Meaningless ban
Although a few weeks isn’t much time to spot trends, we’re unaware of any shootings with previously banned guns, much less the mass killings gun-control advocates predicted. It’s a sure bet partisan political activists would be all over the story if there was one. In an age in which the words, “The first time I ever met you was when you walked on the stage tonight,” were barely out of Dick Cheney’s mouth before Internet sleuths and others produced proof refuting the claim, if there were any evidence of shootings, we’d all know about it.
The reality is that the firearms covered by the ban accounted for very few deaths before and during the ban. There’s no reason to think that will change.
Politicians have a lot of control over our everyday lives. They must exercise their authority carefully to avoid restricting our liberties for a quick-fix that amounts to meaningless legislation. We deserve better.
As soon as there is a shooting with one, we will see hysteria. In fact, even if there is a high profile shooting with a post-ban weapon, the usual suspects will still claim the ban needs to be in effect.
October 27th, 2004 at 11:04 am
… or with a pre-ban weapon. Or with a weapon no longer legal to import. Or with a weapon not covered by the ban at all.
Oh heck. If there are ANY shootings, at all, there will be hysteria, just as soon as they figure out how to lie about it.