We live in the Age of the Gun. Around the globe, firearms are ubiquitous, and in some places, it's even easier to get a gun than a glass of clean water; in others, it's legal to carry concealed firearms into bars and schools. To understand how these weapons have become an integral part of 21st century life, Iain Overton travels through more than 25 countries to meet with SWAT team leaders, gang members, weapons smugglers, safari hunters, and ER doctors. Visiting the most dangerous city in the world and the largest gun show on earth, Overton unearths some hard truths about the terrible realities of war and gun crime, and what can be done to stop it.

"Engrossing, multifaceted…. Overton's insightful commentary includes the observation that imposing new gun control laws without an accompanying shift in attitudes isn't going to be effective. This illuminating narrative about the life cycle of the gun is comprehensive, revealing, and timely."—Publishers Weekly