2008 Woodie Awards
DU Alum discusses "American epidemic"
Author of One Nation Under Guns returns to DU for Q & A
Megan Kimble
Issue date: 5/15/07 Section: Features
Arnold Grossman graduated from the University of Denver in 1959 and was the Clarion editor-in-chief. Since leaving DU, he has co-authored two political novels. His most recent book, One Nation Under Guns: an Essay on an American Epidemic deals with the emotionally charged issue of gun violence in America. "In the next five seconds, another handgun will be manufactured somewhere in the United States. In the next two minutes, someone will be shot with a handgun. If today is an average day, 82 Americans with die from gunfire by midnight. Eight of those who will die will be children."
Thus begins One Nation Under Guns, and Grossman's attempt to dissect and bring light upon the so-called "American epidemic."
Q: Why did you write One Nation Under Guns?
Arnold Grossman: Right after Columbine, I got very interested in the issue [of gun control]. I had always been interested in the issue, for years, but right after Columbine, I just went over the edge and was devastated. I said we have to start doing something about this. So a good friend of mine, John Head, who is very active in Republican politics, and I, a life long Democrat, decided to form a bipartisan organization called SAFE (Sane Alternative to the Firearms Epidemic) Colorado, which is dedicated to reasonable gun control.
Q: What has SAFE done in the past and what is it working on now?
A.G.: We have one significant achievement, of which we're all very proud. After the Columbine disaster, we decided we needed to take some action: we wanted to do more than just speak out. We learned that three of the four guns used at Columbine were bought at gun shows through what's called the gun show loophole (which allows "non-registered dealers" to sell firearms at gun shows without registration. Closing the loophole would require background checks for private sales at gun shows). John and I went back to Washington and met with the handgun control lobby, and sought their council because we wanted to start some changes, legislatively.
Thus begins One Nation Under Guns, and Grossman's attempt to dissect and bring light upon the so-called "American epidemic."
Q: Why did you write One Nation Under Guns?
Arnold Grossman: Right after Columbine, I got very interested in the issue [of gun control]. I had always been interested in the issue, for years, but right after Columbine, I just went over the edge and was devastated. I said we have to start doing something about this. So a good friend of mine, John Head, who is very active in Republican politics, and I, a life long Democrat, decided to form a bipartisan organization called SAFE (Sane Alternative to the Firearms Epidemic) Colorado, which is dedicated to reasonable gun control.
Q: What has SAFE done in the past and what is it working on now?
A.G.: We have one significant achievement, of which we're all very proud. After the Columbine disaster, we decided we needed to take some action: we wanted to do more than just speak out. We learned that three of the four guns used at Columbine were bought at gun shows through what's called the gun show loophole (which allows "non-registered dealers" to sell firearms at gun shows without registration. Closing the loophole would require background checks for private sales at gun shows). John and I went back to Washington and met with the handgun control lobby, and sought their council because we wanted to start some changes, legislatively.
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