Changes

So, to the extent that opponents of gun control laws claim that the government is trying to "take away" guns, such provisions are the focus of their concerns.

So, to the extent that opponents of gun control laws claim that the government is trying to "take away" guns, such provisions are the focus of their concerns.

== The Fallacy and Motivation for Gun Control ==

== The fallacy and motivation for gun control ==

[[Image:No Weapons Allowed.gif|right]]

[[File:No Weapons Allowed.gif|right]]

Gun control potentially causes an increase in crime by restricting its main deterrent: [[self-defense]]. A study by Professor Gary Kleck, initially a liberal critic of gun control, caused him to change his mind on this issue when the evidence showed that crime was predominantly ''prevented'' when people could carry guns.  ''See Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America''.<ref>http://www.largo.org/effects.html</ref> In the United States, law-abiding uses of guns outnumber criminal uses by about a factor of 1000 to 1,<ref>http://www.americanselfdefense.com/gunfacts3.0.pdf (p. 60)</ref> and the removal of guns from everyone eliminates the lawful use of self-defense and its deterrent effect.  "[[Americans]] use firearms to defend themselves from criminals at least 764,000 times a year."<ref name="Gallup_LAT">"This figure is the lowest among a group of 9 nationwide surveys done by organizations including Gallup and the Los Angeles Times." (Just Facts - [http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp Gun Control])</ref>  Specific examples of guns being used successfully in [[self-defense]] are easy to find.<ref>Two 70-ish store owners stopped armed robberies of their stores by shooting at the bandits.  "The person came in and pointed the gun at him and my father shot him.  I'm proud of him." [http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/253849.html Buffalo News]</ref><ref>[http://sittingduckpolicy.com/ Sitting Duck Policy: True Stories of Self-Defense]</ref>  "In 1982, a survey of imprisoned criminals found that 34% of them had been "scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim."<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/> When Florida began allowing its citizens to carry a concealed weapon, [[Florida]]'s firearm homicide rate fell by 37% while the national average ''increased'' by 15%.<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/>  As explained below, the political effect of gun control is to cause voters to become more dependent emotionally on government and more supportive of bigger government.

Gun control potentially causes an increase in crime by restricting its main deterrent: [[self-defense]]. A study by Professor Gary Kleck, initially a liberal critic of gun control, caused him to change his mind on this issue when the evidence showed that crime was predominantly ''prevented'' when people could carry guns.  ''See Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America''.<ref>http://www.largo.org/effects.html</ref> In the United States, law-abiding uses of guns outnumber criminal uses by about a factor of 1000 to 1,<ref>http://www.americanselfdefense.com/gunfacts3.0.pdf (p. 60)</ref> and the removal of guns from everyone eliminates the lawful use of self-defense and its deterrent effect.  "[[Americans]] use firearms to defend themselves from criminals at least 764,000 times a year."<ref name="Gallup_LAT">"This figure is the lowest among a group of 9 nationwide surveys done by organizations including Gallup and the Los Angeles Times." (Just Facts - [http://www.justfacts.com/guncontrol.asp Gun Control])</ref>  Specific examples of guns being used successfully in [[self-defense]] are easy to find.<ref>Two 70-ish store owners stopped armed robberies of their stores by shooting at the bandits.  "The person came in and pointed the gun at him and my father shot him.  I'm proud of him." [http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/buffaloerie/story/253849.html Buffalo News]</ref><ref>[http://sittingduckpolicy.com/ Sitting Duck Policy: True Stories of Self-Defense]</ref>  "In 1982, a survey of imprisoned criminals found that 34% of them had been "scared off, shot at, wounded or captured by an armed victim."<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/> When Florida began allowing its citizens to carry a concealed weapon, [[Florida]]'s firearm homicide rate fell by 37% while the national average ''increased'' by 15%.<ref name="Gallup_LAT"/>  As explained below, the political effect of gun control is to cause voters to become more dependent emotionally on government and more supportive of bigger government.

