Some Amherst citizens have asked the town government to join “Mayors Against Illegal Guns.” Many mayors who had joined the group because of its name have left the group when they found it had nothing to do with punishing criminals or enforcing gun laws, but was just another “gun control “ group.
I have friends who are “pro gun” and friends who are “pro gun control.” One thing they all share is a desire to end (as much as possible) gun violence.
There is, however, a great difference of opinion as to exactly what effect “gun control” has on “gun violence.”
More gun control is not going to keep guns out of the hands of evil-doers any more than it will keep banned heroin out of the hands of drug users. On June 26 at a nightclub in South Carolina, a man with an illegal gun started shooting several people. He was promptly stopped by a lawful gun owner carrying legally concealed handgun.
According to Prof. Gary Kleck (author of “Point Blank: Guns and Violence in America”) lawful gun owners stop violent crimes thousands of times each day.
Unfortunately, the gun owners who follow the laws and would protect others are the only ones who are hindered by gun control. Good examples of gun control exist where it is most thoroughly implemented now in New York City, Chicago, Baltimore, and Washington D.C.
Where no guns are allowed we see the most gun violence. In Detroit, Police Chief James Craig has been encouraging lawful citizens to arm and defend themselves when under attack.
It appears the implementation of those ideas have been greatly decreasing the number of violent attacks in that city.
Harry Vandoloski
Hadley