Gunstories

For many young people in the United States, firearms are an ordinary part of life. In family homes they are kept for protection, sport, and hunting, while on the street they may be carried for defense or security, or appear in gang activity.

Guns can lead to accidents and even deaths, yet they can also be tied to self-esteem and athletic achievement. Their influence on young people's lives is significant and often dramatic, and the book examines both sides of that influence.

S. Beth Atkin's photographs are paired with interviews in which the young people describe, in their own words, a range of experiences with guns that changed their lives.