what would happen if we DID put a total ban on guns in this country?

Question

i'm guessing that gun crimes statistics go way, way down and the incidences of murder by some other means goes way, way up...

what say you?...

Answer 1

Dr. John Lott has done extensive research on an armed society and the changes in crime of various types. His studies have proven conclusively that when the citizens might be armed crimes against persons goes down, and conversely when the citizens are not allowed to be armed, crimes against persons goes up. Regardless of methodology, murder rates drop with an armed citizenry and go up when they are defenseless.

His research is available if you would care to study it and then perhaps debate it with facts.

I know there is a group of politicians, they have a long record to prove their stance, that would love nothing more than to use this tragedy as a way to take away our right to defend ourselves. They do not want us armed because they are afraid of an armed citizenry, which is right and the way it should be. We should not have to live our lives without the ability to defend ourselves, living in fear of our government.

In 1976, Washington, D.C., enacted one of the most restrictive gun control laws in the nation. Since then, the city's murder rate has risen 134 percent.

Over 50% of American households own guns, despite government statistics showing the number is approximately 35%, because guns not listed on any government roll were not counted during the gathering of data.

Evanston, Ill., a Chicago suburb of 75,000 residents, became the largest town to ban handgun ownership in September 1982 but experienced no decline in violent crime.

Among the 15 states with the highest homicide rates, 10 have restrictive or very restrictive gun laws.

20 percent of U.S. homicides occur in four cities with just 6 percent of the population - New York, Chicago, Detroit and Washington, D.C. - and each has a virtual prohibition on private handguns.

Answer 2

I say that crime would probably go up. Perhaps stay the same except more people would actually be murdered. Criminals will not follow any gun laws. That is why they are called criminals. If you ban guns to the public, the innocent will be left defenseless, while criminals the guns they need to commit a crime. So stupid, ignorant fools like Rosie Odonnel need to use their heads for once. Sure we need to force all states to follow certain laws and practices in selling weapons, be a little more strict in that sense, but we have a right to protect our selves. 911 takes time and is not always available.
Just think of that mall shooting in Utah that happened a few months back. An off duty cop, with a weapons permit, just happened to be there eating with his family in the mall. What if he couldnt carry a weapon? More people would have died.

Answer 3

First of all, there would be a significant amount time between the passage of the law and the elimination of guns. I'm sure not everyone would be rushing to their local police station to turn them in.

I am also guessing that our crime statistics might approach the levels of countries where guns are banned, but as you mentioned, if someone wants to kill someone else, there are still knives and other ways to kill.

To people that argue about such events as the mass homicides at Virginia Tech, what if that guy had walked into the cafeteria with a home made bomb strapped to him? It happens practically every day in Iraq. How would you eliminate that?

Answer 4

I agree with you, among other things. People forget that gun control only effects guns purchased legally. If there was a ban, the people who have means of illegally purchasing them (people who use them for illegal purposes like murder) will be able to get them anyway. The only people that would lose their guns would be people who go through legit means of obtaining them. I don't know where you live, but where I live (rural Illinois), everyone, I mean everyone, hunts. One of the schools in the county where I live closes for the opening day of deer shotgun season in the fall. That's right, no school. In many of the other school districts, one day during deer season is an excused absence if you show them your hunting license or other proof. All we'll have is a lot of really ticked off hunters, and a lot of hungry people. Our area is pretty low income, and this is what some people do to ease the cost of grocery shopping. If you get a couple of deer, you can eat for a couple of months without purchasing meat.

Answer 5

Banning guns does not mean that there would be no guns available to those who need them for crime. Hidden guns would come out for the right price.
We tried banning booze- - - it was everywhere. We banned drugs - - - there's loads of it, if you have the money.
It's stupid to make laws that are unenforceable.
I personally know three people who were murdered - - all three were stabbed to death.
Almost all of the Roman leaders were murdered - - guns weren't even invented yet.
Banning guns is like banning crime. Does that mean there's no crime. Hey ! wait a minute, crime is banned, so we have nothing to worry about.

Answer 6

this is where most of america is wrong. most murders the person uses an unregisters, therefore ILLEGAL gun. do you really think that criminals aren't going to get somthing ILLEGAL if they really want it? look at drugs, they are supposedly banned as well, but look how mnay people get a hold of those. the only thing banning guns will do it a.)make guns a black market, which would mean no gun would be registered there for it can't be tracked and b.)criminals would have an easier time because any lawful citizen they prey apon is almost garenteed to be unarmed. banning guns is stupid, why do you think the constitution cleary protects our right to carry? if guns are banned, people should be up in arms. no pun intended.

Answer 7

I don't think gun crimes would go down at least not for another 5-10 years after such a law was put into place. Initially the court system would be overrun with illegal gun possesion charges and otherwise good honest people who have guns for protection would be getting fined or arrested for having a gun on their premesis.
That would not be good.

Answer 8

hard reality dictates that if all guns and such were taken away, there still remains, knives, screw drivers, motor vehicles. rope and on and on.

If guns were taken away, there will soon be another matcho way of murder. Hell, why not try and ban nukes?

If a individual wants to committ murder, there will always be some thing available, to do it with.stopping or banning some thing is a dumm way to go, because a weapon of any kind is always readily available any ware.

Guns are not dangerious, untill they come into a human hands. screw drivers, motor vehicles and such, are not dangerious, untill put into a humans hands.

Whats dangerious, is the human being

Answer 9

Guns were banned here in Australia after a terrible mass shooting 10 or so years ago. We have far far fewer gunshot deaths per capita than the US. I think that there are several legitimate uses for firearms. By farmers would be one (locked away). As a balance against abuse of power by the goverment would be the other (held away from the home by local committee).

Answer 10

There never will be a ban on guns in this country. It takes away from human rights to bare arms. Yes, its terrible that people get shot so much, especially in Philadelphia, but every gun will never be off the street.

If such a ban came in to place, there would be alot of criminals attacking cops more often to get their guns.