The History
For a long time, I’ve wondered about the purpose of the 20,000+ gun laws on the books in our country. As a former scientist, I have to wonder if anyone has ever been able to demonstrate the value of these laws. If they work, there should be a demonstrable drop in shootings after the law passes. But there isn’t. This has been amply documented by John Lott and others. If the laws don’t work, why keep making more?
An interesting fact is that when adults are given better access to self-defense, the crime rates drop. Florida opened up concealed carry laws a number of years ago, allowing even visitors to get a temporary permit. In cities like Miami, where good citizens and visitors were facing increasing crime rates, the rates of most crimes dropped. As a state that attracts many elderly people, the drop affected them the most. But why? To a crook, if grandma might be packing, they don’t want to take the risk. Formerly, people leaning on canes, who might not have the best eyesight or hearing, were prime targets. After access opened up (and laws were cancelled), the targets became foreign visitors (you can’t fly here with a gun from outside the country) and other criminals.
Incentives work. When criminals fear being caught (or killed) while committing a crime, they commit fewer of them. It’s just a fact. In states where gun possession/carrying is legal, easy and cheap, you get fewer crimes and more people locked up. Victims can control a crook simply by brandishing their weapon, or shoot them, if they feel they can’t control the perp.
Today
It should be obvious now why crime is on the rise. In far too many places, police stations have installed revolving doors. Arrest the few they can catch, write them up and let them go free. While we should be careful about too quickly incarcerating people, no-bail rules put the crooks back on the street immediately. The data is there; they reoffend immediately. The violent crooks are free to prey again, which is why public transit, evenings out in the city and other “prime” activities are on the wane. People are afraid; justifiably so.
Does it make sense to change the laws to favor the crooks and disarm good people? At one time, our legislators carefully considered each law they proposed, as well as let the people see it before it was passed. Now, laws are passed before even Congress reads them, (Obamacare), and the public finds out long after the passing of the law, or even, when they are arrested for breaking a new law they didn’t know about.
Whenever a gun crime occurs, the Left demands more gun control laws. This week is no different. But “insanity is “Insanity is doing the same thing, over and over again, but expecting different results.” — Albert Einstein. Gun laws don’t work to stop crime. Not a single criminal has shifted to a knife or given up on using a weapon because they fear the laws, especially now, when the laws against them have no teeth.
But for us “victims,” every new gun law makes it harder for us to defend ourselves. As I’ve mentioned before, the police aren’t there to protect us; their job is to investigate crime and catch the crooks. We have the right and the responsibility to protect ourselves, our families and our homes. That’s a Constitutional right, which the Left keeps trying to destroy. The 2nd Amendment was critical to the Constitution. Those drafting it wanted the protection it offered, not just from criminals, but also from rogue governments. Until recently, no other right has been so seriously infringed on by the Left (but now, they hate the 1st Amendment too).
I have CCWs that give me the right to carry in 33 states. For a modest cost and some training, I was easily able to fully exploit my 2nd Amendment right. In CA, I am on my third application for a CCW. The process, so far, has taken four months, with no contact from the Sheriff’s Department. I will have to pay for a psych evaluation, training and testing and even then, they put a lot of boundaries on the “right.” I can only use listed guns (if I buy a new one, I start over). The permit is good only for two years; the other states last for at least five. Imagine you are a low-paid mom, working nights and having to go all over to get necessities. You take public transit. You can’t afford to go through the process in CA. You don’t have the time, nor do you have the money. To deprive most of us of a basic right is deplorable, but worse when it makes you more likely to be a victim. Criminals know that few are “gifted” with a CCW, even after Bruen forced CA to open up the gates.
We need to demand better. We deserve to be safe in our homes, our workplaces, outside. Stop voting for those who pass stupid laws and insist that criminal laws be enforced with an iron fist. This should be bipartisan. Nothing is more important than the rights to survive and be able to protect your property.
If the “big guy” manages to actually ban semiautomatic firearms I suspect a majority of Americans will become criminals. Criminals because of non-compliance.