Firing Back: How Gun Control Failed in Jamaica

If you ban the guns the world will be a safer place say the gun-control advocates. “Guns are the problem and we must keep guns out of the hands of the bad guy” cry the anti-gun zealots. More laws, more restrictions, more background checks, etc., etc. That is the answer from those who hate guns, those who would strip away our Second Amendment rights.

Let’s consider the island nation of Jamaica, and gun ownership there. The nation’s Firearms Act, which was first passed in 1967 and has been amended over the years, regulates the ownership and use of firearms and ammunition. This sounds like something that American gun control types would like to see in America. The law requires gun licenses on ALL firearms, and a yearly registration fee of $6,000 and for a rather poor nation this is an outrageous amount of money.

The nation even has a Gun Court, which was established in 197, to try criminal cases involving firearms. In other words Jamaica is an example to the world where gun control is a very serious deal. But is it working?

In a word… no.

Guns are reportedly smuggled into the country from places such as Haiti where firearms are traded for drugs. The BBC reported that recently 2,000 guns were melted down, and in the coverage of this story noted:

The BBC’s Nick Davis in Kingston says that although gun crime has long been a problem in Jamaica, the murder rate has been falling. However, the authorities want to do more. Between 70-80% of fatal shootings have been linked to criminal gangs whose firepower equals that of the police, our correspondent adds.

So has gun control done its job? Clearly it has not. And while we know that some anti-gun zealots will blame American guns, suggesting that if America cracked down our neighbors in Mexico and Jamaica wouldn’t have a source of guns – we need to remember that it is vintage Soviet and even modern Russian and Chinese firearms that are used in Asia and Africa by insurgents and criminals alike.

Basically, Jamaica should serve as an example of why gun control will always fail as long as there are criminals around. And until the drug and crime problem can be solved, gun control only makes it harder for the law-abiding gun owner.

February 9, 2012 | Filed Under Firing Back, Gun Ban, Interntional | Leave a Comment 

Gun Control in Infamous Regimes

The Bemidji Pioneer of North Central Minnesota offered an interesting point about gun control. Control being the key word. Jean Nyquist argues that with gun control you actually have a form of citizen control. Here are a few examples that Jean compiled:

  1. In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953 about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
  2. In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917 , 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
  3. Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
  4. China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
  5. Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.
  6. Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
  7. Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Maybe those anti-gun groups shouldn’t label themselves as “The Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence,” but rather “The Campaign to Promote a Dictatorship,” or “The Campaign to Prevent Freedom.” Something to think about.

December 10, 2010 | Filed Under Gun Ban, History, Interntional | Leave a Comment 

Gun Collecting: TT-30 Pistol

In the 1920s, after the end of the Russian Civil War, the Soviet Union’s Red Army looked to replace the aging and obsolete Nagant M1895 revolver. During the mid to late 1920s a number of pistols designs were considered, and the winner of the bunch of the TT-33, or Tula Tokarev, designed by Fedor Tokarev.
 
This firearm would become the main service pistol for the Soviet Union, and remaining in service through World War II and beyond, being adapted by numerous other nations under license. Interestingly, the Soviet’s Red Army had relied on numerous foreign handguns, notably the Mauser C96 “Broomhandle.” This weapon’s 7.63mm cartridge had proven reliable was thus popular with the gun’s users. It, along with American handgun designs, would serve as inspiration for the new Soviet firearm.

Read more

October 30, 2010 | Filed Under Gun Collecting, History | 1 Comment 

International Media Believes U.S. Fueling Illegal Arms Trade

Turn on the news of conflicts around the world and you’re likely to see the Soviet designed AK-47 time and time again. But surprisingly the United States, not the former Soviet Union, now gets the lion’s share of the blame for supplying the world with illegal firearms.

In an editorial posted by Jamaica Gleaner News on recent violence in Haiti the writers called out the United States for supplying guns to Mexican cartels. Fortunately, at least, the article didn’t see the United States in this alone:

Jamaica and her CARICOM partners should invite gun manufacturing countries such as the United States, China and Russia to a summit on small arms

This is an interesting opinion, but would Russia care – should Russia even care – about the weapons that were sold during the Cold War by the former Soviet Union? And what would a summit really mean?

January 2, 2010 | Filed Under China, Crime, Editorial, Interntional, Mexican Cartels | Leave a Comment