Saturday, May 24, 2008

Have Law-Abiding Citizens Become Outgunned?

I try not to treat this topic often enough here, I have my own platform for that. Still I think it's something worth considering. Perhaps we should question whether or not gun control works. And I'm surprised to find this story from Channel 2 and it came from earlier in the week as well:
Gun violence on the streets of Chicago continues to take lives with nearly every day that passes. In a recent town hall meeting on violence, the issue of guns dominated the discussion. The question arose: How does Chicago, with one of the most restrictive laws on handgun ownership, have such a problem with the mayhem their users cause?
...
In April of this year there were 47 murders in Chicago, the highest monthly total in 10 years, and 80 percent of the murders this year involved guns.

For those who lost loved ones, like Emma Daviston, whose grandson Cardell was killed four years ago at the corner of 16th and Komensky, gun violence is difficult to discuss.

"Pain, a lot of pain...that's what goes through my mind when I think about guns," Daviston said.

Tom Ahern of the Chicago office of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) thinks about guns all the time. He has to.

"Remember all guns start out legally. Somewhere down the road they become illegal," Ahern said.

He's talking about straw purchases, which is where someone buys a gun legally and then either sells it or gives it to someone not authorized to purchase a gun.

"Firearms trafficking is a priority or ours, and we're trying to stem the flow of illegal guns into Illinois," Ahern said.

One of the places from which guns enter the state is Mississippi. The flow from there led to 14 people being prosecuted for running a straw purchase ring in 2007. Another source is Indiana, and many come from nearby gun shops outside the city limits.
...
Gun rights activists are frustrated because they feel that law-abiding gun owners are facing the wrath of gun opponents because the actions of drug dealers and gang members who have no respect for the law at all, and that their criminal enterprise will thrive no matter how many gun laws are enacted.
An interesting debate worth having. Should a law abiding citizen be able to own a gun for the purposes of, if nothing else, defending their property? Should a gun be a measure of whether or not there is a possibility of violence? Should be go after those criminals who uses a gun in the commission of a crime?

I'm sure there are going to be either no's or yes' to these questions. Though I would like to see a new answer other than more gun control. Using the same tired solution all the time it's time for a new solution. The problems we've seen in the city in recent weeks goes beyond guns and the call for more gun control just seems too easy and convenient.

No comments:

Post a Comment

PLEASE READ FIRST!!!! Comment Moderating and Anonymous Comment Policy

While anonymous comments are not prohibited we do encourage you to help readers identify you so that other commenters may respond to you. Either read the moderating policy for how or leave an identifier (which could be a nickname for example) at the end of the comment.

Also note that this blog is NOT associated with any public or political officials including Alderman Roderick T. Sawyer!