Mandatory Gun Law
Kennesaw, GA's
Mandatory Gun Law
A Proven Success
Why Doesn't The Media Visit Kennesaw?
By Chuck Baldwin
11-6-99
The New American magazine reminds us that March 25th marked the 16th anniversary of Kennesaw, Georgia's ordinance requiring heads of households (with certain exceptions) to keep at least one firearm in their homes.
The city's population grew from around 5,000 in 1980 to 13,000 by 1996 (latest available estimate). Yet there have been only three murders: two with knives (1984 and 1987) and one with a firearm (1997).
"After the law went into effect in 1982, crime against persons plummeted 74 percent compared to 1981, and fell another 45 percent in 1983 compared to 1982. And it has stayed impressively low. In addition to nearly non-existent homicide (murders have averaged a mere 0.19 per year), the annual number of armed robberies, residential burglaries, commercial burglaries, and rapes have averaged, respectively, 1.69, 31.63, 19.75, and 2.00 through 1998."
With all the attention that has been heaped upon the lawful possession of firearms lately, you would think that a city that requires gun ownership would be the center of a media feeding frenzy. It isn't. The fact is I can't remember a major media outlet even mentioning Kennesaw. Can you? The reason is obvious. Kennesaw proves that the presence of firearms actually improves safety and security. This is not the message that the media want us to hear. They want us to believe that guns are evil and are the cause of violence. The facts tell a different story.
What is even more interesting about Kennesaw is that the city's crime rate decreased with the simple knowledge that the entire community was armed.
The bad guys didn't force the residents to prove it. Just knowing that residents were armed prompted them to move on to easier targets. Most criminals don't have a death wish. There have been two occasions in my own family when the presence of a handgun averted potential disaster. In both instances the gun was never aimed at a person and no shot was fired. Yet, in both cases the thugs bent on criminal mischief decided to take their ambitions elsewhere and my family remained safe. Only God knows what would have happened if a firearm had not been handy.
Yes, there are times when gun accidents occur. There are many more accidents involving automobiles, airplanes, bathroom shower stalls and backyard swimming pools, however. And let's not forget that freedom is risky business. Freedom allows people to make mistakes recognizing that the alternative is worse.
A local newspaper columnist recently said that other nations are free without possessing firearms. He fails to see the obvious fact that people who are not free to own firearms are not free. Many people live their entire lives and never know a day of real freedom. And, while I'm sure that there are those who would choose to live without freedom, there are some of us who would rather die free than live enslaved.
Good article on Kennisaw, Ga. However, I think it's rather silly that you quote
the critics of the gun law to cite a single case in which a child is injured by
a gun accident to criticize the law that every head of household own a gun and
ammunition, etc.
I am a journalist and magazine writer who believes in the right for private
citizens to bear arms. There is a very real danger that an unarmed America will
turn into a police state, where the citizens will be herded around like so many
sheep.
Geno L. (Kingman, AZ)
Guns account for less than 1/2 of 1 percent of gun-related accidents and
deaths in America. To compare that statistic with a 30 percent drop in crime
because of the presence of guns in community homes is ludicrous.
Once again, an emotional response to the injury or death of a child
overshadows the fact of perhaps dozens, even hundreds of lives have been saved
because of gun ownership. It would be nice if the media would let the facts
speak for themselves instead of spinning the emotions of readers by playing up
the child issue. If every household in America had a gun in it, would there be
more accidental injuries/deaths to children? Yes, thanks to sloppy parenting.
Would crime and death drop exponentially because of gun ownership? Yes. The
emotion and trauma of child accidents should not be the determining factor for
deciding the best crime deterent possible in America.
Jim S.
He used to be one of the largest distributors of racist 'newspapers' in the
county, and was/is quite open about it. It's not against the law anywhere in
Georgia to wear or carry a sidearm as long as it's openly displayed. You only
need a license to carry a concealed weapon.
You can walk down Peachtree Street in Downtown Atlanta wearing the same guns
openly. So your article was misleading in that aspect. The gun law in Kennesaw
works. Last spring, in the middle of the night, I ran off a couple of teens
trying force off a lock to my sub-basement. It seems the sound of an SKS being
locked and loaded 10 feet behind them scared them off.
And about this "child" that was injured. It's amazing how someone
16-19 years of age is considered to be a 'child' when it comes to gun incidents.
You chose to use the word child, because it sends this image to most readers of
an actual child. You intentionally want to mislead people with this article.
This is the type of reporting I've come to expect from CNN, not Fox News.
David N.
Kevin J.
Michael S.
Andrew W.
The Kennesaw experiment has been a success overall, yet there are those who,
because of their knee-jerk reaction to guns, do not look at all the facts (ex. -
Michael Beard's comment in the article).
I'm a resident of Kennesaw, and I was absolutely amazed you mentioned Dent
Myers. Did you actually go into his little "Civil War" shop? Or
actually talk to this individual to see what kind of person he is?
I would like to thank you for writing an honest article about how firearms have
helped to lower crime in a community. I have a lot of respect for you and Fox
News for writing balanced articles on all things. I note that you also included
the viewpoint of those who oppose gun ownership. I applaud that. Both sides
should have their viewpoint heard, but the other news organizations would only
have aired the side that agreed with their ideas.
I am pleased to finally see a network that reports both sides of the gun issues.
For to long the only press coverage on firearms has been negative and guided by
the anti-gun lobby. For those people (and their families) that want to legally
own, carry or use a firearm, education in safe handling and storage are the most
important issues. Yes, children do get hurt when they get ahold of unsecured
firearms. Firearms shouldn't be accessible to these children, but if they are in
a home with firearms they should know not to touch them. Discipline, respect for
human life and respect for other people's property are issues that also need to
be addressed with the youth of today.
More accidents? Your article only cites one. The only credible statistics you
cite are those showing less crime in Kennesaw. The information given by Micheal
Beard in groundless and uncited. I find it irresponsible that you would work
this propaganda into your title.
God Bless You
Jeff Street
http://godspath.com