Gun Control
From: "Howard Nemerov"
<[email protected]>
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2002 07:07:09 -0800
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Copy of Letter I sent to entire CA LegislatureFrom: "Howard Nemerov"
<[email protected]>
To: <[email protected]>
Subject: Gun Control
Date: Sun, 6 Jan 2002 17:06:15 -0800
Dear Legislator,
I am writing to you regarding gun
control.
I am a scientific researcher. I
used to be in favor of gun control because its goals seemed good. However, I
then began to study the statistical record, and found reality was far different
than rhetoric. As a result, it is imperative that all intelligent persons understand
that the right to keep and bear arms goes far beyond the Second Amendment: it
is plain good sense.
Consider a few facts:
Britain, which was hailed by gun control
supporters as some sort of new utopia, is suffering from a crazed crime wave.
Gun crime is up and even the police need to arm themselves now for self-protection.
The International Crime Victims Survey, done each year in the Netherlands, determined
that England is the most violent western country in the world. Australia, another
gun ban country, is a close second.
States in our country which have shall-issue
laws, where decent, law-abiding citizens can legally carry a firearm for self-protection,
have significantly lower crime than states with restrictive firearm laws.
(FBI Crime Statistics)
The most heinous mass murders in this country
were perpetrated without the use of a single firearm. (Timothy McVeigh and
9/11.) Indeed, had the pilots on 9/11 been armed, it is highly likely that
most or all of the horror would have been averted.
The vaunted "10-13 children a day die
from firearms" is a myth. This includes any person under 21 who engages
in criminal activity. Many of these young career criminals are killed when
they attempt armed robbery and come up against an armed store owner who is
trained in firearms and self-protection. Many others are gang-bangers who
would kill each other even if there were no firearms. In fact, less than one
child a day dies from accidental firearm discharge.
Far more children die each year
from auto accidents. Far more children die each year from bicycle accidents.
In the last 4 years, about 30 children have died from firearms crimes in schools.
During this same period, 53 children have died from football injuries, but I
seen no outcry to ban cars, bikes or football. This is because of the consideration
of utility. The problem with firearms is that nobody talks about their utility.
They are used 4-5 times as often by law-abiding citizens defending against criminals
than they are for the commission of crime. 98% of the time, the weapon is not
even discharged: just brandishing drives off criminals, who are cowards at heart
looking for an easy kill.
In England and Australia, hot break-ins,
where the criminal invades the home when the residents are there, are much higher
than in this country, where the citizens are more able to defend themselves
with firearms. Please think before putting your constituents at greater risk.
I understand the need for increased
security and scrutiny. However, by focusing on law-abiding citizens as the likely
suspects, by looking for ways to disarm the victims, you ignore the real problem.
There are people on this God's planet that have no concern for the welfare of
others. They seek to hurt others and enjoy giving out pain and suffering. Disarming
their victims only gives them an easier opportunity to do what they would do
anyway. They would be violent even if no guns existed, so the gun is not the
problem.
Please do not treat us as criminals.
Please focus your efforts on those who do not believe in law and order, those
who would illegally procure and use firearms no matter how many right-sounding
gun control laws you passed, those who enjoy hurting others. Use us as allies,
not enemies. We love peace and justice as much as you. We love this country
and state.
Let us be part of the solution.
Sincerely,
Howard Nemerov
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