It's interesting that people
make the claim that there are too many guns in the United States when countries with higher gun ownership have lower
crime rates as a general rule.Switzerland for example has a very high number of firearms owners.Over half of the
homes in Switzerland have selective fire assault weapons in them.This comes as a result of a citizen army where your
weapons are kept at home as opposed to a millitary armory.Israel is another classic example.The crime rate among
citizens is remarkably low and yet it is uncommon for the average person NOT to own and in many cases carry a
firearm.
Firearms related violence in the United States is almost exclusively a product of culture,not a result
of firearms themselves.Germany has fairly leanient laws regarding firearms,and Canada used to have very leanient
laws regarding firearms.These countries began draconian restrictions regarding personal firearms as a knee jerk
reaction to individual crimes that,in spite of thier shocking nature,did absolutly nothing to effect the over all
homicide rates.Australia did much the same thing a few years back,insisting that guns were bad,in spite of not
having a problem but in reaction to a single crime.
In the United States,we see the highest crime rates in
juridictions with the toughest regulations regarding firearms,while the lowest crime rates tend to be in cities with
the most relaxed regulations.new York city comes to mind.It is for all intents and purposes illeagal to own a
handgun within the city limits without very difficult to obtain licensing.Washington D.C. is another classic
example.Firearms of any type with rare exceptions are illeagal.Chicago,Boston...the list goes on.In Miami durring
the early 1980's,there was a rash of sexual assaults on women.The situation had grown so dire that the Miami police
chief ran a series of public service anouncements that any woman wishing to obtain a firearm for personal protection
should contact the Miami Dade police department for free training.In the following months,not only did the number of
sexual assaults within the city plumet,but the crime rate over all reached an all time
low!Burglary,assault,robery...all plumeted.Why? Because the thought was out there that the person you mess with may
be armed to the teeth.
The single most difficult issue with firearms in the United States today is responsable
ownership.It is encumbent uppon the individual not only to handle a firearm responsably,but to store said firearm in
a manner that precludes it being used by someone who is not qualified to handle it.In 1988,the number of firearms
recovered from crimes or as a result of searches that were stolen was just a hair over ninety percent! The vast
majority of those firearms were taken from legitimate owners who had not taken the time to properly secure them.The
result was an ever increasing number of stolen weapons on the street.This problem still exists today.Many people who
have never purchased a firearm have no idea what it takes to obtain a weapon from a licensed dealer.And those
dealers have a vested interest in making sure that the weapons they sell are not purchased by people who should not
have a firearm.
Another fantastic aspect of America is our ability to prosecute minor offenses to the fullest
extent of the law,while having a revolving door policy toward people who commit violent crimes.An example comes to
mind of a young man who was caught and convicted in a drive by shooting in Tacoma Washington in which several people
were wounded...the sentence? SIX MONTHS!!! Only in America can you commit a violent felony and virtualy walk
away,but if you get caught with pot in your pocket your going to do hard time.
Firearms are not the real
problem.A steep decline in simple values,economic distress,the desolving of the family,stronger and more available
drugs...the list goes on and on and I have bored you,the poor reader of my nonsense enough.
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