Does Gun Control Really Work?We've had gun control in this country since long before I was born. Does it really work? Some say yes, and some say no. Both sides have lots of statistics to back up what they say. Which one is right? On one side, the firearms control advocates keep adding to their list of suggested regulations to keep us safe. On the other side, the libertarian minded folks like me have maintained what we have said for decades - freedom works. But how can that be true? How can freedom work when there are lots of people "running around out there" with guns? How can freedom work when it "puts more more guns on the street? To be sure, it's an emotional issue, and the arguments on both sides are filled with emotion, statistics and anecdotes. How is a person to find the truth? I think the easiest way is to just look within and answer some basic questions about how firearms are used by you! That's what I did, and that's how I arrived at my determination that guns aren't the problem at all - people are. Bad people. You know, the ones that don't follow the law and have no respect for the lives and property of others. So let's look at some of the common firearms control programs and see how they affect violent crime, suicides and accidents. These ought to be the types of problems that gun laws should help solve. Here are some of the most common proposals:
Wow! There sure are a lot of ideas in the arena of gun control. I suppose the nature of the gun warrants such restrictions. Or does it? What each of these legislative proposals have in common is that they are, have been, or will be law. Laws are followed by the law-abiding, and those are the very people we shouldn't feel uncomfortable with at all. Criminals don't follow the law, and that's what makes me uncomfortable. So it follows that any legislation passed to control guns won't have much effect since criminals don't feel compelled to follow the law anyway. I think most of the laws are simply symbolism. George Carlin reminded us that symbolism is for the symbol-minded. I couldn't agree more. Follow the links above, and we'll examine each of the firearms control measure one at a time. We'll look at the pros and cons of the measure and see what effect it might have on our safety, our vulnerability to crime, and the prevention of suicide. And, if those aren't the main objectives of gun control, then what in the world are these gun control laws all about? Many believe that gun control reduces crime. That would be true if gun committed crimes, but they don't - criminals commit crime, and the gun is simply the tool of choice. Let's look at what one reporter sees as a huge myth in America - that gun control reduces crime.
Just think about it. If guns cause crime, then pencils and keyboards cause misspelling. If guns cause crime, then a spoon and fork create obesity. And, if guns cause crime, then all of mine must be defective because I don't commit crimes, even when I carry my guns into places like banks. Gun control is a misguided emotional response for many people that can't bring themselves to think about several facts of life:
The only way gun control reduces crime is if you have control of a gun in the face of a criminal act against you. That kind of gun control is understood by criminals, and at the very least it tips the odds of a positive outcome in your favor. In the following video, there most certainly is one would-be victim who is thankful he elected to exercise his right to keep and bear arms. The criminal was hoping to find an unarmed victim, perhaps a believer in gun control, but instead he found an abrubt end to his criminal career.
I'm not suggesting that everyone should have a gun. I'm only suggesting that everyone that would like to have a gun for legal purposes shouldn't be hampered by legislation that effectively disarms the law abiding and leaves them at the mercy of armed criminals. As a Libertarian, I believe in freedom of choice. Preservation of my life is my choice, and that's one of the reasons that I oppose all forms of gun control, no matter how "sensible" they appear to be. If it takes away my freedom or the freedom of any responsible and law abiding individual, then I am opposed to it. Done with Gun Control, take me back to Gun Rights
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