Opinion
U.S.A. -(Ammoland.com)- They call it another “common sense gun-control law”, but what the gun control groups ask for isn’t common sense at all. In fact, these so-called gun-safety measures are lethally dangerous. If you’re one of the few people who’s actually read the full text of the new gun control initiatives, then you might wonder how these proposals could possibly be dangerous. I’m glad you asked because what they keep hidden can kill us. Let’s uncover the slight-of-hand step by step.
We’ve seen a similar trick before. We know that medical mistakes kill about a third of a million people a year. Of course, we all want to reduce these needless deaths in our hospitals. At first, it sounds perfectly reasonable to close hospitals on Sunday and Monday since those are the days when we see the most mistakes. That sounds like a good idea, but it isn’t.
If all we wanted to do was eliminate medical mistakes then we would get rid of hospitals. We would end up with more people dying because they couldn’t get the critical medical treatment they need. Modern medicine increases our average lifespan by about 5 years, while medical mistakes may reduce it by about 9 months. The bad argument ignores that medical treatment saves many more lives than it costs..even on Sunday and Monday.
We have to weigh the return as well as the cost, the reward as well as the penalty.
We see a similar situation with the argument for gun control..but more so. Gun control proposals, like initiative 1639 in Washington state, seeks to restrict firearms ownership and use. In theory that saves lives, but not in practice.
About 11 thousand people are murdered with a firearm each year. We all agree that each life lost is a tragedy. The sales pitch for gun control ignores that honest gun owners save many more lives every day. About 3 million honest citizens each year use a firearm for self-defense. Those are not my numbers, but estimates from data collected by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Guns save lives, and guns do more than stop murder. Armed victims also stop sexual assault about 500 times a day.
Gun control is the theory that we would be safer if those victims were disarmed. We have 3 million examples to the contrary.
If statistics don’t move you, then consider the opinion of the first responders at the scene of the crime. The Washington State Patrol Troopers Association, the Washington State Sheriffs Association, Washington Council of Police & Sheriffs, and the Washington State Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors Association came out against the Washington State gun control Initiative 1639.
They should know. Every day, these law enforcement officers see the crime victims who could not defend themselves.
About Rob Morse
The original article is here. Rob Morse writes about gun rights at Ammoland, at Clash Daily, and on his SlowFacts blog. He hosts the Self Defense Gun Stories Podcast and co-hosts the Polite Society Podcast. Rob is an NRA pistol instructor and combat handgun competitor.
Free guns on Fridays? I’m all for that one.. where do I sign up? I’d even settle for a free gun safe on Friday, too. something “safe” in which to store all the free guns I’ll be getting every Friday. This stupid law is contrary to the US and Washington State Constitutions in several points. CItizens’ initiatives in Washington are restricted to dealing with ONLY ONE issue. for each Initiative. This mess deals with at least SIX different issues… and thus is illegal on its face. It never should have been put on the ballot. Besides, the petitioins used to… Read more »
Its NOT, I say again NOT hard to believe that liberals/ democrats continue to LIE about guns , they just don’t want you to protect yourself . They want you to CALL ON THE GOV, to do it . CONTROL baby CONTROL.
There was nothing about anyone espousing a gun safe Fri!
If there was,I missed it too. (gun free fri)
Hard to believe that liberals / democrats continue to lie about guns – or anything else. Wink, wink.