I Lived in So. California most of my life, the gun laws here are some of the toughest in the nation but I had a lot friends held up or shot by criminals with guns that didn't listen to the gun laws. I moved to Alabama where most law abiding people carry concealed weapons and I've never felt so safe. Also, I visited Kennesaw, Georgia, where Gun Ownership is Mandatory. After the law went into effect in 1982, crime against persons plummeted 74 percent compared to 1981, and fell another 45 percent in 1983 compared to 1982. Kennesaw proves that the presence of firearms actually improves safety and security.
2007-07-18 03:12:32 · 11 answers · asked by Black Sheep 1 2 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Gun laws do little to nothing to stop crime. The Center for Disease Control did a study to show how gun control reduced crime and despite gun control being around for about 80 years (Federal Gun Laws) and the fact that they've been keeping records about crime stats for almost 50 years, the CDC said there was insufficient evidence to come to a conclusion. This makes me belive that there is NO evidence that supports the idea that gun laws reduce crime. Some other group who's name escapes me at the moment also did a like study with similar results.
On the other hand, Criminologists Gary Kleck and John Lott have done independent and very indept research who's final conclusion is that the armed law abiding citizens there are, the less crime you will have. The two did not work together and had very different methology for their research, methodolgy that has undergone intense scruitny and also been duplicated by various universities by the way.
One poster mentioned that the UK is much safer than the US. I strongly suggest that person look again. For starters thier crime rate has risen dramatically and just two weeks ago a news stroy from the UK came out stating that the crime rates have been drastically understated becuase if you report that you are the victiim of a crime more than a certian number of time the police do not register the crime or investigate it!
In addition, about two months ago one of the major supporters of the ban came out and admitted that the ban was a total failure. If you are still not convinced, they look at the paretns who are purchasing thier kids ballistic vest to wear to school! Admittidly these are not bulletproof vest, but are designed to defeat knife attacks. You call that safe??
Listed below is a link to the US Justice department that shows how over the past ten year that while England has banned gun, and the US as had numerous states adopt shall issue concealed carry laws, that crime in the US went down while England's crime rates have skyrocketed!
http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/pub/html/cjusew96/highs.htm
2007-07-18 07:41:35 · answer #1 · answered by Christopher H 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
It's tough to say...there a different gun laws. Usually laws are enacted because of a perceived need for control to protect the interests of the public at large. While I have no problem with gun ownership by law abiding citizens that are mentally capable of the responsibility of gun ownership, I do feel application for such ownership allows that this be determined before said ownership. Of course as pointed out the criminal element doesn't care about laws. The restrictions do make it harder for the criminal to gain access to weapons simply because they also need an initial source. I do not feel that private citizens need to own assault weapons or automatic weapons, anything greater than an eight shot clip is certainly not for target or sport.
2007-07-18 03:53:35 · answer #2 · answered by pecker_head_bill 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I feel extremely unsafe in America. The figures show that America is a far more dangerous place than the UK which has banned guns. I feel a lot safer with a police officer who doesn't have a gun, I like the idea of a specialist department who have access to guns and I wouldn't trust a police officer not to accidental shoot the wrong person, than knowing the next person who walks past could shoot me.
2007-07-18 03:22:33 · answer #3 · answered by clint_slicker 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋
I felt pretty safe when I lived in Alabama too. Now I live in Kansas and we just got a conceal and carry law. Before that there were plenty of violent crimes happening.
2007-07-18 03:16:49 · answer #4 · answered by civil_av8r 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Hurt. The ones you have to worry about don't obey laws, so gun laws don't really apply to the criminal element. I doubt too many armed robbers went through and application and waiting process to purchase a gun, then had their gun registered.
2007-07-18 03:35:06 · answer #5 · answered by The Maestro 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Gun laws are useless.
They only apply to those who honor the laws.
We do not need more laws, just enforcement over actions when the current laws are broken.
2007-07-18 03:23:05 · answer #6 · answered by ? 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
How does that explain how Japan has a few hundred gun murders per year compared to the US's over 30,000 when they have no guns in Japan?
2007-07-18 03:18:39 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 5⤋
people who want to have guns will get guns.
2007-07-18 03:20:11 · answer #8 · answered by j-v 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
It's not the guns that kill people, it's the people that kill people. It is as simple as that!
2007-07-18 03:28:43 · answer #9 · answered by Mary W 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If you outlaw guns, only the outlaws will have guns.
2007-07-18 03:16:38 · answer #10 · answered by Michael C 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