Many of you have probably heard about the controversial gun law passed in Kennesaw, Georgia in 1982. It stated that every head of household be “required to maintain a firearm, together with ammunition therefore.” Soon after the law was established loopholes were created that could allow some to be excluded from the law. Those who are exempt are people with physical or mental disabilities and those whose religious beliefs prohibit them from doing so.
The explanation for this law was simple: “In order to provide for the emergency management of the City, and further in order to provide for and protect the safety, security and general welfare of the city and its inhabitants” (see the city of Kennesaw’s official site for the entire ordinance).
After the ordinance was passed the ACLU immediately took action by taking it to court as “un-constitutional”; they failed in their plea to have the ordinance removed. Many said that it would cause “rioting in the streets and the murder rates would go through the roof.” How wrong they were.
Quite the opposite took place in Kennesaw, Georgia. The crime rates plunged, reaching unheard of lows! According to the FBI Uniform Crime Report, in 1981, Kennesaw had 54 burglaries with a population of 5,242. In 1999, with a population increase up to 19,000, only 36 burglaries were reported! That’s over 81% per capita decrease in burglaries!
Kennesaw Historical Society president Robert Jones, who wrote The Law Heard ‘Round the World – An Examination of the Kennesaw Gun Law and Its Effects on the Community, said that following the law’s passage, “the crime rate dropped 89 percent in the city, compared to a 10 percent drop statewide.”
What is the explanation of this incredible decrease in crime? As Ronald Reagan would say, referring to peace at a national level, “Peace through Strength.” The Soviets weren’t going to risk their own necks when they knew that America was ready and willing to fight back. The same principle can be applied to the local level as well; criminals see it the same way as the Soviets did. They aren’t going to risk their necks when they know that there is a high likelihood that their intended victim may be carrying a .45 and willing to use it. As Theodore Roosevelt said, “Speak softly but carry a big stick.”
Think of what the results would be if similar laws were passed all over the country. If we go by the statistics of Kennesaw we would see 1,660,456 less burglaries every year! Imagine the impact that this would have not only on the potential victims but also on the entire nation! Not to mention the decrease in all violent crimes including murder, rape, and aggravated assault.
While it would be very optimistic to say that we would receive the same results nation-wide as they did in Kennesaw, it would bring the crime rate down, as Kennesaw’s statistics prove.
Don’t just think of this as numbers but as people. Think of it as your next-door neighbor, your wife or daughter, or even yourself. Laws like this could prevent tragedies likes these from ever happening to your loved ones. Consider all those that it would protect.
At the same time many cities have been calling for their citizens to “turn in all hand-guns”. This is not required, but the whole idea is absolutely ridiculous! Do the bureaucrats really think that criminals are going to return their hand-guns? All this does is hurt the average citizen. It unarms the good citizens, while doing nothing to those who keep guns for criminal activity, thereby empowering criminals! The fewer citizens with guns, the more bold and forceful the criminals become.
In 1999, the city of Atlanta attempted to sue gun makers, seeking compensation for costs incurred from gun violence. Atlanta’s lawsuit was put to an end when Gov. Roy Barnes signed into law a bill that makes Georgia the first state to prohibit its cities and counties from taking gun makers to court. Former Atlanta Mayor Bill Campbell, who adamantly supports such lawsuits, calls the law unconstitutional and says the city plans to pursue its suit, which accuses 17 gun makers of negligently designing firearms with inadequate safety devices and warnings.
It’s time to stop pursuing worthless and costly ways to prevent crime and go by what we know works. During WWII Winston Churchill said, “You can always count on the American’s to do the right thing – but only after they exhaust all other options.” Well, I would say that we’ve about exhausted all other options. Let’s go with something that has proven results.
Kennesaw, Georgia should be an example to us all. We should all strive to have similar laws passed in our own cities. Lobby your local town council. Get a petition signed by local citizens saying that they are in favor of such a law.
It’s obvious that our government isn’t going to fix the problem of crime. It’s time the American citizens step up and fight crime.