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December 04, 2008
The Life-and-Death Cost of Gun Control
The Life-and-Death Cost of Gun Control
By John R. Lott, Jr.
Banning guns is in the news. India practically bans guns, but that didn’t stop the horrific Muslim terrorist attacks this last week.
A football player concerned for his safety violates New York City’s tough gun control regulations by carrying a concealed handgun, and people call for everything from banning NFL players from carrying guns to demanding that the athlete serve many years in jail.
When police can’t promise to protect law-abiding citizens such Plaxico Burress or the victims in India, why don’t we allow people the right to protect themselves?
Where is the sympathy or debate in either case over letting people defend themselves? Given that the terrorists smuggled their machine guns in with them, would anyone argue that India’s extremely strict gun licensing and artificially high prices for guns helped prevent the terrorist attacks? In fact, the reverse is more likely the case.
Would Plaxico Burress, the New York Giant’s receiver who was arrested yesterday, really have been safer just trusting the police to protect him?
Terrorism
In India, victims watched as armed police cowered and didn’t fire back at the terrorists. A photographer at the scene described his frustration: “There were armed policemen hiding all around the station but none of them did anything. At one point, I ran up to them and told them to use their weapons. I said, ‘Shoot them, they’re sitting ducks!’ but they just didn’t shoot back.”
Meanwhile, according to the hotel company’s chairman, P.R.S. Oberoi, security at “the hotel had metal detectors, but none of its security personnel carried weapons because of the difficulties in obtaining gun permits from the Indian government.”
India has extremely strict gun control laws, but who did it succeed in disarming?
The terrorist attack showed how difficult it is to disarm serious terrorists. Strict licensing rules meant that it was the victims who obeyed the regulations, not the terrorists.
Academic research has continually found that police are the single most important factor in reducing crime, but police can’t always be depended on to be quick enough.
The attack also illustrates what Israelis learned decades ago. — Putting more soldiers or police on the street didn’t stop terrorist’s machine gun attacks. Terrorists would either wait for the armed soldiers or police to leave the area or kill them first. Likewise, in India, the Muslim terrorists’ first targets were those in uniform (whether police or security guards).
Terrorists only stopped using machine guns to attack Israelis once citizens were allowed to carry concealed handguns. In large public gatherings, a significant number of citizens will be able to shoot at terrorists during an attack — and the terrorists don’t know who has them.
With mass shootings becoming more difficult, terrorists were forced to switch to a less effective strategy: bombs. Bombings are more difficult for armed citizens to stop because they can’t respond after the bomb blows up.
Still, even though handguns can only kill would-be bombers before they set off their bombs, during waves of terror attacks, Israel’s national police chief will call on all citizens who are allowed to carry guns to make sure they carry their firearms at all times, and Israelis have many examples where citizens with concealed handguns have saved lives.
In their warped minds, both terrorists and the murderers are kamikaze-like killers, who value maximizing the carnage. Even if the killers expect to die anyway, letting victims have guns at the scene can help deter these crimes in the first place by reducing their expected return.
Do Football Players Need Self-Defense?
Physically huge NFL players admitting they feel threatened by crime? This hardly fits their tough, macho image. Our concern is supposed to be for women walking alone at night. Who can have sympathy for a professional football player such as Plaxico Burress who is 6 feet 5 inches and weighs 232 lbs.?
Burress, who has no previous criminal record, now faces between three and a half to 15 years for illegally carrying a concealed handgun with him in Manhattan, if convicted. He was arrested Monday and was released on $100,000 bail. — Burress had had a concealed handgun permit in the state of Florida for the last five years, but he forgot to renew it in May this year.
While the massive size and strength of NFL players might make them seem like unlikely potential crime victims, their wealth and high public profile nonetheless make them particularly attractive targets for violent criminals.
Last year, the Washington Redskins’ Sean Taylor was killed during a robbery at his house. The Denver Broncos’ defensive back Darrent Williams was killed outside a nightclub.
As Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Ronde Barber noted, “We are targets, we need to be aware of that everywhere we go.” Yet, the news coverage doesn’t engender much sympathy for Plaxico Burress.
So, what do many NFL players do when they realize that their physical strength does not give them enough protection from violent crime? The same thing that many other would-be victims do — they get guns. Well over 50 percent of NFL players are estimated to own guns, somewhat higher than the 45 percent of American adults who own guns.
Not everyone approves. Mike Ditka, the Hall of Fame tight end and former Chicago Bears football coach, advocates banning NFL players from owning guns. Ditka said, “I don’t understand the league, why can anybody have a gun? I will have a policy, no guns, any NFL players we find out, period, you’re suspended.” AOL Sports writer Michael Smith also supports the ban and says, “If you carry a gun around, you’re more likely to hurt yourself than protect yourself.”
