Gun Control Myths

FirearmsTruth is starting a new series today that will examine gun control myths that the media continues to propagate. The first gun control laws were intended to keep minorities from being able to possess firearms. Today, the stated purpose is to keep criminals from obtaining guns for the furtherance of criminal activity. Oddly enough, the number of armed criminals has increased during the same period that gun control laws have proliferated. Draconian anti-gun laws seem to have the opposite effect of those intended.

Most gun control laws apply equally to criminals and law-abiding citizens. The unspoken assumption is that non-criminals will eventually use a firearm for a crime and therefore has to be denied to all. This is like saying gasoline has to be denied to the public because arsonists use it to start fires. Or that credit cards should be illegal because they can be used fraudulently. The vast majority of the population which follows the law are denied our 2nd Amendment Rights because less than one percent of the population may use a firearm to commit crime.

 Statistics show that more crimes are prevented by firearms than are committed by those who would misuse them. Large American cities, like Chicago, have high crime but also the toughest gun-control laws. Why is this? One answer is that the leaders of Chicago have bought into gun-control myths that are based on so-called common sense and emotion. The mainstream media also plays its part by continuing to re-tell the myths in new stories with an old spin.

 This series will examine fifteen myths. Myth 1: Guns cause crime. Myth 2: Gun control laws reduce crime. Myth 3: Guns are if little help in defending against criminals. Myth 4: Killing someone is the only reason to buy a handgun. Myth 5: People who buy guns are more prone to violence and crime than are other people. Myth 6: Criminals mainly have guns in order to commit crimes. Myth 7: Killing and other violent crimes were prevalent in the Old West because guns were so plentiful. Myth 8: Gun controls keep criminals from obtaining guns. Myth 9: Required waiting periods would prevent some of the most vicious crimes. Myth10: Most murders are committed by people killing friends or family members. Myth11: The availability of guns contributes to crimes of passion. Myth12: Automatic rifles and assault weapons are too dangerous to be in private hands. Myth13: Gun control laws are especially needed to prevent the purchase of “Saturday Night Specials.” Myth14: People don’t need guns for self-protection because they can rely on the police. Myth15: Gun ownership is not a constitutional right.

This series is based on Myths About Gun Control. A NCPA Policy Report by Morgan O. Reynolds and W.W. Caruth III.