In the 18 years since Zed Nelson’s seminal photography book Gun Nation was published, 500,000 Americans have been killed by firearms in the US. Half a million people dead and many more injured, Nelson returns to the people he met, re-photographs them, and asks why America is a nation still with an insatiable appetite for firearms in our documentary Gun Nation.
Avoiding stereotypical images of gang members or extremists, Nelson focuses instead on another side of America’s gun culture: the mainly white, middle-classes who sell and purchase guns in vast numbers.
Nelson’s two-decade-long rapport with his photographic subjects gives unique and intimate perspective on the stories of gun owners. He seeks to understand why – despite the enormous death toll – there is such fierce resistance to gun control laws, particularly bans on the ownership of military-style assault weapons, and why gun ownership is such a central part of Americans’ idea of freedom.
The gun debate in America is extremely polarized. Many people seem locked into their positions. We’re interested in hearing from people who have changed their minds about guns.
Was there a moment that convinced you to become a gun owner for the first time? A moment that made you question your gun ownership? Or simply a moment, or a conversation, that transformed your understanding of the role of gun ownership in America? Perhaps you know of a local initiative in your area focused on reducing gun violence or gun suicide? What do you think of these efforts?
You can share your thoughts with us by filling in the form below, anonymously if you wish. We’ll include some of your responses in our reporting.
