A Great American Gun Myth: Race and the Naming of the “Saturday Night Special” lawreview - Minnesota Law Review
By Jennifer L. Behrens and Joseph Blocher. Full Text. At a time when Second Amendment doctrine has taken a strongly historical turn and gun rights advocates have increasingly argued that gun regulation itself is historically racist, it is especially important that historical claims about race and guns be taken seriously and vetted appropriately. In this lawreview - Minnesota Law Review
At a time when Second Amendment doctrine has taken a strongly historical turn and gun rights advocates have increasingly argued that gun regulation itself is historically racist, it is especially important that historical claims about race and guns be taken seriously and vetted appropriately. In this short article, we evaluate the often-repeated claim that the nickname “Saturday Night Special” derives from the phrase “[n___er]-town Saturday night.”
Based on a review of newspapers, legislative debates, dictionaries, slang compendiums, and other sources, we find no historical support for this claim. It apparently appeared for the first time, unsourced, in a 1976 article and has been repeated in dozens of briefs and scholarly sources since. Advocates and scholars should stop invoking this unsupported origin story, which if anything serves as a cautionary example of how citations can cascade. The most plausible origin of the nickname as it related to cheap firearms stemmed from the turn of the century when the phrase “Saturday-night special” was already in common usage with connotations of cheapness and convenience.
Executive Summary
The article debunks the claim that the nickname 'Saturday Night Special' for cheap firearms originated from a racist phrase. Through a thorough review of historical sources, the authors found no evidence to support this claim, which first appeared in a 1976 article and has since been repeated in numerous briefs and scholarly sources. Instead, the term likely originated from the early 20th-century phrase 'Saturday-night special' connoting cheapness and convenience. The article highlights the importance of verifying historical claims, particularly in the context of gun regulation and racial narratives.
Key Points
- ▸ The 'Saturday Night Special' nickname lacks historical support for a racist origin
- ▸ The term first appeared in a 1976 article without citation and has been repeated since
- ▸ The phrase 'Saturday-night special' was already in use in the early 20th century to describe cheap or convenient items
Merits
Rigorous Historical Analysis
The authors conducted a thorough review of historical sources, including newspapers, legislative debates, dictionaries, and slang compendiums, to verify the claim.
Demerits
Limited Scope
The article focuses primarily on debunking a single historical claim, which may not provide a comprehensive understanding of the complex issues surrounding gun regulation and racial narratives.
Expert Commentary
The article provides a nuanced and timely analysis of the 'Saturday Night Special' myth, highlighting the dangers of uncritically accepting historical claims. By debunking this myth, the authors contribute to a more accurate understanding of the complex issues surrounding gun regulation and racial narratives. Furthermore, the article serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous historical analysis and the need for scholars and advocates to approach claims with a critical and nuanced perspective.
Recommendations
- ✓ Scholars and advocates should verify historical claims through rigorous analysis of credible sources
- ✓ Policymakers should prioritize evidence-based decision-making when crafting gun regulation policies
