New Gun Laws?  

There was a recent report about new gun laws. A century ago America passed the Eighteenth Amendment to control the manufacture, sale, and import of alcoholic beverages. Its purpose was to eliminate poverty, immoral behavior, and violence to create happier families and a better world. The opposite effect led to its abolition after fifteen years.

Fifty years ago, America passed the 1968 Gun Control Act to reduce gun violence and create a better world. The number of violent firearm deaths then was 15,000 (suicides and murders). After 25 years this number doubled, rising to 40,000 a few years ago. Then a few states liberalized their gun laws and the number decreased to the present 35,000.

If a law resulted in the opposite of its promised effect shouldn’t it be abolished? If gun control laws created more violent deaths what should be done?

Ronald A. Sobieraj