Ryan W. Davis is Associate Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University. He is interested in how moral disagreements affect relationships and reasoning. Most of his work is connected to the value of autonomy in morality and politics. He has a PhD from Princeton University.

"Why It’s OK to Own a Gun is a model of civil, intelligent, and persuasive discourse on a hot-button issue. It breaks new ground and offers a novel argument for the permissibility of gun ownership that should interest researchers, journalists and the general public. It is a joy to read."John Thrasher, Chapman University“An excellent book, rigorously argued but sprinkled with personality throughout. A good example of philosophical analysis on a hot-button issue, the book works both as a general introduction to the topic and as an original contribution to the philosophical literature on gun rights/prohibition. Extremely well-written, it discusses sometimes conceptually difficult material with a very light touch.”Dan Waxman, National University of Singapore

• 1.Introduction 2. Guns, Concepts, and Meaning I: The Value of Shared Identity 3. Guns, Concepts, and Meaning II: The Prospect of Cultural Devastation 4. Guns as a Deontological Right 5. Guns as a Liberal Right. Liberty rights are based on protecting agency 6. Empirical Overview I: What Are the Effects of Gun Ownership in America? 7. Empirical Overview II: Policy Prescriptions 8. Guns and Republicanism I: Undermining the Neo-Republican Case Against Guns 9. Guns and Republicanism II: Can Private Gun Ownership Protect Freedom? 10. Conclusion

Ryan W. Davis is Associate Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University. He is interested in how moral disagreements affect relationships and reasoning. Most of his work is connected to the value of autonomy in morality and politics. He has a PhD from Princeton University.

"Why It’s OK to Own a Gun is a model of civil, intelligent, and persuasive discourse on a hot-button issue. It breaks new ground and offers a novel argument for the permissibility of gun ownership that should interest researchers, journalists and the general public. It is a joy to read."John Thrasher, Chapman University“An excellent book, rigorously argued but sprinkled with personality throughout. A good example of philosophical analysis on a hot-button issue, the book works both as a general introduction to the topic and as an original contribution to the philosophical literature on gun rights/prohibition. Extremely well-written, it discusses sometimes conceptually difficult material with a very light touch.”Dan Waxman, National University of Singapore

• 1.Introduction 2. Guns, Concepts, and Meaning I: The Value of Shared Identity 3. Guns, Concepts, and Meaning II: The Prospect of Cultural Devastation 4. Guns as a Deontological Right 5. Guns as a Liberal Right. Liberty rights are based on protecting agency 6. Empirical Overview I: What Are the Effects of Gun Ownership in America? 7. Empirical Overview II: Policy Prescriptions 8. Guns and Republicanism I: Undermining the Neo-Republican Case Against Guns 9. Guns and Republicanism II: Can Private Gun Ownership Protect Freedom? 10. Conclusion

Ryan W. Davis is Associate Professor of Political Science at Brigham Young University. He is interested in how moral disagreements affect relationships and reasoning. Most of his work is connected to the value of autonomy in morality and politics. He has a PhD from Princeton University.

"Why It’s OK to Own a Gun is a model of civil, intelligent, and persuasive discourse on a hot-button issue. It breaks new ground and offers a novel argument for the permissibility of gun ownership that should interest researchers, journalists and the general public. It is a joy to read."John Thrasher, Chapman University“An excellent book, rigorously argued but sprinkled with personality throughout. A good example of philosophical analysis on a hot-button issue, the book works both as a general introduction to the topic and as an original contribution to the philosophical literature on gun rights/prohibition. Extremely well-written, it discusses sometimes conceptually difficult material with a very light touch.”Dan Waxman, National University of Singapore

• 1.Introduction 2. Guns, Concepts, and Meaning I: The Value of Shared Identity 3. Guns, Concepts, and Meaning II: The Prospect of Cultural Devastation 4. Guns as a Deontological Right 5. Guns as a Liberal Right. Liberty rights are based on protecting agency 6. Empirical Overview I: What Are the Effects of Gun Ownership in America? 7. Empirical Overview II: Policy Prescriptions 8. Guns and Republicanism I: Undermining the Neo-Republican Case Against Guns 9. Guns and Republicanism II: Can Private Gun Ownership Protect Freedom? 10. Conclusion