In 2018, Italian photographerGabriele Galimbertiwas on assignment withNational Geographicin Kansas.
The results, depending on your views about guns, is either disarming or thrilling.
These are only civilian firearms, and only legally registered firearms.
That is a per capita rate of 120.5 guns per 100 people.
Galimberti was curious to understand more about who owned these guns and what gun ownership meant to them.
The results are powerful.
The variety of gun owners that Galimberti encountered was something that struck the photographer.
The surprise was actually to find all kinds of people, he tells My Modern Met.
For example, I photographed a guy in San Francisco.
Eric Arnsberger (30) and Morgan Gagnier (22) – Lake Forest, CaliforniaDuring his eight years in the Army, Eric Arnsberger was deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, Sudan, Kosovo, Russia, Vietnam and several different countries in Africa. He’s been a policeman in New Orleans, one of America’s most violent cities, and he grew up in Florida, where gangs were rife and very mean. “When I was a kid, I experienced all kinds of violence. I was stabbed, beaten up, robbed. Then I went to war. I saw what happens when someone else points a gun at you. I had to shoot at people and they shot at me, hundreds of times.”Now, back in the civilian world, Eric teaches people how to handle guns and shoot them safely. He lives in California, and he knows very well that many of his neighbors disapprove of his lifestyle and of what he does. “When I go off to work dressed in a certain way, I can see that people are judging me.” Morgan, the woman with him in the portrait, is not one of them. She’s a trainer in a gym, and she fell in love with him through following him on Instagram.Eric never goes out unarmed and has a predilection for military-type firearms. “I’ve never bought a complete gun. I always buy the parts, then make myself a custom piece. I learned how to build guns in the Army. One of my jobs was to test and assess firearms, and that’s how I fell in love with them.If some new law made my guns illegal tomorrow, I think I’d break them down, hide them and go off somewhere else.”First weapon: .22-caliber rifle
He works for Google.
He is a married gay man.
He voted for Obama twice, as well as Hilary.
Stephen F. Wagner (66 years old) – State College, PennsylvaniaUntil the age of 50, Stephen just wished. He dreamed, assessed, studied history and models. He’s been fascinated with guns since childhood. When he was 8, his grandfather put a revolver in his hand and explained the basics. Decades later, Stephen would use that same handgun to teach his own children to shoot. It was a Smith & Wesson, and today it still holds a place of honour in the collection he’s spent the last 15 years building, starting when he left his job as a FedEx delivery man to go to work part time in a gun shop and also as an NRA-certified shooting instructor. Since then, Stephen has collected about 70 firearms. He favors rare and antique pieces. “I’m fascinated by the idea of being a part of history through the guns I own,” he explains. Those that date from the Spanish-American War are among the most valuable, but he is particularly proud of his American-made firearms and his collection of pieces from the 1970s. “I keep on buying them. They’re a good investment and they’ll be a marvelous legacy to pass on to my children.”Every one of his guns has been used at least once. However, as is true of any collection worthy of the name, the joy comes from ownership. “We Americans are very lucky. It’s wonderful to have a bond of this sort with our country. I think that revolvers are the quintessence of this nation. As an American citizen, I feel very fortunate to live in a country where we have the freedom to own firearms.”Most prized piece: My 4-inch Colt Python. I wanted one for years and the price kept going up, and then last year I bought it. I’ve only used it once and I don’t know that I’ll shoot with it again.
He has an electric car.
He has 50 guns in the house and he loves to use them.
Often, Galimberti found that this love for firearms was tied to tradition passed down through the generations.
When I started the project, I think I had biases, Galimberti admits.
But I have to be honest, I photographed 45 people more or less.
The resulting book,Ameriguns, is an in-depth view of American gun culture.
Mixed in with Galimberti’s striking photographs are infographics that highlight gun ownership numbers.
And there are also layouts that include many of the subjects' Instagram profiles.
These are the same people who come to Italy for vacation and we welcome them.
Amerigunsis Italian photographer Gabriele Galimberti’s look at American gun culture.
When I was a kid, I experienced all kinds of violence.
I was stabbed, beaten up, robbed.
Then I went to war.
I saw what happens when someone else points a gun at you.
Morgan, the woman with him in the portrait, is not one of them.
Ive never bought a complete gun.
I always buy the parts, then make myself a custom piece.
I learned how to build guns in the Army.
He dreamed, assessed, studied history and models.
Hes been fascinated with guns since childhood.
When he was 8, his grandfather put a revolver in his hand and explained the basics.
Decades later, Stephen would use that same handgun to teach his own children to shoot.
Since then, Stephen has collected about 70 firearms.
He favors rare and antique pieces.
Im fascinated by the idea of being a part of history through the guns I own, he explains.
I keep on buying them.
However, as is true of any collection worthy of the name, the joy comes from ownership.
We Americans are very lucky.
Its wonderful to have a bond of this sort with our country.
I think that revolvers are the quintessence of this nation.
I wanted one for years and the price kept going up, and then last year I bought it.
I’ve only used it once and I don’t know that Ill shoot with it again.