It would be great if the police were always there to rescue would-be victims, but as the police themselves understand, they virtually always arrive on the scene after the crime has already occurred. Fortunately, just as criminals are deterred by higher arrest rates or longer prison sentences, the fact that potential victims own guns deters some attackers. The Department of Justice’s National Crime Victimization Survey, which covers almost 30 years, also shows that having a gun is consistently by far the safest course of action for victims.
Over the last three or four years, numerous professional players can attest to the benefits of owning guns. For example, Corey Fuller, the 5-foot, 10-inch, 210-pound defensive back for the Baltimore Ravens, was confronted by two armed robbers outside his Tallahassee house. One robber chased Fuller into his house where his wife and children were sleeping, but Fuller was able to grab a gun and fire at the attackers, who then ran away.
* T.J. Slaughter, a 6-foot, 233-pound linebacker, was arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at motorists who pulled up next to him on the highway. Slaughter denied that he had pointed the gun at the motorists and claimed that they had threatened him. No charges were filed, though, possibly following Dikta’s rule, the Jacksonville Jaguars still cut Slaughter the next day. Jacksonville claimed Slaughter was performing poorly.
Professional athletes’ physical strength hardly makes them immune to crime. Take a couple additional examples.
* The Oakland Raiders’ Javon Walker (height: 6-3, weight: 215 lbs.) was robbed and beaten this past June while visiting Las Vegas. He was hospitalized with a concussion and facial injuries.
* The Houston Texans’ Dunta Robinson (height: 5-10, weight: 184 lbs.) was robbed by two men in his home a year ago. The robbers bound him with duct tape and stole jewelry.
Unfortunately all of the nation’s four leading pro-sports leagues — the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League and Major League Baseball — trivialize the athletes’ concerns over safety. The NFL’s official advice: “In some circumstances, such as for sport or protection, you may legally possess a firearm or other weapon. However, we strongly recommend that you not do so.” The league advocates passive behavior when confronted by a criminal.
* Fred Taylor (height: 6-1, weight: 228) a running back with the Jacksonville Jaguars made the point clear: “League officials tell us we need to take measures to protect ourselves. But the NFL says we can’t have guns in the facility –even in the parking lot. Crooks know this. They can just sit back and wait for us to drive off, knowing we won’t have anything in our vehicle from point A to point B.”
Even professional athletes are not supermen. T.J. Slaughter expresses no regrets for having a gun despite running afoul of political correctness and being cut by the Jaguars. He says, “I believe legally owning a gun is the right thing to do. It offers me protection. I think one day it could save my life.” It seems a lesson that many who are not quite as strong can also learn from.
Toys R Us
The media can’t be blamed for some of the left out information and misimpressions about guns. For example, the news coverage over the weekend about a shooting at a Toys R Us in Palm Desert, California gave the wrong impression about guns. It seemed the perfect fit –- two couples squabbling over who would get a toy resulting in a deadly shoot out. Surely this demonstrated the dangers of letting people have guns for self defense.
But political correctness made it difficult for local authorities to even admit a simple and important fact — the two couples were members of rival gangs. As Palm Desert city councilman Bob Spiegel told The L.A. Times, there were apparently “two rival groups shopping at the store.” Even stories that mentioned the gangs often left the mention until the end.
Unfortunately, commentators at places such as the Huffington Post confuse letting gang members and law-abiding citizens carry guns. As one remarked: “does anybody still think concealed weapons laws are a good idea?” But in contrast to gang members, data for states like Florida or Texas indicate that concealed handgun permit holders lose their permits for any gun-related violation at hundredths or thousandths of one percent and even then usually for very trivial, non-threatening violations.
Conclusion
When police can’t promise to protect law-abiding citizens such Plaxico Burress or the victims in India, why don’t we allow people the right to protect themselves? Unfortunately, bans do more to encourage crime than prevent it.
Wild Thing's comment........
This is an excellent by article by John Lott. Here is John Lott Jr.'s website.
http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/
....Thank you Mark for this article.
Posted by Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 04:55 AM
Comments
I didn’t know that the two shot dead at the toy store were gangsters. Another case of manipulating the news.
Posted by: James M at December 4, 2008 06:54 AM
The only thing Plaxico Burress did wrong was he wanted to look like a "Gangsta" and have the gun sticking in his pants. If he was smart, he would have gotten a good concealable holster to properly safeguard the gun and himself.
They asked the coach of the KC Chiefs about this incident. He said most likely some of his players carry handguns and that they have the right to be able to protect themselves.
Posted by: BobF at December 4, 2008 07:42 AM
Those of us who are law abiding citizens and legally own firearms are the ones punished by all the idiot PC judges and politicians out there who make it near impossible for the police and homeowners to take care of the criminal element who bought their guns off the street or just stole them.
If more folks had firearms, there would be less crime and less idiotic behavior like Burress's.
