How are guns used and viewed by criminals? Where do criminals obtain guns? And how do laws make firearms more or less accessible? Confronting these contentious questions, this work offers a comprehensive exploration of the social processes surrounding illegal firearm use and criminal behaviour. The authors draw on in-depth interviews with felons convicted of gun-related crimes and previous quantitative studies to offer a fresh look at the key issues of gun violence. Highlighting the overlooked symbolic power of guns in criminal situations, their findings underscore the power of social and cultural forces in affecting gun use. The book takes a comprehensive look at the relationship between guns, violence, and criminal behaviour.