gun control

Return to Common Sense

April 5, 2009

Section: Domestic – Gun Control

“Crime is the problem, guns are for crime deterrence; deter crime by enforcing existing laws, not creating new superfluous laws.”

Philosophy (Background, Issues, Objectives):

Second amendment guarantees the right of the people to keep and bear arms.

“The right of the people to bear Arms shall not be infringed.”
Over 20,000 state and local gun laws on the books.
Gun laws are inconsistently enforced.
Criminal rarely obtain weapons through legal channels.

Stringent gun control has not achieved desired results.

European countries that outlawed guns has an increase in violent crime.

o In countries that implemented gun control, citizens have been unable to defend themselves.

o An old adage says “With guns, we are citizens. Without them, we are subjects.”

States with stringent gun control also have higher per capita rate of violent crime.
40 states allow law-abiding citizens to get concealed-carry permits.

Studies on gun availability did not prove case for gun control.

Between 25 and 75 lives are saved by a gun for every one life lost to a gun.
Despite increasing numbers of guns, the fatal gun accidents have been falling since 1903.
Child firearm fatalities are correlated with adult gun fatalities.
Child firearm accidental death rate is on long term decline.
MSM cites any crime involving a gun as breaking the law, which is frequently dis-proven.

Principles:

Crime is the problem; guns are for crime deterrence.

Predisposition to violence is predictor of crime.
Guns are one form of weapon available for escalation.

Recommendations:

Streamline Licensing of gun owners with common sense rules:

Conduct background investigation.
Require gun education prior to licenses.

Simplify registration of all guns.

References:

“Statistical Malpractice – ‘Firearm Availability’ and Violence” by Miguel A. Faria dated March 25, 2002 published by News Max at http://www.newsmax.com/archives/articles/2002/3/11/165310.shtml .

“Self-Defense: An Endangered Right” by Joyce Lee Malcolm dated March/April 2004 published by The Cato Institute at http://www.cato.org/pubs/policy_report/v26n2/cpr-26n2-1.pdf .

“Repeal All Gun Laws. You Read Me Right” by John Longenecker dated May 30, 2006 published by American Daily at http://americandaily.com/article/13795 .

“Repeal All Gun Laws, Part IV: Motivation Influences Perception” by John Longenecker dated July 4, 2006 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/14395 .

“Concealed Weapons in the Wilderness” by Steve Chapman dated November 29, 2006 published by Human Events Online at http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=18203 .

“Gun-Shy Liberals” by Jonah Goldberg dated March 30, 2007 published by National Review Online at http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=ZWUwMDZhMjI0MGNmZjc4NDEwMjUwZGZkZDM1ZDhkNzQ= .

“Pistol-packing Florida Girls – Why Rapists and Robbers Ran From One Florida town” by Joel Turtel dated April 6, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/18283 .

“After Virginia Tech, a Closer Look at Gun Stats” by John Lott, Jr. dated April 20, 2007 published by The Wall Street Journal Online at http://blogs.wsj.com/numbersguy/2007/04/20/after-virginia-tech-a-closer-look-at-gun-stats .

“Gun reform with NRA blessing” dated June 17, 2007 published by Denver Post at http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_6165103 .

“What Free Americans Fear Most is Nearer Now” by John Longnecker date June 13, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/19191 .

“Brady Anti-CCW Campaign Continues” by Howard Nemerov dated November 1, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/20782 .

“For Non Gun Owners: D.C. vs. Heller and 2A in A Nutshell” by John Longenecker dated November 15, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/20946 .

“Our Natural Rights Are Dying An Unnatural Death” by James T. Moore dated December 8, 2007 published by American Daily at http://www.americandaily.com/article/21189 .

“Bitter, Clingy Gun Owners of America” by Doug Giles dated April 26, 2008 published by Town Hall at http://www.townhall.com/columnists/DougGiles/2008/04/26/bitter,_clingy_gun_owners_of_america .