Written By: Charlie Marracco
RTKBA Forum Portal


I happened across a debate from November 5, 2008 on NPR radio. The topic was "Do Guns Help Reduce Crime"?


FOR THE MOTION:

Stephen Halbrook, attorney for the National Rifle Association and author of The Founders' Second Amendment.

Gary Kleck, a professor in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University and author of Targeting Guns: Firearms and Their Control.

John R. Lott, a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland and author of Freedomnomics: Why the Free Market Works and Other Half-Baked Theories Don't.


AGAINST THE MOTION:

John J. Donohue, the Leighton Homer Surbeck professor at Yale Law School.

Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign/Center to Prevent Gun Violence.

R. Gil Kerlikowske, Seattle chief of police.


After listening to the debate I was sad that more of the audience did not really see what was at stake. Anybody that believes that armed citizens do not help reduce crime is just living in denial. I am not much of a writer, I am the first to admit that. My spelling, grammar and punctuation are pretty bad but I am willing to put my self out there for what I believe in. So here we go.

Stephen Halbrook, Gary Kleck and John R. Lott did a great job defending the second amendment and the right to carry a gun. It is my belief they could of handled things a bit differently but all in all they did a great job. It is easy for me to sit back in my chair and say that because I was not there. I am not insulting them but just stating my opinion. The question at hand is Do Guns Help Reduce Crime? The short answer is YES. To prove this we do not need statistics or polls or anything like that. All we need is the local papers of the small towns and cities. Crime can only be measured after it has been committed. There is no true way to prove that guns help reduce crime directly but indirectly is another story.

"The Second Amendment Works" can be found here.
Right To Keep and Bear Arms - Forum -> The Second Amendment Works

Over one hundred articles of people that have stopped bad guys trying to do bad things. Most of them were either caught or killed by legally armed citizens. They are now in prison or dead. They will not be committing any crimes for a long time if at all ever again. These articles are proof that guns in the hands of legal citizens do help prevent / reduce crime. If Stephen Halbrook, Gary Kleck or John R. Lott would of referenced just a few of these articles then their goal would of been met and no one on the other side could of said anything differently.

As stated above I do not believe the audience truly understand what was being said here. Although the audience did show improvement at the end it just goes to show us how much more education the public needs.

John J. Donohue, Paul Helmke and R. Gil Kerlikowske were the opposing force. Not one time in the whole debate did they say that law abiding citizens should have the right to CARRY a gun. Those of you that know me know what I am saying here. The Second Amendment gives us the right to OWN guns but individual states allow us to carry them. It is now clear to me where the Brady's are going next. They are going after our right to carry on a federal level. They all said they supported the second amendment many times. This is where I believe the audience and a lot of CCW get lost. CCW is not part of the second amendment. Paul Helmke said in so many words through out this debate that most people with a CCW right now are not qualified to have it. They are all dangerous and a potential danger to society. When a person from the audience asked if any of the debaters would want their kids to have guns, not their little kids but their adult kids I believe it was Paul Helmke who said NO. I would not want my daughters to have guns because they might get stolen and used to hurt somebody. Does that mean he would rather his own daughters be mugged, rapped or killed then be able to protect themselves or does it mean he does not believe his daughters will ever be in a situation where they will have to defend themselves. Only he can answer that but I can tell you this. My daughter is going to have a gun and will want a gun.

R. Gil Kerlikowske, a police chief is he, had his gun stolen out of his car. If I no nothing else about this guy, this is all I need to know. Why was his gun in his car to begin with? He is a police chief. He can carry anywhere and if he can't why does he not have a lock box in his car cabled to the seat frame? He said the police will protect you, they are highly trained with guns. They must qualify to use them. The average citizen will believe that, I do not. I know this to not be true. Most CCW's know this to not be true. There are cops out there that shoot their firearm only to qualify. They will not even clean them for a year. Don't get me wrong, thanks god for the police. I respect them like no other but they are not my savior in the short term. I am my savior first and foremost that is why I carry a gun.

John J. Donohue seems to think we are all just to stupid. We lack common sense and good judgment. I would almost believe that Mr. Donohue hates humanity. I have nothing good to say about this guy. He lost someone close to him. A bad guy killed them with a gun, hence guns need to be gone. I am saddened that he lost a loved one but it is people like him that scare me. He is more dangerous then anybody with a gun. People like him do worse then take lives, they take rights. Any American that would rather live as a peasant with no rights then free as a man is just a waste of skin. Of course Mr. Donohue believes he will be on the top of the food chain when that day comes so he is not worried about rights. I almost feel sorry for him.

This is what we are facing is the days, months and years to come. The same way Obama was elected is the same way people like John J. Donohue, Paul Helmke and R. Gil Kerlikowske will get their way. We as gun owners and CCW's can not allow that. We need to educate or friends and family. Not just so they support us but so they know why they support us. Guns do prevent crime, they do reduce crime, they do protect the innocent and they do allow us to be free.

Now that I have forced you to read this, here is the link to the debate.
http://rtkba.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=10568

I would ask you all to listen to it. Hear first hand what the hardcore anti gun people are saying.

Thanks for reading this and stay safe.