I don’t express gratitude often enough, so here is my somewhat rambling note of heartfelt thanks for all of the support I receive for my work and for the opportunities I have to do it. youtu.be/MBOlRn-FwKg

I think this is the first work to enlighten the causal black box linking LEGAL gun carry with CRIMINAL violence, since we're pretty certain it's not legal gun carriers doing the crime.

I also want to congratulate @clanfear.bsky.social, David Kirk and Rob Sampson, whose paper “Dual pathways of concealed gun carrying and use from adolescence to adulthood over a 25-year era of change” was one of two selected for honorable mention by the 2025 Greenwald Award Independent Review Panel!

Full disclosure.

4 days at 2 academic conferences and sold 1 copy of GUN CURIOUS to a fellow liberal professor. No traction in that community. Oh, well. I hand-sold several to gun people in AZ and am mailing out some personally signed copies today. $25 signed, sealed & delivered. Hit me up.

Piedmont Triad NC People! Please come out and support local authors -- including me! -- at @bookmarksnc.bsky.social on December 3rd.

This is my "spicier"* take on what academia gets wrong about guns, from the "Shared Targets" symposium I attended sponsored by @asucsgs.bsky.social and @cuanschutz.bsky.social FIPI. *Spicier for the Bob Ross of Guns, not actually spicy. lightoverheat.substack.com/p/what-acade...

My conventional take on what academia gets wrong about guns from a recent "Shared Targets" symposium sponsored by @asucsgs.bsky.social and @cuanschutz.bsky.social FIPI initiative. lightoverheat.substack.com/p/what-acade...

The academic field of gun studies has coalesced into a dominant paradigm. This ia a major accomplishment. First of a 3 part series on "What Academia Gets Right and Wrong" about guns for @asucsgs.bsky.social and @cuanschutz.bsky.social FIPI symposium. lightoverheat.substack.com/p/what-acade...

Brought 20 copies of GUN CURIOUS with me. Moved 4 so far, all to gun people. Can I sell 16 more copies to the 600 firearms-related harms scholars, practitioners, advocates, and activists in attendance here over the next two days? Thanks to Walk the Talk America for the table space!

I had the great good fortune recently to attend a one-day, invitation-only symposium at Arizona State University to build some bridges between gun culture and gun scholars, co-sponsored by @asucsgs.bsky.social and @cuanschutz.bsky.social FIPI. lightoverheat.substack.com/p/shared-tar...

Heading to Portland (ME) then to Phoenix for back-to-back-to-back gun meetings. Bringing 20 copies of my book with me to sell. Hopefully bringing 0 home.

I'm about to head to Portland (Maine) then Phoenix for back-to-back-to-back gun meetings. Unfortunately, that means I won't be able to attend this one, organized by the Wyoming Firearms Research Center & Springfield Armory National Historic Site. But you should! www.eventbrite.com/e/firearms-r...

"I will show that the NRA's worldview is the modern expression of an ideological system that fused the classical republican citizen-soldier ideal--the foundation of democracy--with American White male supremacy." Join us for a discussion. Info & register: tinyurl.com/yx87srw3

Much of this account of concealed carry permitting courses matches those I have attended or observed. The desire and need for people to get gun training runs up against a shortage of gun ranges, which I would guess NYC is limiting like many blue cities, though there is a shortage many places.

TIL: Turning Point USA Rates Colleges. My employer @wakeforest.bsky.social got a D+. I'm not entirely sure why. open.substack.com/pub/lightove...

An incident out of Whitesville, IN (and a reminder from my friend @tamslick.bsky.social) leads me to re-up my earlier opinion essay in @thehill.com, "Stand Your Ground laws do not allow you to ‘shoot first and ask questions later’" thehill.com/opinion/civi...

This inaugural edition of “Illuminations” covers some 2025 highlights, interesting work by others on my radar (@tmgneff.bsky.social, Guns Unpacked Podcast, novelist James McBride), who is bringing light over heat (@walkthetalkamerica.bsky.social ), & what’s ahead. open.substack.com/pub/lightove...

The AR-15 continues to play an outsized role in our national shouting match about guns. A two-year old book and my review of it are sadly current. open.substack.com/pub/lightove...

The response to my 4:00 am thoughts on Sig Sauer X TPUSA was extraordinary, so I took some time this afternoon to compose some additional thoughts on the 5 most common responses to my post. lightoverheat.substack.com/p/further-th...

I had a good 13 year run with ACLDN. Meaning, like my auto, homeowners, life, and AD&D insurance, I never had to use it. They sold to CCW Safe. Haven't had time to explore their program, but imagine they are at least decent in their coverage.

There is nothing more flattering than someone taking time to read your work, except people taking time to engage your work. Thanks @amcneely.com and @contexts.org .

Proud of my @wakeforest.bsky.social sociology student for contributing her thoughts on Trump's education compact in this public forum: In this Future View, students discuss the White House’s agenda for universities. www.wsj.com/opinion/the-... via @wsj.com

Gun Curious sales have been solid but haven’t reached the “I told you so” numbers I’d imagined sending to all of the many publishers who passed on it. Even as I move on, I believe Gun Curious remains singular. Ironically, that singularity is what makes it a hard sell. youtu.be/nYlUcddbLcY?...