Of course, there are always going to be criminals and idiots, but let's at least level the playing field.
Posted by: yankeemom at December 4, 2008 08:41 AM
Black Hawk Down has been playing on TV all week. After seeing it sometime back one of my anti-gun-ownership friends (I can't believe I have any of those) said, "Well, I guess there is something to be said for an armed citizenry." That's after the U.S. was whipped in the movie by the armed citizens who didn't know they were being "helped".
Today, SondraK.com has a letter from India that should be read in American schools about the massacre in the Oberoi Hotel last week. It shows why I don't travel unarmed. The Religion of Peace isn't going to catch me defenseless. And they are everywhere. There is no front line in this war.
Drudge reported today that gun sales were up 50 per cent after Obama's election. That number should be more like 500 per cent, I think.
Thanks for the BAR picture. Wish my dad were here to see it. He carried the gun across France and his buddy carried the ammo. That's why I'm like I am.
You are indispensable, Chrissie.
Posted by: horace at December 4, 2008 10:36 AM
Our legislature here in Texas is about to debate legal open carry. I have mixed feelings about open carry, but am 100% supportive of the concealed carry we already have.
The general populace has to have the opportunity to be armed. Criminals are armed. That is just another law they freely violate. Armed citizens are like another police force.
The author of this article, John Lott, has interviewed criminals who state that they are far more afraid of armed citizens than they are afraid of the police. Citizens are more likely to shoot a criminal than police officers are.
Posted by: TomR at December 4, 2008 10:58 AM
Plaxaco Burress is not one of my favorite players. He left the Steelers over more than a few disputes and is not the nicest player on the field especially after the play. But because he carried a concealed weapon he now is facing a maximum of 15 years in jail. He has become a pariah to his own team. He has also been suspended for this incident.
He had a concealed carry from Florida but failed to have it renewed, whether that would have had any weight, in New York or not, I don't know.
What is an issue here, is the right to self-defense and to be secure in your person without fear of putting your life or possessions in danger. The Police can't prevent crimes they can only solve them.
I read somewhere, with Arms we are Citizens,
without Arms we are Subjects.
Posted by: Mark at December 4, 2008 11:07 AM
My wife just asked me "Do you think that basketball player should have been allowed to carry a gun?" My response was, "Thank you for asking. Now what part of 'shall not be infringed' do you not understand?" Believe it or not, she got it. Made my day.
Posted by: horace at December 4, 2008 01:12 PM
I have been around law enforcement officers all my life and everyone of them has always said that citizens should have the right to bear arms. If you look back on history about other world leaders and especially dictators, the biggest detractor of another country trying to come into the US and take it over is that they know that almost everyone has a gun and will use it.
What do these blooming idiots that advocate gun control think they are going to accomplish? Did gun control in England stop armed crime and violence?
I would venture to say that most of the killings in this country by guns is between gangs and unarmed people getting robbed, mugged or raped. Guess who had the guns in those crimes!!!!! The same scum that will have the guns when they enact gun control!!!!!!
Posted by: John at December 4, 2008 01:52 PM
I have said it before, the only time law enforcement show up at an altercation is during it's late stages or after the fact, it's rare that they blunder into a crime in progress.
Some one has to call them first!!!
That is the reality of life, having been robbed at a business establishment not once but twice by a fully armed criminals I took to packing. The local police frowned on it but it's my life, as I told the police; it's shoot first and ask questions later and that I had no intention of hurting anyone.
I had a .357 Mag hog leg beneath the cash register drawer from then on plus my waistband concealed .45. Luckily I was never robbed again, largely due to a local merchant dropping one of them at his cash register later in the week.
I was driving in N. Anchorage when my passenger side car window was shot out by a juvenile delinquent just missing my wife and I, spraying glass everywhere, he was out shooting at cars randomly, the police didn't like to have to go looking for the perp but they did, he was jailed, problem was he'd done it before and they had let him loose under parental custody of a single working mother, i.e. no supervision or control.
The problem is twofold, criminals are poorly prosecuted for using a firearm while committing a crime. The other is the one size fit's all mentality of the left's anti-gun crowd. I openly packed for 19 years in Alaska, it was against the law to enter a bank or liquor store while packing, I just took the piece and locked it in the car before entering, they could all view an empty holster as I hardly ever packed concealed. It was only after the big city attitudes prevailed that crime and criminal activity shot through the roof up there.
I packed concealed in Cleveland. OH., Johnson City, TN, Bartlesville, OK, El Monte, CA and Tacoma, WA. All while working for the company on the road, I never felt safe in Cleveland or El Monte, it was just a gut feeling.
I'm all in support of open carry as well as concealed carry, if you want to target the problem target the gangs and the thugs in control, they are the ones out of control. Thanks WT, thanks Mark.
