The impression I often get from gun control enthusiasts is this: They scream about guns being evil, point to some coincidental statistic or event (taking advantage of the Columbine tragedy is horrendous in my mind), and then cower in a corner with their ears covered so as not to hear any sort of counter-arguments.
There is a large lack of enforcement of existing gun laws; enforcing them to the point that gun control advocates would be satisfied would take a lot of money. Like many things going on in this country, it’s a political issue… the correct, expensive method is overwritten with a newfangled (and cheaper) political agenda that gets some Senator re-elected and, alas, has no effect… until an upgraded version of the same measure is brought up six years later.
The only counter to a gun is another gun… or a bullet-proof vest. A gun is easier to carry. And DON’T say “just get rid of the guns in the first place!”… because unless we’re willing to commit billions to that task, there’s no way to get rid of guns, especially from the criminal element. In fact, any attempts to get rid of guns would only wind up disarming those willing to obey the letter of the law… which, in turn, empowers the criminal. Seems kinda counter-productive, doesn’t it?
“unless we’re willing to commit billions to that task, there’s no way to get rid of guns, especially from the criminal element. . . Seems kinda counter-productive, doesn’t it?”
Yes, imagine spending billions of dollars to just save a few lives. I’d much rather have six or seven new Joint Strike Fighters. They look better on postcards.
I think its terribly ironic that the legal handgun market creates the black market through its cast offs and shady sales. The more the pro-gun people sell the ‘society isn’t safe’ message, the higher the sales of new weapons and the larger the blackmarket until every man, woman, child, chimp, and dog is armed to the teeth. This is your classic cold war standoff, and its unfortunate that the pro-gun people can’t see past their own rhetoric the same way the superpowers couldn’t not so long ago.
I would be interested if some of y’all yould comment on this related topic I started. I do see one thing I wanted to point out to momo. The militia refered to in the 2nd ammendment has nothing to do with the so called “militias” in Montana and elsewhere. Also, those interested can get Cecil’s take on the 2nd ammendment here.
Imagine getting rid of all the restrictive legislation that hampers innocent people and empowers criminals. How much would that cost… oh, NOTHING. Sheesh…
And the legal handgun market doesn’t create the black market… the aforementioned legislation does. Remember prohibition? Remember how that created organized crime? It’s history repeating itself.