There are two important lessons that can be drawn from Becker’s discussion of gun control. The first is that a problem that is not dealt with in its early stages may become insoluble. It is not only the sheer infeasibility of removing 200 million guns from the American population, but also the emergence of a gun culture, that has ended hopes of disarming the population. The more people who own guns, the more other people will want to own them as well for self-defense; and the further ownership spreads, the more normal it seems. The ownership of guns has always been common in rural areas (the lower population density of the United States compared to Western Europe is an important reason why private ownership of guns is so much greater here), where there are hunting opportunities and police are spread thin. But now it is common in the rough areas of cities as well. Drug dealers cannot rely on police to enforce their deals and therefore have to arm themselves, and their law-abiding neighbors decide they had better be armed as well. (The news media create an exaggerated fear of violent crime, and this also contributes to the demand for guns by law-abiding people.) If population density continues to grow and the drug trade were legalized, gun ownership might begin to fall.
Gun purchases soared in the economic crisis from which we are now (it seems) recovering. Partly this may have been due to increased cash hoarding (the sale of safes also soared) and to an increase in property crimes, but it may have been due mainly to a generalized fear that increased the demand for symbols of security.
The second lesson is the unwisdom of the Supreme Court’s recent decisions that have created—on the basis of a tendentious interpretation of the drafting history of the Second Amendment and an intellectually untenable (as it seems to me) belief in “originalist” interpretations of the Constitution—a constitutional right to possess guns for personal self-defense. The result is to impose a significant degree of nationwide uniformity on a problem that is not uniform throughout the nation. The case for private gun ownership is much stronger in largely rural states, such as Arizona—states in which there is a deeply entrenched and historically understandable gun culture and a rationally greater lawful demand for private gun ownership than in the suburban areas of the densely populated midwestern, northeastern, and mid-Atlantic states—than it is in big cities with high crime rates—cities that have long had very strict gun laws many of which may now be ruled unconstitutional.
Though gun ownership cannot be forbidden any longer, it can (even under the new constitutional regime) be regulated, as Becker emphasizes. Gun-registration laws aimed at denying gun ownership to lunatics and persons with a history of criminal activity, coupled with heavy punishment of dealers or customers who violate or evade the laws, should survive constitutional challenge. Federal “felon in possession” laws already provide for heavy punishment of persons forbidden to own a gun because they have been convicted of a felony, if they are caught with a gun in their possession. Loopholes in gun-registration laws, such as permitting the sale of guns at gun shows without requiring the screening of purchasers, can be closed. And punishment can be enhanced, even more than at present, for persons who use a gun in committing a crime. A reduction in the criminal use of guns would in turn reduce the demand by law-abiding persons, and as that demand fell so might the demand of guns by criminals, given stiff punishment costs. A virtuous cycle might be initiated that would lead eventually to a significant overall decline in gun ownership.
Questo blog è eccezionale. C'è spesso tutte le informazioni del caso a suggestioni delle mie dita. Grazie e mantenere il lavoro superiore!
Posted by: acquistare gli steroidi anabolizzanti | 10/16/2011 at 11:08 AM
If we guys spot a good fish, we will cast long and hard to get her to rise to our fly. I got one halfway across the country.
Posted by: Shelf Brackets | 10/19/2011 at 03:08 AM
If you thought that dating after forty was scary, try it a decade later! Though I looked at it as an incredible learning curve, most of the learning was about myself.
Posted by: Bracket Shelf | 10/19/2011 at 03:08 AM
Everyone deserve the right to find the right one. Sometimes it just takes time which is pretty precious at some ages.
Posted by: Barrel Bolt | 10/19/2011 at 03:09 AM
Allow yourself time to grieve over the deaths of your chickens, but don't think for a moment that you did something wrong.
Posted by: Door bolt | 10/19/2011 at 03:09 AM
This is horrible. Another reason why, in the 21st century, we shouldn't be enslaving animals and creating all sorts of excuses as to why we need them.
Posted by: Bracket Shelf manufacturer | 10/19/2011 at 03:10 AM
Thank you everyone for your kind comments. I will catch up with each one of you this evening...I have urgent business in the studio today.
