One councilman's wish: A gun in every home

[deadparrot]

CHERRY TREE, Pa. - Cherry Tree is as small-town as it gets, with one blink-and-you'll-miss-it intersection, about 100 families spread across the Susquehanna River valley, and virtually no crime.

"Very, very little, if any," said Lt. Brad Shields, commander of the Pennsylvania State Police barracks in Indiana, which provides protection for the borough near the junction of Indiana, Cambria and Clearfield Counties.

Which is why many folks are mystified about why a councilman wants all homeowners in this peaceful, rural nook of Western Pennsylvania to be armed and ready to defend themselves.

His proposed civil protection ordinance, which urges residents to get a gun and learn how to shoot it, will be discussed tonight at a meeting of the Cherry Tree Town Council. The measure would make firearm instruction available at the Borough Hall.

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/16172770.htm

[originalpckelly]

1. I don't think it's that much of a problem...

it's kind of weird MAKING people own a gun, but overall most people are smart enough to figure out a gun is a deadly weapon.

There is the risk that expanding the gun owning population might reduce the quality of people who guns, and therefore increase accident rates. (I.E. people without much gun experience might own one, and might not be as skilled in handling it.) It might be interesting to study this small town and find out if that happens.

[zanne]

2. "This is your brain on guns"

I've become convinced that it's a sickness; an addiction. Gun people can't see that guns are a danger and will give you every excuse in the book to defend owning a handgun. I think that's called denial, and ALOT of people are in it.

[originalpckelly]

3. Actually, gun accidents don't happen as much as people think they do...

of course gun crimes where someone intentionally shoots another person, obviously happen a lot. But it should be noted, far more people are killed in car accidents and far far more people are killed by medical errors than even intentional gun crimes.

But of course, on the other hand, there's the problem that guns will be more widely available, so that might increase the rate of murder. If someone gets angry they don't usually have the option of killing the person they are angry with, however, with a gun lying around the likelihood increases.

[benEzra]

11. If you don't like guns, don't own one...

same goes for alcohol--if you don't like it, don't drink, but don't force your personal choices on other responsible adults.

My wife and I choose to own guns, safely and responsibly. You obviously choose not to, which is fine with me. Just don't try to coerce us into living by your lifestyle choices, please.

[zanne]

12. This is the kind of reasoning I was talking about.

You can't face reality; it is a sickness.

[Norquist Nemesis]

4. I don't have a problem with firearm instruction

But, making it mandatory to own a firearm is another matter. Even given the broad interpretations of the 2nd Amendment, it's a choice.

[originalpckelly]

5. Yep, plus it's kind of weird to make people own guns...

just as a general idea.

Of course if everyone has a gun, it democratizes the force available. I think they should do it, and I think before it gets tried anywhere else in America there should be a scientific study done to see how this affects the community.

[Mind_your_head]

6. Some years ago when I lived "out in the country"

it would take a MINIMUM probably of 20 minutes for the Sheriff's Department to answer a call (depending of course on where an officer was on his/her rounds and assuming not on "another call").

I felt a lot better owning a gun in case someone WERE to try and break in or something. I ran different scenarios through my head of what I would do in that case and "hoped to God" that I never would actually have to shoot someone. I always figured just firing a warning shot would scare any intruder away. Fortunately, we never had anyone try and break in or anything, so I never had to put any of the scenarios into practice. But it DID make me feel better knowing that I could defend myself & my family (until police arrived) if I had to.

With that said, I think every family has to make their own decision about owning/not owning a gun. I don't think a family should be 'compelled' to have one. Some people just aren't comfortable with guns. They know they're not competent with one (and they don't want to be) and that should be respected.

[cynatnite]

7. Would they punish someone who refused?

I find this so strange.

[RebelOne]

8. It's a good law.

Witness what happened in Kennesaw, GA when a mandatory gun ownership law was passed. Believe me, I know. I lived in Kennesaw for 5 years. I live next door in Woodstock now.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennesaw,_Georgia

Kennesaw has the nickname of "Gun Town, USA" due to a city ordinance passed in 1982 that requires every head of household to maintain a firearm with ammunition. It was passed partly in response to a 1981 handgun ban in Morton Grove, Illinois. Kennesaw's law was amended in 1983 to exempt those who conscientiously object to owning a firearm, convicted felons, those who cannot afford a firearm, and those with a mental or physical disability that would prevent them from owning a firearm. It mentions no penalty for its violation. According to the Kennesaw Historical Society, no one has ever been charged under the law.

Criminologist and gun-control critic Gary Kleck attributes a drop of 89% in the residential burglary rate to the law (Kleck, 1991), and Kennesaw is often cited by advocates of gun ownership as evidence that gun ownership deters crime (see, for instance, this 2004 sheet of talking points from the Gun Owners Foundation). Other criminologists dispute the 89% figure, using the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting data, and find instead a small, statistically insignificant increase in burglaries after the law was passed (McDowall, Wiersema and Loftin, 1989; McDowall, Lizotte and Wiersema, 1991).

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. I see two likely results from such a law -

burglars will be a little more careful to only burgle unoccupied residences; burglars will start carrying guns.

I suspect the FBI's report might be a little less biased than the gun-control critic's report.

[aikoaiko]

10. Urges gun ownership, not makes mandatory. Town offerered gun safety classes is a great idea

Making such urging a city ordinance is strange, but suggesting that people be prepared to defend themselves and be responisble gun owners is a good thing.