Studies by [[John Lott]] and others also indicate that gun control causes higher crime rates.<ref>[http://www.johnrlott.com/ John Lott's Website]</ref>  [[Washington, D.C.]] has one of the highest crime rates in America even though it completely bans private handguns.<ref>[http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm District of Columbia Crime Rates 1960 - 2006]</ref>  "Switzerland, Israel, Denmark and Finland, all of whom have a higher gun ownership rate than America, all have lower crime rates than America, in fact, their crime rates are among the lowest in the Western World."<ref>Slashdoc - [http://www.slashdoc.com/documents/71244 gun control]</ref>  Lott demonstrates that in Britain, [[Australia]] and [[Canada]], increased gun control in the late 1990s led to increased crime, the exact opposite of what the proponents of the gun control promised.<ref>John R. Lott Jr. and Eli Lehrer - [http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/IBDGunConFailure.html Add Gun Control To Litany Of Misbegotten Gov't Plans]</ref>  States in the [[U.S.]] that have enacted concealed-carry laws enjoy lower crime rates.<ref>[http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=4706 Cato report]</ref>

Studies by [[John Lott]] and others also indicate that gun control causes higher crime rates.<ref>[http://www.johnrlott.com/ John Lott's Website]</ref>  [[Washington, D.C.]] has one of the highest crime rates in America even though it completely bans private handguns.<ref>[http://www.disastercenter.com/crime/dccrime.htm District of Columbia Crime Rates 1960 - 2006]</ref>  "Switzerland, Israel, Denmark and Finland, all of whom have a higher gun ownership rate than America, all have lower crime rates than America, in fact, their crime rates are among the lowest in the Western World."<ref>Slashdoc - [http://www.slashdoc.com/documents/71244 gun control]</ref>  Lott demonstrates that in Britain, [[Australia]] and [[Canada]], increased gun control in the late 1990s led to increased crime, the exact opposite of what the proponents of the gun control promised.<ref>John R. Lott Jr. and Eli Lehrer - [http://johnrlott.tripod.com/op-eds/IBDGunConFailure.html Add Gun Control To Litany Of Misbegotten Gov't Plans]</ref>  States in the [[U.S.]] that have enacted concealed-carry laws enjoy lower crime rates.<ref>[http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=4706 Cato report]</ref>

[[image:Robbery victims per 100K.png|300px|thumb|<small>Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics</small>]]

[[File:Robbery victims per 100K.png|300px|thumb|<small>Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics</small>]]

[[image:Robbery victims.png|300px|thumb|<small>Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics</small>]]

[[File:Robbery victims.png|300px|thumb|<small>Source data: Australian Bureau of Statistics</small>]]

 

 

In Australia, where gun ownership was less widespread and the gun control measures were less strict, there was an immediate increase in robbery and armed robbery after the gun control went into effect in 1996 (see chart at right).<ref>

In Australia, where gun ownership was less widespread and the gun control measures were less strict, there was an immediate increase in robbery and armed robbery after the gun control went into effect in 1996 (see chart at right).<ref>

Subsequent to gun control in England:<ref>http://www.reason.com/news/show/28582.html</ref>

Subsequent to gun control in England:<ref>http://www.reason.com/news/show/28582.html</ref>

[[File:Send_a_gun_to_a_British_home.jpg|thumb|right|[[Second Amendment]]-supporting [[American]] [[citizen]]s gifted their [[firearm]]s to [[gun free zone]]-gun control supporting [[British]] citizens during [[World War II]] via [[The American Committee for the Defense of British Homes]]]]

[[File:Send a gun to a British home.jpg|thumb|[[Second Amendment]]-supporting [[American]] [[citizen]]s gifted their [[firearm]]s to [[gun free zone]]-gun control supporting [[British]] citizens during [[World War II]] via [[The American Committee for the Defense of British Homes]].]]

