It's not the gun, it's the bullet episode artwork

EPISODE · Aug 11, 2026 · 31 MIN

It's not the gun, it's the bullet

from Research and Reason · host Faculty of Arts and Education, University of Auckland

We often talk about guns when we talk about violence. But what about the bullets? Professor Maartje Abbenhuis explores the history of the dum-dum bullet, from its origins in the 19th century British Empire to its manufacturing outposts around the world, including in Mt Eden, Auckland. Joined by our media adviser Julianne Evans, Maartje discusses what the story of one small piece of technology reveals about colonial warfare,  changing ideas about what is considered 'humane,' and why this often-overlooked part of military history deserves a closer look.Read more: The lethal history of the dum-dum bullet*Content warning: This episode contains discussion of warfare, violence, and physical impacts of gunshot wounds.

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Aug 11, 2026

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It's not the gun, it's the bullet

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