Tell us what it's going to take for you to return to Guyana.

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

An unpopular solution to gun violence

Sorry to all for having been a bit distant lately. I'm finishing up some school and getting ready for my move across the US.

I am, like anyone else, worried about the gangs that seem to run roughshod anywhere they want to and have killed more than several along their way.

I put this forward knowing that it will not be popular with most people who read my blog. Nevertheless, if we are to be intellectually honest, we should constantly and honestly review new information or arguments.

I don't' have the references on me, but there are studies that show that US states with very lax firearm carry laws have lower crime. How less likely is someone to do whatever he wants knowing that people around him may very well have guns and can shoot back?

We may never get to test the truth of my theory which is this: Allow law abiding citizens to buy and carry firearms without great government imposed impediments. You will see a reduction in crime.

The police come after the commission of a crime to investigate and take eye witness accounts. Rarely do they come in time to save anyone. As a matter of fact, I don't ever recall the police having ever saved anyone.

I would like to challenge the supposition that it is the responsibility of government to protect the citizenry from criminals. If you insist that they do so, you tell me exactly how much money it's going to take to make sure that nobody with a gun can ever harm us. Will 20% or 50% of the workforce need to be employed in law enforcement to make us safe? Even then, will they get there in time?

2 comments:

Unknown said...

I hope you are joking. In no way is more guns the solution to the problem we face. Many Guyanese living in America like to try to impose American values of gun rights and other such ideas on Guyana, but the fact of the matter is they don'e even work in the State's. First of all the US constitution does not enshrine an individuals right to bear arms. It allows states to have armed militias. There is a world of differnec between the two. As for Guyana. We need better policing and security sector reform rather than gun touting citizens. We need a government with a plan to combat poverty, inequality, racism and nepotism... remove these problems and crime with decrease...

Trini Airguns said...

So sorry I am only now aware of your blog. You may be absolutely correct in your assessment of the police arriving AFTER the commission of a crime.

The study you are referring to is by Professor John R Lott, and is the basis for his book, "More Guns, Less Crime".

It is interesting to note that Lott never owned a gun prior to the study. So he was not 'pro-gun' at the time.

Keep blogging, as other Caribbean people need to share ideas for our mutual development and benefit.

I have a little blog at http://www.airgunstt.blogspot.com

A few crime plan suggestions: http://airgunstt.blogspot.com/2008/09/crime-plan-suggestions.html