:"from 1997 to 2001, the rate of violent crime more than doubled. Your chances of being mugged in London are now [as of 2002] six times greater than in New York. England's rates of assault, robbery, and burglary are far higher than America's, and 53 percent of English burglaries occur while occupants are at home, compared with 13 percent in the U.S., where burglars admit to fearing armed homeowners more than the police. In a United Nations study of crime in 18 developed nations published in July, England and Wales led the Western world's crime league, with nearly 55 crimes per 100 people."<ref>However this increase in recorded violent crime between 1997 and 2001 is explained by the Home Office as a result of changes in the definition of violent crime and new counting rules introduced in 1998. [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/rdsolr1804.pdf Violent Crime in England and Wales] According to the British Crime Survey, which is considered a more reliable guide to trends in crime [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/crime-statistics-independent-review-06.pdf], violent crime fell 24% between 1997 and 2001/02, and burglary fell 40% over the same period.[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1105tab201.xls Trends in BCS incidents of crime]</ref>   

:"from 1997 to 2001, the rate of violent crime more than doubled. Your chances of being mugged in London are now [as of 2002] six times greater than in New York. England's rates of assault, robbery, and burglary are far higher than America's, and 53 percent of English burglaries occur while occupants are at home, compared with 13 percent in the U.S., where burglars admit to fearing armed homeowners more than the police. In a United Nations study of crime in 18 developed nations published in July, England and Wales led the Western world's crime league, with nearly 55 crimes per 100 people."<ref>However this increase in recorded violent crime between 1997 and 2001 is explained by the Home Office as a result of changes in the definition of violent crime and new counting rules introduced in 1998. [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs04/rdsolr1804.pdf Violent Crime in England and Wales] According to the British Crime Survey, which is considered a more reliable guide to trends in crime [http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs06/crime-statistics-independent-review-06.pdf], violent crime fell 24% between 1997 and 2001/02, and burglary fell 40% over the same period.[http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb1105tab201.xls Trends in BCS incidents of crime]</ref>   

Since 1950, 97.8% of mass public shootings have occurred in [[gun-free zone]]s.<ref>[https://crimeresearch.org/2018/06/more-misleading-information-from-bloombergs-everytown-for-gun-safety-on-guns-analysis-of-recent-mass-shootings/ UPDATED: Mass Public Shootings keep occurring in Gun-Free Zones: 97.8% of attacks since 1950]. ''Crime Prevention Research Center''. June 15, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.</ref><ref>Hawkins, Awr (November 20, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/11/20/study-97-8-percent-mass-shootings-since-1950-gun-free-zones/ Study: 97.8% of Mass Shootings Since 1950 Occurred in ‘Gun-Free Zones’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 20, 2018.</ref> On the other hand, a 2018 analysis of FBI data by Jacob Paulsen found that 94% of all mass shootings [[Mass shootings prevented by armed citizens|were thwarted by law-abiding armed citizens]].<ref>Duke, Selwyn (November 28, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/30766-guns-saving-lives-study-armed-citizens-thwart-active-shooters-94-of-the-time Guns Save Lives — Armed Citizens Thwart Active Shooters 94 Percent of the Time]. ''The New American''. Retrieved November 28, 2018.</ref> Additionally, the U.S. experiences a lower rate of mass shootings compared to the global average.<ref>Tapscott, Mark (June 2, 2019). [https://www.theepochtimes.com/data-call-into-question-demands-for-new-gun-control-laws_2947821.html Data May Call Into Question Demands for New Gun Control Laws]. ''The Epoch Times''. Retrieved June 3, 2019.</ref> Student deaths by active-shooters are nine times more likely in gun-free zones.<ref>Duke, Selwyn (July 2, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/32759-student-active-shooter-deaths-9-times-as-likely-with-gun-free-zone-status-quo Student Active-shooter Deaths 9 Times as Likely With "Gun-free Zone" Status Quo]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 3, 2019.</ref>