Posted by: Bracket Shelf supplies | 10/19/2011 at 03:11 AM
What then will they have to hold and travel down memory lane. Their own one moment in time... The younger generation should read your post and thank you
Posted by: Bracket Shelf supplies | 10/19/2011 at 03:57 AM
To control the gun is not an easy task..The more people who own guns, the more other people will want to own them as well for self-defense..It is also a way of self defense..
Posted by: zelfverdediging | 11/01/2011 at 10:45 AM
Very happy to see your article, I very much to like and agree with your point of view.
Posted by: nhl jerseys | 11/02/2011 at 09:58 PM
No offense, but if there's a facebook like button, it'll be much easier for me to share.
Posted by: elliptical reviews | 11/29/2011 at 03:31 AM
No offense, but if there's a facebook like button, it'll be much easier for me to share.
Posted by: Elliptical reviews | 11/29/2011 at 04:44 AM
Its interesting. I would like to know more about this…I really wanted to know how this works can you please help me out…….Thanks for sharing.gol
Posted by: knockoff handbags | 12/02/2011 at 05:28 AM
Io davvero amore per te per gli ospiti la pubblicazione su www.becker-posner-blog.com
Posted by: appliance repair | 12/10/2011 at 02:42 AM
No offense, but if there's a facebook like button, it'll be much easier for me to share.
Posted by: Headphones_monster | 12/30/2011 at 03:48 AM
I like ANMJ on FB & just subscribed to the email feed! :)
Posted by: Moncler Donna | 01/02/2012 at 08:21 AM
I want to delve into the idea of expanding or enriching your sphere of influence. In the past you might have heard someone say...............
Discount
Posted by: MizanHassan | 01/06/2012 at 03:31 AM
I think its not at all must become an issue if they are caught with a gun in their possession..its their duty after all.
Posted by: buy airsoft accessories | 01/08/2012 at 11:27 AM
Above all, a well written piece!!
Posted by: cigarette lectrique | 01/11/2012 at 02:56 AM
McwIVx comment4
Posted by: buy cheap oem software | 01/12/2012 at 03:05 AM
This was a really good site about ammo and getting cheap ammo. I think that it is really nice and cheap to do, and I love buying my ammo in bulk. Thanks for your post on your blog it was very well done.
Posted by: Brett Rodgers | 02/07/2012 at 03:19 PM
This is a subject close to my heart, as can be seen by the following:
At the height of my career with Penguin, between Past Imperfect and Ascension Day, I wrote a novel called 'The Second Amendment.' Too American a theme, said Penguin; too controversial, said US publishers. However, to my agent and numerous readers since, in terms of a hard-edged, no compromises, adrenalin-rush thrill ride, it was my best book.
Too controversial? We should recall that pre-911, the Oklahoma bombing was the biggest terrorist attacks to take place on US soil; and the NRA continues to be one of the most powerful lobby groups.
In the ten years since first writing The Second Amendment, there have been over 200,000 gun deaths in the USA, from simple domestic or street arguments to drive-by shootings or Columbine-style school massacres. It remains an enigma of US society that there isn't as strong a voice for them as for the groups keen to preserve guns; which is no doubt why, still ten years on, gun control remains one of the hottest debates in US society and beyond.
http://www.amazon.com/The-Second-Amendment-1-ebook/dp/B007A53RX0/ref=sr_1_16?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329469044&sr=1-16
http://www.amazon.com/The-Second-Amendment-2-ebook/dp/B007A53W7G/ref=sr_1_17?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1329469077&sr=1-17
Posted by: John Matthews | 02/25/2012 at 06:24 PM
He is a good friend that speaks well of us behind our backs.
Posted by: Air Jordan Rétro | 03/06/2012 at 05:28 AM
World Peace threw down a dunk to draw the Lakers to within one, 48-47, with 1:39 remaining in the second quarter. As he made his way back up the court, World Peace started to beat his chest in celebration before striking Harden, who was behind him, in the back of the head with his left elbow, causing the Oklahoma City guard to fall to the floor.
Posted by: jordan retro 5 | 04/23/2012 at 02:12 AM
Nice effort, very informative, this will help me to complete my task
Posted by: blog commenting sites | 04/24/2012 at 02:19 AM