alamos, New Mexico, where his father helped make the atomic bomb and where Bob worked in the Los Alamos National Laboratory during summer vacations while at at Pomona College. Bob then moved to Canada. After graduating with his PhD at the University of British Columbia (1963-65), he moved to the Middle East, where he lived the next twenty years. He taught at the American University in Cairo where he learned a smattering of Arabic. Bob wrote The Greening of Oz (2012), about the town of Greensburg in western Kansas, that ""came back green"" after a tornado almost wiped it out, and in 2020, The Road through San Judas (2020), about the struggle between landless farmers and the wealthy Mexican family who wanted them gone. Bob lives in Lawrence, Kansas, and spends his summers in a 15th century home in rural France."

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