The D.C. Gun Ban

I have always been skeptical of the generally accepted connection between guns and violence. I think there is a misconception that guns equal violence. But if enough people used hammers or baseball bats for unsavory deeds, I presume our perception of those things would change as well. But let me make no mistake about my feelings about guns; I hate them. I wish they didn't exist. If I had my way, we'd melt all the guns in the world down into one kickass jungle-gym or something. But I realize that guns are readily available to anyone who wants to access one, and that isn't going to change. So while the lifting of the D.C. ban on firearms seems like a step in the wrong direction, I remain unconvinced that any more innocent people are going to be negatively effected by guns in D.C.

If a criminal wants to get a gun, he will get a gun. It doesn't matter how illegal it is to own one. A "law" isn't going to deter a criminal. I can't imagine a scenario where a criminal says, "You know, I'd love to break into that house and steal some stuff, it's just too bad I can't legally get my hands on a gun." The more realistic scenario I imagine is the criminal deciding he wants to break into a house, obtaining his gun illegally, and then breaking into said house where it is unlikely that the people inside have a gun of their own for protection.

I have lived in a number of cities all of which allow people to own firearms if they want and nobody goes around shooting people just because they're allowed to own a gun. I'd bet a large amount of cash that the number of people killed or injured by guns in D.C. does not increase.