Since 1950, 97.8% of mass public shootings have occurred in [[gun-free zone]]s.<ref>[https://crimeresearch.org/2018/06/more-misleading-information-from-bloombergs-everytown-for-gun-safety-on-guns-analysis-of-recent-mass-shootings/ UPDATED: Mass Public Shootings keep occurring in Gun-Free Zones: 97.8% of attacks since 1950]. ''Crime Prevention Research Center''. June 15, 2018. Retrieved November 10, 2018.</ref><ref>Hawkins, Awr (November 20, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2018/11/20/study-97-8-percent-mass-shootings-since-1950-gun-free-zones/ Study: 97.8% of Mass Shootings Since 1950 Occurred in ‘Gun-Free Zones’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved November 20, 2018.</ref> On the other hand, a 2018 analysis of FBI data by Jacob Paulsen found that 94% of all mass shootings [[Mass shootings prevented by armed citizens|were thwarted by law-abiding armed citizens]].<ref>Duke, Selwyn (November 28, 2018). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/30766-guns-saving-lives-study-armed-citizens-thwart-active-shooters-94-of-the-time Guns Save Lives — Armed Citizens Thwart Active Shooters 94 Percent of the Time]. ''The New American''. Retrieved November 28, 2018.</ref> Additionally, the U.S. experiences a lower rate of mass shootings compared to the global average.<ref>Tapscott, Mark (June 2, 2019). [https://www.theepochtimes.com/data-call-into-question-demands-for-new-gun-control-laws_2947821.html Data May Call Into Question Demands for New Gun Control Laws]. ''The Epoch Times''. Retrieved June 3, 2019.</ref> Student deaths by active-shooters are nine times more likely in gun-free zones.<ref>Duke, Selwyn (July 2, 2019). [https://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/crime/item/32759-student-active-shooter-deaths-9-times-as-likely-with-gun-free-zone-status-quo Student Active-shooter Deaths 9 Times as Likely With "Gun-free Zone" Status Quo]. ''The New American''. Retrieved July 3, 2019.</ref>

==Constitutional Debate==

==Constitutional debate==

The [[Second Amendment]] reads:

The [[Second Amendment]] reads:

== Sexism of gun control ==

== Sexism of gun control ==

Firearms, especially lower recoiling ones such as many handguns, allow any person to wield enough power to stop another person from attacking them.<ref name="genderDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/03/19/firearms-rights-are-a-gender-equality-issue-too/</ref>  Many women (quite reasonably) fear the threat of attack by a physically stronger man, and a firearm could prevent many of these attacks, but gun bans leave these women vulnerable. Take the case of the “North Side Rapist” in Chicago, a city where hand guns are banned, as an example: The rapist broke in to the women's homes, and at least one of the women heard him break in and then climb the stairs. Had this woman had a handgun, she almost certainly could have stopped the rapist before it was too late. This would have prevented her from enduring such a horrific crime, as well as preventing the rapist's future victims from experiencing the same thing. Instead, Chicago law prevented her from being able to defend herself, and gave the advantage to the rapist/home-invader. This is not an isolated incident, and similar events happen every day across the county.

Firearms, especially lower recoiling ones such as many handguns, allow any person to wield enough power to stop another person from attacking them.<ref name="genderDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/03/19/firearms-rights-are-a-gender-equality-issue-too/</ref>  Many women (quite reasonably) fear the threat of attack by a physically stronger man, and a firearm could prevent many of these attacks, but gun bans leave these women vulnerable. Take the case of the “North Side Rapist” in Chicago, a city where hand guns are banned, as an example: The rapist broke in to the women's homes, and at least one of the women heard him break in and then climb the stairs. Had this woman had a handgun, she almost certainly could have stopped the rapist before it was too late. This would have prevented her from enduring such a horrific crime, as well as preventing the rapist's future victims from experiencing the same thing. Instead, Chicago law prevented her from being able to defend herself, and gave the advantage to the rapist/home-invader. This is not an isolated incident, and similar events happen every day across the county.

== Elitism of gun control ==

== Elitism of gun control ==

 

Many of the most ardent American anti-gun politicians, such as Chicago's Mayor Daley, are protected by taxpayer-sponsored armed body guards, but deny law abiding citizens the right to defend themselves with a gun.<ref name="classDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/04/16/a-double-standard-anti-gun-politicians-and-their-gun-toting-bodyguards/</ref>  These politicians seemingly believe themselves to be part of an elite group who deserve to be protected against violent criminals, while ordinary law-abiding citizens are left with less-effective means to defend themselves, and must instead rely on the police arriving in time.

