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Friday, Jan 25, 2013 4:52 PM UTC

Stephen King calls his work “possible accelerant” to killers

The horror writer publishes a lengthy essay on gun violence in America

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Topics: Books, amazon, kindle single, Guns, Gun Violence, Second Amendment,

Stephen King calls his work (Credit: AP/Elise Amendola)

Stephen King has published a Kindle Single (more than a book, less than an essay, proprietary to Amazon platforms) on gun violence, in which he describes his decision to pull his pseudonymous novel “Rage” from shelves after possible copycat crimes.

“Rage,” which King first wrote in high school (“I suppose if it had been written today, and some high school English teacher had seen it, he would have rushed the manuscript to the guidance counselor and I would have found myself in therapy posthaste”), depicts a hostage situation in a high school when a student brings a weapon to school.

After a series of similar situations in high schools (including one where, as in the book, a math teacher was killed), King made the costly decision to pull the book from stores. Though “I never did and never would” apologize for the book, he says, the depiction of violence in the book is “a possible accelerant” for troubled young men with access to guns.

The horror writer, generally, does not believe the culture has any influence upon gun violence, though: “The idea that America exists in a culture of violence is bullshit. What exists is a culture of Kardashian.” He makes a series of middle-of-the-road prescriptions, but notes that he himself is the owner of three guns — and a believer in the Second Amendment.

Daniel D'Addario is a staff reporter for Salon's entertainment section. Follow him on Twitter @DPD_ More Daniel D'Addario.

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