Gun Laws and Crime Reduction

Vlim · 10-07-2007, 02:33 PM

Hi,

Gun laws have one major flaw. They regulate the possession of legal firearms, not that of illegal firearms. Most criminals don't buy their firearms at the local shops, thus removing legal firearms from the community only disarms those who stick to the law, leaving those without any respect for the law in an advantageous situation.

Thus firearms incidents like around domestic violence, accidental killings, etc.. will slightly drop, but firearms incidents involving illegal firearms and criminal activity will rise, strongly at first.

Short term policital thinking ('quick win') usually spawns these ideas. You get some nice media coverage ('look at all these guns we collected, the streets are safer now') in return and the politician is the local hero for a couple of weeks. Long term effects can be buried, twisted and generally ignored if (when) the effects are not those that were expected.

Focus on general gun safety around the house, counselling of families and persons with strong emotional problems, a firearms registration scheme and an emphasis on fighting illegal arms sale and trafficing makes more sense.

10-07-2007, 02:33 PM	#2
Vlim Moderator Lifetime LugerForum Patron Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Europe Posts: 5,053 Thanks: 1,036 Thanked 3,990 Times in 1,205 Posts	Hi, Gun laws have one major flaw. They regulate the possession of legal firearms, not that of illegal firearms. Most criminals don't buy their firearms at the local shops, thus removing legal firearms from the community only disarms those who stick to the law, leaving those without any respect for the law in an advantageous situation. Thus firearms incidents like around domestic violence, accidental killings, etc.. will slightly drop, but firearms incidents involving illegal firearms and criminal activity will rise, strongly at first. Short term policital thinking ('quick win') usually spawns these ideas. You get some nice media coverage ('look at all these guns we collected, the streets are safer now') in return and the politician is the local hero for a couple of weeks. Long term effects can be buried, twisted and generally ignored if (when) the effects are not those that were expected. Focus on general gun safety around the house, counselling of families and persons with strong emotional problems, a firearms registration scheme and an emphasis on fighting illegal arms sale and trafficing makes more sense.