It is estimated that there are over 300 million guns in the United States. Approximately one gun for every living person in the Country.  I think this estimate is low, but we will go with that number.  There are thousands of gun laws; depending on if you count Federal, State and Local gun laws there are tens of thousands of different laws.  But there are only a couple of Gun laws that really matter or make any difference.  Laws that ban certain types of firearms, number of rounds they can carry, whether they have a pistol grip, are semi auto, full auto etc..etc.. These laws do not make a difference when it comes to intelligent gun control.  In my opinion the only gun law that will help prevent gun violence is the laws covering punishment for the use of a firearm to commit a crime.

People get confused between the difference between a “Right” and a “Privilege”. Let me explain it this way: We as free Americans own our “individual rights,” such as our Bill of Rights. The government owns the “privilege” that the government provides, such as public welfare, public housing, public education, driving, etc. Nearly everything that the government subsidizes is a privilege that the government owns. Individual rights are essential for freedom. Some privileges are essential for the safety of citizens. That being said, with both “Rights” and “Privileges” come consequences. For example, if you get caught driving drunk, you may lose your privilege to drive your car. The Bill of Rights says you have the freedom of speech. That is your “Right” as a free American. So is it OK to run into a crowded theater and yell FIRE, just to incite panic? Yeah. That is your right.  But it comes with consequences.  If you do something as foolish as screaming FIRE in a theater just to incite panic, you will pay the consequences. The same thing goes for using a firearm to commit a crime. It is your RIGHT to own a firearm as a free law abiding American citizen. If you use that firearm to commit a crime you pay the consequences. The problem is not the guns, its the lack of serious consequence for using that gun to commit a crime!

So I say this. If you want to create a law to prevent gun crime, lets start here. I borrowed this statement from an Article Titled “10 Myths of Gun Control” that can be found here. http://people.duke.edu/~gnsmith/articles/myths.htm. Laws aimed at criminal misuse of firearms are proven crime deterrents. After adopting a mandatory penalty for using a firearm in the commission of a violent crime in 1975, Virginia’s murder rate dropped 23% and robbery 11% in 15 years. South Carolina recorded a 24% murder rate decline between 1975 and 1990 with a similar law. Other impressive declines were recorded in other states using mandatory penalties, such as Florida (homicide rate down 33% in 17 years), Delaware (homicide rate down 33% in 19 years), Montana (down 42% 1976-1992) and New Hampshire (homicide rate down 50% 1977-1992). The solution to violent crime lies in the promise, not the mere threat, of swift, certain punishment.

I say, why not take this a step further. Why not make crimes that are committed with a firearm come with a suitable punishment. Lets make this a Federal law that is the same in every State. And lets make these laws Beyond Harsh!! For example, if you commit a robbery with a firearm it is a mandatory 25 to life sentence. If you commit Murder with a firearm it is Mandatory DEATH.  Oh and the government needs to follow through, No waiting on Death row for 20 years appealing 50 times…Fast track that shit.  I guarantee, if we start killing off criminals committing gun crimes, the gun violence rate will drop faster than Obama’s Approval Rating.

Currently there is one proposal that is beyond ridiculous that is being pushed by the Obama administration and gun control lobbyists.  Ban Military Style “Assault Weapons” (this is a bogus term by the way) and limit magazine capacity to 10 rounds. I will debunk this ignorant proposal with a couple of facts. According to the FBI in 2011 only 323 of the 12,664 homicides in the US were committed with a rifle.  They do not differentiate what type of rifle, even if 50% were their so called Assault Weapons, that is only 161.5.   Now look at this, of those 12,664 homicides, 6,220 were committed with Handguns. There is no discussion about banning handguns…WHY?? You have a better chance of winning the lottery while being struck by lightning on February 29th than you do of getting killed with a rifle!! As for the 10 round magazine issue…this is just ignorant. What is the difference of having one 30 round magazine or three 10 round magazines? Here is a video clip that demonstrates how easily it is to reload a hand gun very quickly with a little bit of practice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ls4Uq1aCiTA

Lets break down the term Assault Weapon.  Assault weapon is a term used in the United States to define some types of firearms. The definition varies among regulating jurisdictions, but usually includes semi-automatic rifle with a detachable magazine and a pistol grip, and sometimes other features such as a flash suppressor or barrel shroud. Semi automatic rifle with a detachable magazine…how are these more dangerous than a Handguns? They are harder to conceal and transport. Pistol Grip…According to wikipedia: Legally, A pistol grip is considered a cosmetic feature…Those darn cosmetic features sure do make them look scary, but don’t make them any more dangerous. A flash suppressor…Its primary intent is to reduce the chances that the shooter will be blinded in low-light shooting conditions. Barrel shroud…is a covering attached to the barrel of a firearm, that partially or completely encircles the barrel which prevents operators from injuring themselves on a hot barrel. So what makes these weapons more dangerous than say your average semi-auto hunting rifle? Nothing, absolutely NOTHING!!  What makes them more dangerous than your average semi-auto handgun? NOTHING!! They just look scarier!

Why is our government so intent on taking these types of weapons away from people? I have shown that they are not used to commit crimes as often as handguns. The features on them do not make them any more deadly or dangerous. What your government is not telling you is that these guns are less dangerous than handguns, they are used far less often to commit crimes, there are not as many of them in the US. Again, why does our government want to limit these types of weapons? Why do they want to limit the amount of ammunition you can have in your weapon? Will banning these weapons prevent gun crimes? NOPE.  Why limit ammunition capacity to ten rounds, why not 15 or 8 or 6? Why is 10 a magic number? Does 10 make people feel good..that’s way better than 11, so glad you cant have 11 rounds, 11 is just too many!! I have yet to hear a legitimate argument as to why so called “Assault Weapons” are more dangerous than handguns, and why 10 rounds is the magic number. If anyone reading this can give me these answers…I am all ears!

All in all, the guns in America are not the problem. The criminals using them are the problem. It is time to make the punishment fit the crime. This goes for everything. Our judicial system is a joke, our law makers are a joke. Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. If we started hanging people in the town square again, I bet the crime rate would drop. I have heard the argument that some of these people don’t care about the punishment, they are crazy, they want to die and take others with them. To those people I say this, defend yourself. Buy a gun, learn to use it, carry it on you at all times. If a crazy person tries to kill you, kill him first!! One of my favorite sayings goes like this…”Why do you feel the need to carry a gun?” “Because a police officer is too heavy!” It’s time for a change in this country. Gun laws don’t deter crime, punishments do.

Until next time!!

Dick