| http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20031006-085844-8119r.htm
Gun bans don't work
Published
October 7, 2003
The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention released a study last week that states there is no
evidence to prove gun-control laws are effective in preventing
violence. No kidding. There always has been substance to the
cliche that guns don't kill people, people do. Correlative to that
rule is that the criminals who use guns to kill usually possess
their weapons illegally. These serial lawbreakers are not deterred
by statutes prohibiting or regulating gun ownership. They will
continue to use guns to commit violent crimes even if the rest of
the population of sitting ducks are disarmed.
In the exhaustive brief, the CDC
analyzed scientific evidence regarding "bans on specified
firearms and ammunition, restrictions on firearm acquisition
[including waiting periods], firearm registration and licensing,
concealed-carry laws, child-access-prevention laws, zero-tolerance
laws for firearms in schools and combinations of firearms
laws." The verdict? "The Task Force found insufficient
evidence to determine the effectiveness of any of the firearms
laws or combinations of laws reviewed on violent outcomes."
The task force also concluded that "firearms-related injuries
in the United States have declined since 1993" despite the
fact that "approximately 4.5 million new firearms are sold
each year."
The CDC maintains that the above
conclusions are actually inconclusive, and that more research in
needed. Given that a task force of 14 experts spent three years to
review 51 different studies to come up with the findings, the only
justification for the CDC's equivocation is that the authorities
want to continue to research the issue until they reach findings
that can be stretched to justify more government regulation.
All the taxpayer funds spent on this
exercise are a waste of cash. Last year, the CDC spent $400,000 on
gun reports. That isn't much compared to the $2.6 million they
spent on gun studies in 1995 during the Clinton administration. We
don't need expensive government studies to convince us that
gun-control laws don't make communities safer. When taking away
law-abiding citizens' right to defend themselves, it has always
been obvious that the only people who become more safe are
criminals who mug, rape, carjack and break into our homes.
However, many of these same thugs will think twice before
victimizing someone who might be packing heat.
It is offensive when liberals blanketly
suggest that the average American isn't responsible enough to own
a gun, and that increased gun control is needed to stop gun
violence. Crimes committed by those who own guns legally are a
statistical blip. The same goes for accidents. The new CDC report
is welcome in that it confirms what has long been known: There is
no proof that gun-control laws prevent violence. Now, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention should get back to the
honorable mission of stopping communicable diseases.
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