Anti-Gun Laws Favor Criminals

I thought it would be a good idea to remind the anti-gun zealots of the single, simple truth and that is anti-gun laws are not the answer to crime. This is from my vault, written April 9, 2009:

Saturday, April 3, 2009 three police officers in Pittsburgh were brutally murdered in the line of duty. Eric Kelly, Stephen Mayhle and Paul Sciullo III were senselessly murdered as they responded to a domestic violence call. The incident took place just two weeks after four police officers were similarly murdered in Oakland.

While most of us can scarcely imagine what it is for families and friends to suffer such loss, to the surprise of no one, in the aftermath of such brutality, politicians are seizing upon the horrific acts of the criminally insane to create more restrictive gun-ownership measures, even as anti-gun groups are calling for an end to private gun ownership.

The problem is that increasing restrictions on, and/or removing firearms from, responsible gun-owners will not keep us safe, and it sure as heck won’t stop violent gun crimes. At what point, if ever, will anti-gun zealots and the “throw the baby out with the bath water” politicians get the message? It isn’t responsible gun owners that are committing gun crimes. At what point, if ever, will they understand that an AK-47, a bazooka, or a dozen .357 magnums are no more dangerous in the hands of responsible gun owners than a Rottweiler or pit bull is in the hands of loving and responsible pet owners?

There is no greater truism than, “If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.” I personally know dozens of men and women who own and/or legally carry firearms. They, and those like them, do not need more restrictions. They are not the ones committing crimes – just the opposite – they are among the most responsible people I know. Some are collectors of firearms, some are sporting enthusiasts, and others own and carry firearms for their personal protection. Why should we be singled out or lumped together under restrictive bans designed to curb crime that we already abhor?

The corner grocer, bank tellers and law enforcement officers do not fear legitimate, responsible gun owners – they fear criminals and gang members with guns. And further to the point, legislatures can pass all the anti-gun legislation they want – criminals will still get guns and use them.

Which brings me to my point. Legislators, urged on by the malevolent cacophony of anti-gun ownership groups operating under the guise of firearms ownership reform, have it backwards. America doesn’t need to further oppress the innocent – they and their forces need to direct their energies at getting criminals off the streets. They need to encourage efforts to deglamorize the criminal use of firearms. They need to encourage lawsthat actually protect men and women in abusive relationships that frequently have lethal results because of firearms.

It is as easy to target and vilify gun owners as it is to target and vilify smokers, but it won’t end gun crimes. It certainly won’t end the brutal murder of law-enforcement officers, who are the line of defense between criminals and us. It is easy for the anti-Second Amendment groups to blame conservative commentators for being responsible for these killings based on their support of private gun ownership – but that is a crude banausic idiocy based on agenda-driven contempt for any and all who disagree with their agendas.

And specific to said point, how many anti-firearm groups contribute to funds set up to help the families of slain officers? How many funerals of slain officers have Susan Sarandon, Rosie O’Donnell, Jesse Jackson or Al Sharpton attended?

Mumia Abdul Jamal is given hero status as being politically persecuted for his cold-blooded murder of Philadelphia police officer Daniel Faulkner. New York undercover officers Andrew Nemorin and Rodney Andrews were murdered execution style as they tried to rid New York City streets of machine guns and the gang-bangers who posses them. Tell me how passing more restrictive laws and/or taking guns out of the hands of law-abiding citizens would have prevented the murders of these officers.

If legislators and anti-gun groups were serious about reducing and/or ending gun crimes, they would turn their wrath toward the criminals. They would direct their attention toward constructive ways to take guns out of the hands of thugs, gangs and abusive spouses. As it is, their efforts are not the solution to gun crimes – they are part of the problem.