Article Review

Tyisha Hicks

Prof. Smith

HIST 2030

13 February 2015

Critical Article Review #1

The author of “Be Sure You’re Right, Then Go Ahead”: The Davy Crockett Gun Craze is written by Sarah Nilsen. The purpose of this article is to explain in detail about how Davy Crockett became the symbol that was known for guns and coonskin hats. The author does not specifically classify what the purpose of the article is. Instead, the purpose of the article is stated in the details given about how the legend became a legend and the part Walt Disney played in it. The war, televisions shows, families, and even toy makers along with many other companies that could profit from Davy Crockett and The Wild Frontier played a huge part in making Davy Crockett such a huge legend that remains today.

One point from the article is how the NRA’s involvement played a part in making gunplay acceptable. NRA’s dependence was on the media in order to support its political plan. Disney became more than a children’s entertainment industry. Disney joined with NRA’s idea on connecting the historical past on the role of a gun. The joining of NRA and Disney was a drastic change that would change the way of a culture and the public’s way of thinking about childhood gunplay. It would also change the opinion of the media; parents, what is right and what is wrong, and etc. However, since it was Disney, they associated child’s play and gunplay by linking it to an American Frontier Hero, Davy Crockett.

Another important point from the article was The National Association. The National Rifle Association of America Headquarters in Fairfax, Virginia is a place where the National Firearms Museum recreates past history. They do so by showing gun history in America and high lightening how the gun helped to form the United States and how it became the representation for American identity which helped make gunplay more acceptable. Furnishings, wall paper, toys, games, and clothes were all used...