Introduction
When discussing solutions to America's gun violence crisis, the debate often centers around stricter gun control laws. However, the effectiveness of such measures is highly questionable. Instead, a more focused approach on criminal control, ensuring that those with criminal intent are severely punished, is a more practical and effective solution.
The Futility of Stricter Gun Control Laws
Those advocating for stricter gun control often believe that issuing laws will magically make criminals behave. However, the reality is that these laws have little or no impact on convicted criminals. As one argument goes, 'Don’t steal from others, don’t rape, don’t murder because you want to.' This statement exemplifies the inherent problem: disarming law-abiding citizens does not deter criminals. Criminals who commit violent acts, whether with or without guns, are likely to continue without regard for the laws.
Reallocating Resources for Criminal Control
The focus should be on enforcing the laws that already exist. For example, felons are unequivocally prohibited from owning guns, which is a critical legal measure. Yet, the current system fails to effectively prosecute these individuals. Instead, resources are misallocated to pursuits that have negligible impact, like prosecuting former presidents while disregarding actual criminals.
Addressing Ineffective Gun Control Measures
Even when gun control measures are implemented, such as the implementation of serial numbers and records via excise tax in 1968, they are often too late. By the time these measures took effect, millions of guns were already in circulation. This made comprehensive gun control largely impossible. Furthermore, the results of these measures are questionable; while the gun ownership rate remains high, the rate of fatal gun misuse stands at an incredibly low 0.008%. This suggests that stringent gun control laws are not the solution.
The Impact of Localized Criminal Behavior
The majority of firearms homicides occur in just a handful of counties, disproportionately in those controlled by Democrats. In these regions, soft-on-crime policies fail to lock up serious offenders. According to data, 86% of US firearms homicides happen in 113 Democrat-controlled counties. On the other hand, the vast majority of firearm owners in the US—those who buy guns from legal dealers and pass background checks—are rarely involved in criminal activities. This suggests that the problem of gun violence is not inherent to gun ownership but rather to the behavior of specific individuals and communities.
Black Market and Criminal Profits
The black market for firearms has thrived due to the War on Drugs, driving up prices and providing a lucrative avenue for criminals to obtain guns. Additionally, many weapons are obtained through social connections or theft, often in exchange for goods like drugs or stolen property. The reach of effective criminal control is crucial in these areas, where strict laws and sentencing requirements can significantly reduce gun violence.
The Need for Criminal Control
Statistics show that the number of counties with zero firearms homicides range widely, with some counties having as many as 8 or more such homicides. Conversely, counties with just a few legal gun owners still report a high number of firearms homicides. This highlights the importance of criminal control over guns. In regions where strict laws and sentencing requirements are enforced, gun violence is dramatically reduced. These areas demonstrate that criminal control, rather than gun control, is the key to addressing the gun violence crisis.
Conclusion
Instead of prioritizing stricter gun control laws, which have proven to have limited effectiveness, a more effective strategy is to focus on criminal control. By enforcing existing laws, addressing the black market for firearms, and implementing strict sentencing requirements, we can significantly reduce gun violence in communities plagued by criminal activity. This targeted approach would ensure that the law is upheld and that the gunmen who commit violent acts can be identified, prosecuted, and punished accordingly.