Crime Stories

How many criminals check local gun laws before committing a crime with a gun?

My guess is 0 so doesn't that make gun laws null and void? Law abiders are not the ones we should fear having guns it is the criminals that have them regardless of laws. Yes or no? If that is true aren't local firearm ordinances silly?

Public Comments

1. Why is this still argued? Totally agree.
2. None, the ACLU protects criminals.
3. How many gay people have ruined marriages? My guess is 0 so doesn't that make anti-gay marriage measures silly? The ACLU also protects gun laws. And the Virginia Tech Shooter was a guy who checked local gun laws before he committed his crime by the way. So your point is rendered moot.
4. None. LOL can you imagine a criminal saying to him/herself: "I can't murder this person I'll be breaking guns laws"?
5. Criminals will always have access to guns~heck they manufacture them in this country ~~it would only effect people who don't need big brother
6. Good point. I'm waiting for someone to be arrested for ending a shooting spree in a no-gun zone with a gun he wasn't supposed to have in there. I am a pro-gun Democrat.
7. I'm going to go with none.
8. The gun laws are what we use to prosecute the criminals who use their unlawful guns, so they are not "null and void," no.
9. You hit the nail on the head. The ONLY issue is kids getting a hold of them and that's the thing to be concerned about...Mom and Dad. Everything else is a control hype to keep us all down and completely at the mercy of the powers over us. It's too late anyway. The Civil War one unified U.S. under Federal Government has shown what a mistake that was. The slavery issue was fine but the Federal Government is a monster...let's face it.
10. 0. That is why they are called criminals. They do not follow the law.
11. You're trying to make sense, and liberals are confused and bewildered by your obvious attempt to rationalize. Therefore, you're a racist.
12. the laws prevent people access to getting them in the 1st place...you don't get a permit to carry simply by filling out some paper work, they actually look at your background....you have to show identification
13. It has been shown that crime is typically worse where gun control laws exist - Washington DC for example.
14. Criminals choose to make all laws they break null and void. Traffic laws are broken daily but that does not mean we should strike them all from the books. Domestic abuse should not be legalized just because some choose to beat their spouse. The list could go on and on so no it is not silly that we have firearm ordinances.
15. If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns.
16. Are you kidding me?! Just watch this- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7pGt_O1uM8 Gun laws obviously curb violence, just look at the gun crime rates in places like DC that have had gun bans!
17. Violating a local firearm ordnance will destroy your life. If I did something completely legal in one town or state and cross a border to go to the store or something I could be put in prison. My wife and I both have carry permits and the violent crime rate within 50m of us is zero. We have to plan out where we are going to see where we can take our guns because they are not allowed in so many places. But don't worry the criminals are still carrying everywhere. One of the students killed at NIU was a Iraq vet. If she had been allowed to carry a pistol many lives would have been saved. This is the result of gun laws.
18. None. Here in Montana we have a constitution that prohibits the federal government from passing any laws that infringe upon the rights of Montana residents. Article II, section 12, of the Montana constitution clearly secures to Montana citizens, and prohibits government interference with, the right of individual Montana citizens to keep and bear arms. This constitutional protection is unchanged from the 1889 Montana constitution, which was approved by congress and the people of Montana, and the right exists as it was understood at the time that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Montana and the United States in 1889
19. You are 100 % Correct ......If guns were outlawed......only outlaws would have guns. I was a Detective for 28 years in one of the largest cities in America and I never once heard a bad guy say " I had planned on robbing that liquor store but when I entered the store I remembered that my handgun was not licensed so I left it tucked in my waistband under my shirt and instead purchased a pint of whiskey and went home to watch TV "
20. First question: None. Anyhow many ( I gather) are more or less illiterate. And could not care less.
21. Criminals are often well aware of the gun laws. That's why they don't try to buy guns from gun shops. They know the background check will reject them and the paperwork will convict them, so they go to the black market or steal. For details, see reference below.
22. Even hypothetically, they probably don't even know the penalties for their gun crimes... Most police officers don't even seem to know their guns laws straight.. So even the hypothetical "The threat of 10 years in prison with make criminals think twice" idea goes out the window because they probably don't even know the penalties..