A Problem With Guns?
by Robert L. Kocher
Few national struggles create as much fear and animosity as gun control. And few national struggles are driven by as much fear and animosity as gun control.
Is there reason to control guns because "guns kill people"? Fifty years ago there were few prohibitive gun laws in the United States. Rifles and shotguns could easily be purchased over the phone from magazine ads in many of the hunting and firearms magazines. I lived in a Midwestern city that had one of the largest small arms dealers in the country, if not the world. They conducted their business over the phone and through the mail from magazine ads. In some ads at other dealers, 20mm antitank rifles were available.
Yet, with the exception of the fantasies in old James Cagney gangster movies, in the 40s and 50s the streets of America were safe beyond anything remotely imaginable today. Millions of veterans had returned from the war with millions of military weapon souvenirs. America was swarming with rifles and pistols, and the crime rate was low. Even in 1962 when I was in the army near Washington, D.C., later to become the murder capital of the world, one could take a nap on a park bench with no fear of being bothered.
As is well known, the unofficial Swiss national motto is, "A rifle behind every door." A principle Swiss national sport is rifle shooting. Their military keeps their small arms at home and usually keeps their arms after retirement. The crime rate is minuscule.
The Israeli military keep their arms at home. Their violent crime rate is minuscule.
In a number of states in America gun ownership is nearly unrestricted, nearly universally common, and the carrying of open or concealed firearms is nearly unrestricted. The crime rates are low.
Link to full article : [url]www.zolatimes.com/V3.39/gun_problem.htm[/url]
This article contains some great stats and insight into the "real" problem in America. Please read the full text!
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