Calls for more gun control in wake of NIU shootings are naiveI've been horrified twice in the last week. First, I was saddened that our society has produced another sick, twisted individual that committed suicide and took others with him at NIU. Secondly, I'm disgusted by the simpleton arguments that many are using by calling for more gun control after this shooting. Frankly, it scares me even more that people apply this same kind of emotional logic in picking their political candidates, but that's another topic. The litany of cries is predictable. The letters to the editor I've seen recently include statements like "When are we going to ban handguns? If only the shooter didn't have those we'd be safe" or "Letting people have guns is crazy. People can't handle their emotions...they'll just start shooting" or "Only the police or military should have guns. They'll protect us." FACT: The "technological genie" of guns is out of the bottle. The idea that you'll ban them and get them out of the wrong hands is naive. Criminals don't obey laws. Remember how well Prohibition worked in the 1920's? And what if we could get rid of guns? A society where the physically strong prey on the weak is not a place I want to live...think Rwanda and machetes if you don't understand what I'm talking about. Ask older people in England if gun control works and they'll tell you about their skyrocketing violent crime rate and roving gangs of young thugs that beat and murder them for fun. FACT: "Gun Free Zones" like university campuses could better be called "Government-Sponsored Killing Fields". Crazies see these places and know they will be completely unrestricted in creating mayhem. Clamping down with ubiquitous police patrols and metal detectors and checkpoints at every turn only serves to make George Orwell's "1984" society look free and open by comparison. FACT: Allowing citizens to arm and protect themselves works. 48 states (but not Illinois or Wisconsin) recognize the right of their citizens to protect themselves and their families through concealed carry laws. In every case, the crime rate has not risen, and in fact has fallen after the law was passed. Anti-gun zealots have predicted that "blood would run in the streets" and "people will have shoot-outs over traffic incidents". In every case, they have been proven wrong...these incidents just don't happen. US Justice Department studies show that concealed carry permit holders have dramatically lower crime rates than the general population. FACT: Armed citizens stop murderers. There is a saying "When seconds count, the police are only minutes away". Police responded within 2 minutes at NIU. While that was a fantastic response time, the mayhem was already completed. Multiple incidents have been stopped by armed citizens, although the media rarely reports this. Look up Appalachian State Law School or the Colorado Springs church shooting for two of many. Israel has stopped terrorist attacks on schools by arming teachers. Want to stop the mass shootings? Stop publicizing every tiny detail about the shooter. The vast majority of these individuals are convinced they've been wronged, often have a history of mental illness and want to go out in a flurry to show everyone how bad their life was. When we plaster their name and picture all over the media we give them exactly what they want and encourage others to follow in their footsteps.
I've been horrified twice this week . First, I was saddened that our society has produced another sick, twisted individual that committed suicide and took others with him at NIU. Secondly, I'm disgusted by the predictable arguments for more gun control. The letters to the editor I've seen recently include statements like "If only we would ban handguns we'd be safe" or "Letting people have guns is crazy...they'll just start shooting".FACT: The "technological genie" of guns is out of the bottle. The idea that you'll ban them and get them out of the wrong hands is naive. Criminals don't obey laws. And what if we could get rid of guns? A society where the physically strong prey on the weak is not a place I want to live...think Rwanda and machetes if you don't understand what I'm talking about.FACT: "Gun Free Zones" like university campuses could better be called "Gun-Free Killing Zones". Crazies see these places and know they will be completely unrestricted in creating mayhem. Clamping down with oppressive checkpoints and metal detectors isn't the answer either.FACT: Allowing citizens to arm and protect themselves works. 48 states (not Illinois or Wisconsin) recognize the right of their citizens to protect themselves and their families through concealed carry laws. Anti-gun zealots have predicted that "blood would run in the streets" over minor incidents but, in every case, they have been proven wrong...these incidents just don't happen . US Justice Department studies show that concealed carry permit holders have dramatically lower crime rates than the general population.FACT: Armed citizens stop murderers. There is a saying "When seconds count, the police are only minutes away". Police responded within 2 minutes at NIU. While that was a fantastic response time, the mayhem was already completed. Look up Appalachian State Law School or the Colorado Springs church shooting to see how armed citizens can stop the crime.Want to stop the mass shootings? Stop publicizing every detail about the shooter. The vast majority of these individuals are convinced they've been wronged, sometimes have a history of mental illness and want to show the world how bad their life was. When we plaster their name and picture all over the media, we give them exactly what they want and encourage others to follow in their footsteps.