Gun Control

Along with health care, there is debate in Washington about the banning of guns in the U.S.  This has been a heated topic for many years and rightfully so.  Crimes and deaths in this country continue to increase with each passing year.  Many want to blame such an increase on the accessibility of guns while many others argue that, "guns don't kill people, people kill people."  Either side can justifiably be argued.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice, in 2004, 66 percent of all murders were committed by firearms.  And in 2005, nine percent of all violent crimes (rape, robbery, assault, etc.) involved the use of a firearm.  It is clear that firearms and crime go together.  Yes, it is true that it is the people that are holding the guns and pulling the triggers.  But can't it also be argued that with a ban, we could remove the guns they are holding and therefore drastically reduce the crime rate?

In order to answer that, I think it is important to take a further look into the statistics.  In 1997 a Survey of State Prison Inmates found that of those inmates possessing guns at the time of their convicted crime:

• 2% were purchased from flea markets or gun shows
• 12% were purchased from retail stores or pawn shops
• 80% were purchased from friends, on the street, or some other illegal source.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 31,000 firearm related deaths in 2005.  Of these deaths:

• 55% were suicides
• 40% were homicides
• 3% were accidents
• 2% were "legal killings" (officers shooting in the line of duty).

The number of firearm related suicides in this country has outnumbered homicides 20 out of the last 25 years and has consistently accounted for approximately 50-55 percent of all firearm related deaths.  We can argue that by taking the guns out of the hands of these people we could be saving their lives.  However, isn't it true that suicidal victims have emotional issues that most of us cannot even begin to understand? 

I have known four people that have taken their own lives - two have used guns, one hung himself, and one took a knife to her own throat.  I am no psychiatrist, but I believe when someone reaches this low, they will do whatever it takes to end their life.  It is not a gun that kills them; it is a chemical imbalance in their own mind that I cannot begin to understand.  Therefore, although suicides may decline, I would not argue that a ban on guns would completely eliminate these deaths.  Due to their state of mind, they will find another way.

That leads us to homicides - human killings by definition.  I have no defense for this group of people.  There are entirely too many scenarios to possibly lump all homicides into one category.  Many times these shootings can be spouse or family related, drug or alcohol related, debt collection, gang violence, unfortunately the possibilities are endless.  So yes, maybe putting a ban on guns could eliminate these needless killings.  But then again, look at the statistic above that shows where criminals are getting their guns.  Eighty percent are getting them illegally.  Do you think that a gun ban would keep criminals from getting guns if they are already doing so illegally?  C'mon people, they are already getting them illegally, why would a ban stop this?  Doesn't it make more sense to do more about guns on the black market than it does to ban them altogether?

Let me explain how a gun ban would play out.  The government would get lists of owner registrations, gun owners would either take their banned weapon to the local authorities or authorities would find you and collect them personally.  If 80 percent of criminals get their weapons illegally, they will not be on an owner registration list.  Therefore, if they do not turn in their banned weapons, no one knows.  So, criminals still have their weapons and law abiding citizens do not.  Crime goes up!  Folks, criminals know that we will be unarmed, they will no longer be afraid of people using weapons as self defense - they will have us beat.

If you think this scenario is inaccurate, look at the crime rate of other countries that have banned guns.  According to BBC, the use of handguns in crime rose by 40 percent in the first two years after a ban was put in place in the U.K.  In Australia, armed robberies were up by 51 percent, unarmed robberies were up 37 percent, assaults up 24 percent, and kidnapping up by 43 percent.    
 
I would like to note that I completely think something needs to be done with the crime rate in this country - it is out of control.  Based on the statistics, a good place to start is the accessibility of guns on the black market.  People do not feel safe in their own cities and even homes.  But, taking away guns is not the answer - the wrong people would turn them in. 

I am not a fan of guns, never have been.  I was not raised around them and I have heard too many stories of accidental shootings - even from the most careful people.  Hell, our own former Vice President has had this misfortune.  But, there are accidental automobile accidents too.  Which by the way account for more deaths in this country than firearms do.  So, what's next taking away our cars?