Gun Control

From: "Howard Nemerov" <hnemerov@netvista.net>
Date: Mon, 7 Jan 2002 07:07:09 -0800
To: <Letters@KeepAndBearArms.com>
Subject: Copy of Letter I sent to entire CA LegislatureFrom: "Howard Nemerov" <hnemerov@netvista.net>
To: <ca_constituent_input@MuzzleEnergy.com>
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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