If you want to join us for any of our three-part conversation on the political roots of the NRA and contemporary gun culture, here's your Zoom webinar registration link: wakeforest-university.zoom.us/webinar/regi... Details: davidyamane.com/welcome-to-v...

As The Bob Ross of Guns, I can definitely get behind talking about guns in a less extreme, more nuanced way. This is NOT the way. On Substack today: Banning Assault Weapons AND Having Healthier Conversations about Guns? open.substack.com/pub/lightove...

Still working on the registration link but if you want to get started here's a link with all the info. This book is critical of the NRA & gun culture but the author makes a very interesting argument abt the deep political roots of the NRA which merits consideration. davidyamane.com/welcome-to-v...

Early morning reflection on the release of Sig Sauer X Turning Point USA pistols. How do you read this announcement? Does it surprise you, or does it feel inevitable? What am I missing in my initial reaction? open.substack.com/pub/lightove...

Excited to announce the second Fall 2025 Light Over Heat Virtual Book Club selection is "Race, Rights, and Rifles: The Origins of the NRA and Contemporary Gun Culture" by @afilindra.bsky.social (@uchicagopress.bsky.social, 2023). Stay tuned for details.

Tell me you're a __________ without telling me you're a __________. (Seen on campus yesterday.)

Tonight is the last of three discussions of GUN BARONS, so I'm seeking suggestions for my book club's next book on guns and related topics (our 8th book). New or recent titles preferred. Previous books down thread.

I’m going to push this again. @davidyamane.bsky.social and I are in it, among others Why liberals, people of color and LGBTQ Americans say they're buying guns www.npr.org/2025/10/28/n...

I always think I have accommodated myself to the fact that my take on guns is not of interest to those who just want to yell from their entrenched positions. And then people comment on my work and I realize I have not fully accommodated myself to this sad reality.

Had some blowback on my use of GenAI to create a "podcast" conversation about an essay I wrote, so I am here to give the people what they (apparently) want: My sonorous and velvety voice reading the essay in question. youtu.be/eqTLa8f616Y?...

Happy to contribute to this deeply reported piece by @franklangfitt.bsky.social on @npr.org All Things Considered. Likely to spark controversy from the left and right. Listen to: Why liberals, people of color and LGBTQ Americans say they're buying guns - one.npr.org/i/nx-s1-5546...

I'm excited to speak to public policy students at the U. of Virginia today about "The Paradox of Guns: Normality and Violence." I will try to bring together many of the lessons I've learned over the past 15 years I've been a gun owner hanging around other gun owners and roaming around gun culture.

A five minute AI generated podcast conversation summarizing my work on gun culture. I thought it did pretty well for a machine. What do you think? open.substack.com/pub/lightove...

ICYMI: I posted a video explanation of my short essay on "How I fell for Guns" (published by @asanews.bsky.social in @contexts.org and open access until 11/17). youtu.be/A1OG-hVdKM0

Grateful for interest in my essay, "How I Fell for Guns." It's already in the top 5 of trending articles on the @contexts.org website. Please continue to download and share the article on your social media while the article is open access (until November 17th). doi.org/10.1177/1536...

Congrats to the 5 folks who won free copies of the new 8th ed of Religion in Sociological Perspective (@sagepub.com, 2025) w/new co-author @jh1791.bsky.social. 4 were here on BlueSky. Find your names downthread and please send me a PM here or an email w/your mailing address!

To fully appreciate why people own guns, we need to understand the individual & communal pleasures associated with shooting. These are the pleasures that led me to fall for guns. New essay in @contexts.org by @sagepub.com and @asanews.bsky.social. OPEN ACCESS: journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10....

Today is the last day to re-Sky (re-Blue?) this post to have a chance to win one of five free copies of my Sociology of Religion textbook. Drawing is tomorrow (10/17).

Trying something new on Light Over Heat this week: A narrated version of one of the essays I published recently on my Substack. What do y'all think? Should I continue to make audio versions of some of my writing? youtu.be/b6GvwR1kDpI?...

RETWEET TO ENTER a drawing for 1 of 5 copies. Esp looking for grad student entries by 10/17. Trying to get the word out about the 8th edition of Religion in Sociological Perspective with new co-author @jh1791.bsky.social, published by @sagepub.com

Fifth and final (for now) post on my first experience hunting. Thinking about the ethics of hunting. Also seeking recommendations for good reading about hunting. lightoverheat.substack.com/p/the-ethics...

I don't know who the author is but this is a thoughtful, thought-provoking, and beautifully written reflection on the current situation, with special attention to gun owners, from a left-leaning perspective. It's a long read but well-worth the investment IMO. www.greyledger.org/being-here-w...

Really interesting and important nuance added to all the recent survey hyperbole about "political violence."

Join us for session 2 of our discussion of GUN BARONS and enjoy a show-and-tell with one of the world's foremost authorities on Smith & Wesson Model 1 revolvers, Dr. Michael Helms. Register for webinar: davidyamane.com/welcome-to-v...

I didn't call my book "Gun Curious" for nothing!

Can hunting restore the bond between humans and the environment that has eroded as we live more and more of our lives in enclosed buildings and vehicles? Fourth in my Substack series on hunting. lightoverheat.substack.com/p/what-kind-...