Many of the most ardent American anti-gun politicians, such as Chicago's Mayor Daley, are protected by taxpayer-sponsored armed body guards, but deny law abiding citizens the right to defend themselves with a gun.<ref name="classDiscrimination1">http://www.learnaboutguns.com/2008/04/16/a-double-standard-anti-gun-politicians-and-their-gun-toting-bodyguards/</ref>  These politicians seemingly believe themselves to be part of an elite group who deserve to be protected against violent criminals, while ordinary law-abiding citizens are left with less-effective means to defend themselves, and must instead rely on the police arriving in time.

In [[Canada]], notably [[authoritarian]]<ref>https://troymedia.com/viewpoint/trudeau-canada-road-authoritarianism/</ref> Prime Minister "Jihadi Justin"<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUA1bgBM3SU</ref> Trudeau exploited the worst mass shooting event in that country's history to push for stricter gun control measures, including widespread assault-weapon bans.<ref>https://www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/964025?section=newsfront&keywords=trudeau-guncontrol-canadashooting&year=2020&month=04&date=21&id=964025</ref> The shooter was not even a lawful gun owner.<ref>https://www.rebelnews.com/nova_scotia_shooter_was_not_a_legal_gun_owner_rcmp_confirm</ref>

In [[Canada]], notably [[authoritarian]]<ref>https://troymedia.com/viewpoint/trudeau-canada-road-authoritarianism/</ref> Prime Minister "Jihadi Justin"<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUA1bgBM3SU</ref> Trudeau exploited the worst mass shooting event in that country's history to push for stricter gun control measures, including widespread assault-weapon bans.<ref>https://www.newsmax.com/t/newsmax/article/964025?section=newsfront&keywords=trudeau-guncontrol-canadashooting&year=2020&month=04&date=21&id=964025</ref> The shooter was not even a lawful gun owner.<ref>https://www.rebelnews.com/nova_scotia_shooter_was_not_a_legal_gun_owner_rcmp_confirm</ref>

== Gun Control and Genocide ==

== Gun control and genocide ==

 

Gun control "contributes to the probability of its government engaging" in [[genocide]], including the three worst instances in the 20th century:<ref>"[A] society's weapons policy might be one of the institutional arrangements that contributes to the probability of its government engaging in some of the more extreme varieties of outrage. ... [I]t is [] an arresting reality that not one of the principal genocides of the twentieth century, and there have been dozens, has been inflicted on a population that was armed." [http://ls.wustl.edu/WULQ/75-3/753-4.html Washington University Law Quarterly]</ref>

Gun control "contributes to the probability of its government engaging" in [[genocide]], including the three worst instances in the 20th century:<ref>"[A] society's weapons policy might be one of the institutional arrangements that contributes to the probability of its government engaging in some of the more extreme varieties of outrage. ... [I]t is [] an arresting reality that not one of the principal genocides of the twentieth century, and there have been dozens, has been inflicted on a population that was armed." [http://ls.wustl.edu/WULQ/75-3/753-4.html Washington University Law Quarterly]</ref>

[[Josef Stalin]], former dictator of the [[USSR]] and murderer of over 20 million people, infamously supported gun control in the fear that his evil regime might be torn down and so only soldiers could have firearms.

[[Josef Stalin]], former dictator of the [[USSR]] and murderer of over 20 million people, infamously supported gun control in the fear that his evil regime might be torn down and so only soldiers could have firearms.

== Gun Control and Dictators ==

== Gun control and dictators ==

 

"One man with a gun can control 100 without one" - [[Vladimir Lenin]]

"One man with a gun can control 100 without one" - [[Vladimir Lenin]]

"Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary"'' - [[Karl Marx]]<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/communist-league/1850-ad1.htm</ref>

"Under no pretext should arms and ammunition be surrendered; any attempt to disarm the workers must be frustrated, by force if necessary"'' - [[Karl Marx]]<ref>https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1847/communist-league/1850-ad1.htm</ref>

== Gun Control and young mass murderers ==

== Gun control and young mass murderers ==

 

{{Main|Young mass murderers}}

{{Main|Young mass murderers}}

==External links==

==External links==

=== Opposed to gun control ===

=== Opposed to gun control ===

*[http://www.2asisters.org/ Second Amendment Sisters]

*[http://www.2asisters.org/ Second Amendment Sisters]