The recent tragic shooting in Las Vegas has reignited Democrats call for gun control. Unfortunately, all the available data and anecdotal information points to this policy leading to increased crime and violence.
It has come to light, once again, that a mass shooter has purchased all of his dozens of firearms through legal means. Leaving more than 50 dead and 500 wounded, there isn’t a law on the books that would have stopped this evil mind and cold heart from committing murder. In fact, the opposite has proven true in high crime areas.
Major cities such as Chicago and New York have among the strictest gun control laws in the country. Many gun advocates say that New York City has effectively banned guns. The criminals have not gotten the message though. The problem lays in the fact that criminals, by definition, will not seek to make weapon purchases through legal means. There are reportedly more than 300 million firearms in circulation in the United States and criminals will always find a way to lay their hands on one.
In 2016, Chicago led the nation as the Murder Capital of America. The city suffered 762 killings, 3,550 shooting incidents and 4,331 wounded despite implementing among the toughest gun control policies in the country. This year, there were more than 100 shootings occurred during the Fourth of July weekend alone. Gun control laws have not stemmed the violence.
Many gun enthusiasts smartly argue that relaxed gun laws lead to lower crime. The states with the most lenient gun laws tend to have the lowest rate of incidents. Among them are Utah, Alaska, North Dakota and Oklahoma. The primary anecdotal reason pro-gun states have less problems is that the prevalence of armed citizens is a natural deterrent to criminal activity. A thug won’t take a shot at an armed citizen because they will defend themselves.
Prayers and support go out to the loved ones of the Las Vegas victims.
~ Firearm Daily
