PRESS & PRAISE
“With a keen journalistic eye and a commitment to uncovering the complexities of American identity, In Guns We Trust is an essential read for anyone seeking to understand the intricate dynamics at play in one of the most contentious issues facing the nation today. Prepare for a compelling journey that will reshape your understanding of faith, power, and the pervasive grip of gun culture in America.”
— Shannon Watts, founder, Moms Demand Action
“As a gun safety advocate and woman of faith, I’ve seen firsthand how bad religion and guns can become dangerously intertwined, with devastating consequences for our communities. Our movement has long sounded the alarm on the ways extremism, easy access to firearms, and the gun industry fuel America’s gun violence crisis. In Guns We Trust weaves these threads together, offering a powerful look at how we got to this moment—where guns are the leading cause of death for young people—and how we can build a safer future, one where we choose to love our neighbors, not arm ourselves against them.”
— Angela Ferrell-Zabala, executive director, Moms Demand Action/Everytown for Gun Safety
"With his captivating storytelling, journalistic curiosity and prophetic lament, William J. Kole shines a much-needed light on how many Christians have actively participated in furthering the scourge of gun violence. He invites us to envision a different future where everyday Christians courageously reckon with our history of complicity by actively moving towards peacemaking. I highly recommend In Guns We Trust to any North American Christian wanting to grapple deeper with the injustice of gun violence."
— Joash Thomas, author of The Justice of Jesus
“Imagine losing a child to gun violence and then being betrayed by the same group that committed to praying for you. In Guns We Trust offers history and insight into how Christian nationalism has rendered Christians in the United States impotent in the face of injustice. With astute precision, William J. Kole offers an insider view on how white evangelical churches and communities have largely traded their witness for Christ for guns."
— Nelba Márquez-Greene, licensed therapist and mother of Ana Grace, murdered at Sandy Hook
"In Guns We Trust is a gripping and thought-provoking page-turner that challenges readers to confront America’s deep-rooted relationship with firearms. ... A must-read for all Americans — regardless of religion, race, generation, or background — In Guns We Trust is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the forces shaping our nation’s gun culture and policies."
— Ebony Reed, co-author of Fifteen Cents on the Dollar: How Americans Made the Black-White Wealth Gap
“In Guns We Trust is a ringing alarm clock, a wake-up call. If Jesus is totally nonviolent, as Gandhi and Dr. King insisted, then Christians are called to be nonviolent. ... William J. Kole lays out our predicament. We have to ‘put down our guns,’ do whatever we can to ensure that no child, no person, is ever killed in the U.S. again, and practice the nonviolence of Jesus, so that finally, we might learn the meaning of the words, ‘In God We Trust.’”
— Rev. John Dear, activist, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and author of The Gospel of Peace, The Nonviolent Life, and The Questions of Jesus
“America is in the midst of an excruciating gun crisis, with no end in sight. And evangelical Christians, perhaps more than any other voting bloc, hold the political power to influence our response. Why won’t they budge? In Guns We Trust is William J. Kole’s attempt to answer this question. And as a veteran journalist who spent decades in the evangelical church, he’s the perfect man for the job. ... This is an urgent, courageous, and important book.”
— Philip Eil, author of Prescription for Pain