Some thoughts on "Gun Control"

1. The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution enumerates the self-evident, pre-existing human and civil right of a law-abiding individual (those who habitually obey the law) to keep (own and control) and bear (carry on or about their person or property) arms (generally considered firearms, but could be any other weapon) shall not (what part of NO don't people understand?) be infringed (hindered, encroached upon, denied) by government. A number of state constitutions also specifically address this civil right. Remember, rights are not given by government, but should be protected by government. (But don't hold your breath.)

2. Surveys of incarcerated career criminals (those who make a habit of breaking laws) show they are not hindered by gun-control laws because they don't obey any laws that would hinder their criminal activities. Therefore, any laws which make it more difficult or impossible for law-abiding citizens (those who habitually obey the law) to acquire, keep and bear firearms are not aimed at criminals (those who habitually disobey laws) but at disarming law-abiding citizens, and are arguably unconstitutional.

3. Gun ownership by law-abiding individuals reduces violent crime. See http://johnrlott.tripod.com/postsbyday/RTCResearch.html for a listing of scientific, scholarly studies which show a decline of violent crime in states where right-to-carry laws have been passed. There is also a link at the bottom of the page for works citing no reduction of crime due to right-to-carry laws. (Note: I have never seen gun control advocates forthcoming with information contrary to their position.)

4. Firearms are not evil. Firearms are only tools used to do various tasks as individuals wield them. And yes, tools are sometimes misused. Hammers, shovels, kitchen knives and automobiles have all been used to murder people. See http://www.a-human-right.com/ for more on firearms as tools. Nor are specific firearms “more evil” because of the way they look. See http://www.a-human-right.com/looks.html for “The Aesthetics of the Gun Debate.”

5. If it isn’t fully automatic (fires more than one shot with only one pull of the trigger), it isn’t an “assault rifle”. Fully automatic firearms have been regulated heavily since the National Firearms Act of 1934. Anyone who legally purchases a fully automatic firearm must undergo an FBI background check, have the approval of the chief law enforcement officer of the jurisdiction in which they live, and pay an additional $200 tax over and above the purchase price of the firearm. And did you know you can only buy fully automatic firearms manufactured before 1986? And most of them start over $10,000.00?

6. Gun control in the United States was originally instituted in post Civil War Jim Crow laws to keep firearms out of the hands of black Americans. This legislation was an unconstitutional attempt to deprive black citizens of the opportunity to acquire, own, and bear firearms, a civil right guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Gun control laws passed today are less discriminatory. Many of today’s gun control laws violate the 2nd Amendment civil right of every citizen, regardless of race.



7. If you are in favor of restricting 2nd Amendment civil rights, take a moment and write down your proposal. Now, every where you have firearms or gun control, substitute "speech" or "religion" or "freedom of assembly" and see how it sounds. If the restrictions would be intolerable for your "acceptable" rights of free speech or religion or freedom of assembly, why are they tolerable to restrict any other civil right, including those enumerated in the 2nd Amendment?
GBW