Posted by: Jack at December 4, 2008 03:01 PM
horace, did you notice in Black Hawk Down that when the American General wanted assistance from the 10 Mountain (US Army) he had ask a Pakistani General? An American General had to go hat-in-hand to a foreign officer to secure assistance of fellow American troops.
Posted by: BobF at December 4, 2008 03:08 PM
Haven't seen it in a long time. It is so unpleasant that I didn't watch it last week. Have to revisit it. I guess they're showing it because the Somali pirates are ruling the Indian Ocean, right above our atomic submarines equipped with Trident missiles which both I and my wife helped manufacture and which no American President will ever order launched. I can only hope this PRESIDENT-ELECT will not order them de-militarized.
A Pakistani General must be a real piece of work. It was my dubious honor to squire all of The Shah of Iran's Generals around way back when and show them how to make ammunition items. All huge men in elaborate uniforms. The Ayotollah later executed them all, or so I was told. Outliving them and living well is the best revenge.
Colorado has a large contingent of Somalis but I don't know about Pakistanis. I think all the Pakistanis in America must operate third rate motels and are all named Patel. You just know their General Officers are up there with Tommy Franks and Petraeus.
Posted by: horace at December 4, 2008 04:38 PM
James, I didn't either till I read this article. I agree James, there sure is a lot we don't hear on the news.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 05:32 PM
BobF, I didn't know about almost all of these incidents.
What got me was when they said the person's size should have something to do with not needing a gun. LOL
When I lived in Calif. the body guards and a lot of the security for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball games. These guys many of them look like some from Farrakhan and they all carry. They worked out at the gym ( Gold's gym) I went to there and they were big guys.
It is so weird how a person would be so stupid as to think a big guy would not want a gun for protection.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 05:43 PM
Yankeemom, I also think about the many that own guns and never even look at them. They buy them for protection and they just gather dust, but they know they have them for protection which is perfect. I think of people like that when the idiots talk about gun control, how there are people that could live a lifetime and never even target practice, but for protection and how important it is to all of us.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 05:48 PM
Horace, that is so cool about your Dad, thank you so much for telling about him.
And thank you for the headsup about Sondra and Drudge too.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 05:52 PM
Tom, yes I think maybe the reason as a citizen we would shoot to protect ourselves is we don't have that pressure a policemen would have with all the legalities. A policeman told me once not to hesitate if I was in danger or was protecting our home etc.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 06:00 PM
Mark, I agree, when I lived in Dallas, a policeman lived next door and he told me too, to not even hesitate to shoot to protect myself. He said kind of the same thing you did. Hahha he even added that if they did not make it all the way the house to see if I could just hold off shooting till their whole person had stepped inside then shoot. That way there would be no questions as to was he breaking in or was he on his way out. hahaa I thought that was funny.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 06:06 PM
Horace that is great about your wife.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 06:09 PM
John, thanks for sharing about that. I agree, there are so many bad guys that are shooting each other. And they include all deaths by guns in one lump sum I think and that is wrong.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 06:13 PM
Jack, thank you so much for sahring all of that. It is really interesting and I agree about El Monte too. When I moved to Calif. it didn't take long to hear from friends I made there tell me the safe areas and the stay away from places or be extra careful places. That kind of thing is so good to know, sometimes one can't tell just by looking around, but most of the time it is kind of obvious..... it's get out of here kind of place. haha
I have an appt. for a concealed carry. I had it last month but the man got a bad cold and so we had to reschedule the appt. He is a Vet, and a retired policeman and the appt. it set up to meet at the range.
Posted by: Wild Thing at December 4, 2008 06:21 PM
On our C-5 Galaxy airlift missions to Somalia, we were blest to airlift the choppers and personnel in and out of Mogadishu after Desert Shield & Storm...Our Army Rangers had no armor support thanks to Clintonista Les Aspin. Our squadrons airlifted the whole nine yards outta there when Slick Willie pulled the plug in '93! We were always welcomed at Ft. Campbell and at Ft. Bragg.
GO NAVY, BEAT Army anyway!
Posted by: darthcrUSAderworldtour07 at December 5, 2008 09:28 AM
I know that in South Arkansas, alot of people will die before they give their guns to anyone. There is no way that I will either. Anyone that tries to come and take them better come well armed because it will definately be a fight.
I have a feeling that Obama is going to try to pass gun control and with all the liberals we have in this country, it will probably pass. I hope there are alot of people out there that will refuse to give up their guns. I feel that if enough people die trying to take them then they might get the picture.
As far as the terrorism issue pertaining to gun control, I carry everywhere I go when I'm in the U.S. (I work overseas) I will not be caught unprotected. I know in Arkansas, we really don't have to worry about terrorism to much, but the fact remains that there are many extremist muslims out there all over the U.S. and you never know when you might run into any of them.
Posted by: Nathan at December 5, 2008 06:18 PM
