What's gun control worth?

[nancylebov]

I've seen the theory a time or two that the Democrats could have won the 2004 election if they'd given up on gun control. However, I think everyone I've seen promoting that theory is against gun control anyway.

So, do those of you who are want gun control and who also would like the Democrats to win think that it could conceivably be worthwhile to give up on gun control, or is gun control a non-negotiable core issue?

On the other side, if Democrats said they were giving up on gun control, would pro-gun-ownership people believe them?

Comments

Guns

[celticferret.livejournal.com]

I"m favor of allowing indivicuals to purchase guns. I would strongly urge gun safety classes. When children are in the home, appropriate precautions. All the banning of the legal sale of handguns means only people who purchase guns illegally are the ones who have guns.

I like the idea of the legal right of concealed carry. Ohio has some odd laws on the topic.

KG

Re: Guns

[dexfarkin.livejournal.com]

All the banning of the legal sale of handguns means only people who purchase guns illegally are the ones who have guns.

This is one of the classic misunderstood lines thrown up in anti-control laws. The core thing that would come from banning all handguns is less access to them and fewer handguns. Which in turn leads to drops in firearm related deaths.

The only statistically consistent fact that has played out all over countries with strong gun control laws is that gun control reduces firearm related crimes. Other crime rates have not been shown to consistently trend one way or the other as a result.

If you want to easy legal access to guns, you have to accept that you can live with the consequences. It's like access to anything that is dangerous. The more of it there is, the higher the incidents that it will be misused.