BANNING SEMIAUTO FIREARMS: PERCEPTION AND REALITY Page 1 of 4 COPYRIGHT - 1989 by F.E.I. Gun Control: Facts and Fiction WHAT WE ACTUALLY KNOW ABOUT THE EFFECTS OF GUN CONTROL The most scientific and most thorough study in this field, the Wright-Rossi Report* (1981), concluded that gun control laws, individually and cumulatively, have essentially no effect on the crime rate. This report is intrinsically free of pro-firearms bias, since it was funded by the anti-gun Carter administration and directed by James D. Wright and Peter H. Rossi, who entered into the study in the belief that gun control was an effective means of controlling crime. Most other studies are too limited in scope or time frame to be of much use in analyzing this problem. FOREIGN EXAMPLES Japan, often cited as a model for gun control legislation, has an entirely different culture. This cultural aspect is so ingrained that even second or third generation Japanese- Americans have low rates of violent crime, despite "easy access" to firearms. On the other side of the coin, Switzerland requires every adult male to keep a fully automatic machine gun with ammunition in the home. Crime in Switzerland is practically nonexistent, despite the fact that any criminal could steal a machine gun from almost any household. Other examples cited by the gun control advocates are equally distorted. THE EXTENT OF THE CURRENT PROBLEM According to L.A.P.D., the ordinary handgun is by far the most common weapon among gangs and drug dealers. Last year, over 4,000 firearms were confiscated, with only about 120 being the type inaccurately referred to as "assault weapons". Semiauto firearms have been commercially sold since at least 1896, and there are more than an estimated 20 million examples in private hands. Even the "mass proliferation" touted by the media is only 1/2 of one percent per year when compared to the quantity already in existence. The changes over the last decade or two have been related to the failures of our judicial and penal institutions, not the availability of firearms. Further, since the problems are due to two discrete groups, gangs and drug dealers, it is irrational to legislate against a different group, the law-abiding firearms owners. It is interesting to note that one jurisdiction which banned semiautos 14 years ago has recently set several new assault, robbery, and murder records. Indeed, the law works so well that the mayor was recently forced to declare a state of emergency. THE ULTRA-POWERFUL AK-47 IN PERSPECTIVE Despite claims by the media and certain politicians, the AK-47 is not a magic weapon. Its cartridge (7.62 x 39 mm Soviet) has only 1,500 ft-lbs of energy, which puts it in the lowest 1/3 of commercially available ammunition in the U.S. It is not nearly as powerful as some U.S. calibers which originated in the 1870's, nor is it even as powerful as Grandfather's 1894 lever action deer rifle (.30-30). The AK-47 would need a 90% increase to reach the power levels of the .30-06, which is the most common cartridge in the U.S. HIGH RATE OF FIRE Any semiauto firearm ever built (all the way back to 1896) will fire single shots as fast as one can pull the trigger, so this is not a unique capability. Magazines can be extended by anyone with a few minutes of time and a welder. Pumps (1880) and lever-actions (1862) are just as fast for all practical purposes. NEED FOR MORE "TOOLS" TO MAKE ARRESTS In spite of John Van De Kamp's abysmal ignorance on this subject, there are many statutes which prohibit practically every dangerous or malicious act with a firearm. In fact, there are over 20,000 such laws on the books in the U.S. today. Even if we find flaws in these statutes, it is entirely inappropriate to punish law-abiding citizens for the crimes of others. Finally, more "tools" are irrelevant when the justice system releases felons even before the police officers can finish the paperwork relating to the arrest. To compound the problem, there is no prison space even if we can convict the felons. The "Catch and Release" syndrome certainly causes criminals to lose their respect for the power of the law. Let us tell the politicians to use the tools already at our disposal before punishing decent citizens who happen to own firearms. PUBLIC OPINION, INFORMED AND UNINFORMED Yes, some polls indicate that a majority of people want to ban "assault weapons", but none of those polled can even define what an "assault weapon" is. Even B.A.T.F. has admitted, in Congressional hearings, that there is no legally acceptable way to distinguish between "assault" and "any other" form of semiauto. Since the media have presented only one side of this controversy, it is inevitable that uninformed people will reiterate the ideas and words to which they have been exposed. More knowledgeable people are less likely to favor a ban. POLICE OPINION Several police chiefs have publicly supported these bills, but they refuse to let their line officers speak out. In Riverside, California, a poll taken within the Officers' Association indicated that over 70% opposed the bans. Other unofficial polls have indicated 70-90% opposition to the bans. Despite the muzzling, several officers have publicly opposed the bans, possibly endangering their careers. The officers generally recognize the absurdity of bills which harass or punish law-abiding citizens. Instead, the officers usually propose alternatives, such as AB 800 (which sets up a computerized, cross-indexed background check tied into the upcoming Federal computer background check), or more prison space so that criminals will serve their allotted time rather than being released early to the streets. BALANCING OF RIGHTS Some people say, "There is no right to own guns, if I don't have a right to a safe neighborhood." Unfortunately, even after you ban semiautos, you still won't have safe neighborhoods because you haven't addressed the issue of crime. Conversely, if you address the crime issue, there is no need to harass law-abiding citizens. NOBODY NEEDS A WEAPON DESIGNED ONLY TO KILL Obviously, all firearms are potentially lethal. However, law-abiding people have owned and used over 20 million semiautos since their debut in 1896. It is mathematically certain that almost all of these semiautos have been used for legitimate purposes, including defense, hunting, and target shooting. Relatively speaking, most law-abiding citizens have exercised their rights in a responsible manner, so it is ridiculous to require them to justify their actions, or prove that they "need" their Second Amendment rights. The real question is: Will this ban reduce crime? As demonstrated by Wright-Rossi, Kates, Kleck, and others, such a ban will have essentially no effect on crime. THE REASONABLE COMPROMISE THEORY Some claim that these bills represent a reasonable compromise between the rights of firearms owners and the necessity of ensuring public safety. However, the scientific evidence tells us that these bills do nothing to enhance public safety. There is nothing reasonable about laws which do nothing for one group while simultaneously restricting the rights of another group. Truly reasonable laws (those which focus on criminals) have always been supported by firearms owners and the NRA. WHAT SHOULD BE DONE First, defeat these bans. If these bans pass, the politicians will pat themselves on the back and tell the public that "We are getting tough on crime." Once the pressure is no longer on the politicians, they will take all the credit and pass all the responsibilities on to the police, who will still be forced to "Catch and Release", since the real problems have not been addressed. The police will be the scapegoats when the crime rate keeps rising. Alternatively, if the bans are defeated, the momentum and interest can be applied toward the goal of real criminal justice reform. If the public is made to focus on the real issues, there is a good possibility of meaningful and effective reform. All law enforcement personnel and law-abiding citizens will benefit. For more information, contact the Firearms Education Institute at (213) 322-7244. * Weapons, Crime, and Violence in America by James D. Wright and Peter H. Rossi, published by the U.S. Government Printing Office. Also available in a commercial edition, Under the Gun, ISBN 0-202-30305-5.