Does Gun Control Work? Ask the French

[pianoman9701]

The slayings in Toulouse, FR of a Jewish Rabbi and three small children is shocking to the French, and indeed the world. One reason for the shock is that the French have very strict gun controls. The types of weapons, their transportation, ammunition, private and public sale, and importation are all highly regulated by the government. (To read a synopsis of their gun laws, http://www.gunpolicy.org/firearms/region/france)

So how has gun control helped in their present situation? How has it helped in others? It hasn't. The law-abiding people of France don't get unfettered access to firearms (actually, either do we), yet the criminals continue to do what they want because, as we try to tell the liberals here in the US, if guns are outlawed, only the outlaws will have guns.

Now I hesitated before starting this thread. Two weeks ago, I cried foul when liberals in our state jumped on the accidental shooting of a 9-year old child by her classmate. I accused them of taking advantage of this tragedy to forward their gun control agenda. Now, am I doing the same thing? The answer simply is no. There is a difference between my point here and that of a liberal using a tragedy, one which occurred with the use of an illegal firearm (the father, a convicted felon was precluded from owning firearms) to forward gun control legislation which wouldn't have prevented the tragedy in the first place. In this case, the Toulouse incident is an illustration of exactly why gun control does not stop gun violence. France has strict gun control and yet, criminals still use guns to commit crimes. This is an important point and will serve to shine the light on liberals when they seek to impose restrictions on our most basic rights under the beloved Constitution.

If you want to reduce gun violence, prosecute violent criminals to the fullest extent of the law and actually make them serve their sentences once they're convicted. This would be the best control on criminal gun violence. Limiting the rights of law abiding citizens is not going to help.

[Bean Counter]

Agree

[WSU]

Do you have any statistics such as crime rates, use of guns in crimes, etc. that compares our country and France?  Might be very eye-opening...

[MikeWalking]

In the Bremerton Shooting the gun was taking from Moms home, also a Felon, not allowed to have any in the home.  She and her live in BF had handguns and long guns laying out, loaded all over the house.  They didn't even know the .45 was missing.

I've heard  few reports on this. French police believe it's a Serial killer at work.  They believe the same gun was used in 2 other attacks.  All on Jews.

Have you seen how thugs in NYC are getting around the laws?  Community Guns. Use it, shoot it, clean and reload it. Then return it to an agreed hiding spot for the next thug.

Agreed that harsh penalties are the only way to go.

[pianoman9701]

Do you have any statistics such as crime rates, use of guns in crimes, etc. that compares our country and France?  Might be very eye-opening...

No, nothing of a comparison between the US and France. Gun control has been in place there in some form or another since 1939. My point is fairly basic. Gun control doesn't stop criminals. Offer some figures if you wish.

[WSU]

I'm not disputing that gun control doesn't stop criminals.  It seems to me that those statistics will exist, and may offer concrete proof that gun control doesn't stop criminals.

[pianoman9701]

I'm not disputing that gun control doesn't stop criminals.  It seems to me that those statistics will exist, and may offer concrete proof that gun control doesn't stop criminals.

Understood.

[MikeWalking]

I'm not disputing that gun control doesn't stop criminals.  It seems to me that those statistics will exist, and may offer concrete proof that gun control doesn't stop criminals.

Look at Mexico.  Strictest gun laws on the Planet. A handful of ammo can get you 15 years.  Highest murder rate on the Planet.

[Bean Counter]

Look at Israel. Lots of Jews packing heat there. Think this French gunman could have pulled it off there? Thats why Muslim terrorists have to use suicide bombs to make a statement in Israel.

[halflife65]

Do you have any statistics such as crime rates, use of guns in crimes, etc. that compares our country and France?  Might be very eye-opening...

Is this an isolated incident or something that happens fairly often?  While I certainly am in favor of gun rights, I'm not sure ONE instance of something is proof of anything, just like one accidental shooting is not proof of anything.

And don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not defending the French for ANYTHING, let alone their gun control policies.

[pianoman9701]

That's a fair question, Halflife, but my post was only to illustrate that when the issue is gun violence, gun control doesn't stop criminals from committing crimes. Criminals will find a way to hurt people regardless of law.

[MikeWalking]

Last I heard on the radio tonight was that the French police had the #1 suspect trapped in a house.  He took "credit" and claimed Jihad for Al-Qaeda.