Next gun ban to fall? - U.S. Politics Online: A Political Discussion Forum

MattLarson · #1 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008

Place your bets folks, for the next municipal gun ban to fall in the wake of Heller.

Steve · #2 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008

I think it'll be New York City, with Chicago close behind...

daddio · #3 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008

NRA is filing now on both fronts

Imperator · #4 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008

yea, both, and good riddance....

Kash · #5 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008

I can imagine legislators scrambling to rewrite their gun bans

Benjamin · #6 (**permalink**) 06-26-2008

Chicago is the closest one in substance to the DC ban, so I think its next.

NYC's "licensing" will raise slightly different issues, and I think it'll take a little longer.

Ben

Wallaroo · #7 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Its gonna be interesting to see if the annual murder rate rises or falls in these cities if they get rid of their gun ban.

MattLarson · #8 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallaroo

Its gonna be interesting to see if the annual murder rate rises or falls in these cities if they get rid of their gun ban.

The people who are out committing murders don't care about gun bans.

This should be quite obvious from examining DC's crime statistics with a total ban in place.

Matt

Wallaroo · #9 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattLarson

The people who are out committing murders don't care about gun bans.

This should be quite obvious from examining DC's crime statistics with a total ban in place.

Matt

For how long have DC had a total gun ban, and what were the murder rate before they got it?

MattLarson · #10 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wallaroo

For how long have DC had a total gun ban, and what were the murder rate before they got it?

Quote:

In 1977, the first full year of the ban, the city recorded 192 homicides, a rate of 28 per 100,000 residents. The total rose to 223 in 1981 (a 35 rate), then fell to 147 (a 23.5 rate) in 1985 -- the lowest annual homicide toll in the District since 1966. At the time, the rate for the country as a whole also was trending down.

Which turned out to be the calm before the slaughter.

The advent of the lucrative crack-cocaine market and the unprecedented street violence it unleashed in poor neighborhoods nationwide sent homicide rates soaring in the latter half of the 1980s. Not only did the number of killings surge in the District, as it did in most urban areas, the homicide rates here also far exceeded the rates in crack-ridden cities where handguns had not been banned.

In the peak killing year, 1991, the District recorded 482 homicides, or 81 per 100,000 residents, more than triple the 1985 rate. And more than ever, as the city became known as "the nation's murder capital," the gun was the weapon of choice. In 1985, firearms had been used in 65 percent of D.C. homicides. In 1991, they were used in eight out of 10 slayings.

Crime Data Underscore Limits Of D.C. Gun Ban's Effectiveness

Violent crime in DC rose after the ban was enacted. To most people, this is self-explanatory.

Violent criminals don't care if their gun is legal. They are already out to commit crimes.

Seriously, does anyone think a potential robber has ever said "man, I'd go stick up that store, but my gun is illegal and I don't want to get in trouble"?

Matt

Wallaroo · #11 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattLarson

Violent crime in DC rose after the ban was enacted. To most people, this is self-explanatory.

Violent criminals don't care if their gun is legal. They are already out to commit crimes.

Seriously, does anyone think a potential robber has ever said "man, I'd go stick up that store, but my gun is illegal and I don't want to get in trouble"?

Matt

I agree with you, but that again, a ban doesnt make any sense in a city/district alone when the rest of the country doesnt have a ban.

What about murder rates in DC after 1991?

MattLarson · #12 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Violent crime rates decreased throughout the country from 1991 - 2005, but the rates remained significantly higher in DC.

To this day, DC's crime rates are among the highest in the country.

Matt

Wallaroo · #13 (**permalink**) 06-28-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattLarson

Violent crime rates decreased throughout the country from 1991 - 2005, but the rates remained significantly higher in DC.

To this day, DC's crime rates are among the highest in the country.

Matt

What about the crime and murder rates in Chicago, New York, and San Fransisco?

Cthulhu321 · #14 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

I'm hoping Chicago since I'll be moving there soon.

Evil_inKarlate · #15 (**permalink**) 07-07-2008

Quote:

Chicago is the closest one in substance to the DC ban, so I think its next.
NYC's "licensing" will raise slightly different issues, and I think it'll take a little longer.

My understanding, by way of a gun-nut friend in Chicago, is that Chicago doesn't have an actual ban, just a licensing requirement. But they haven't seen fit to issue any civilian licenses in years if not decades.

I'm concerned that this may remove my status as an unconvicted felon - I bought my first handgun as an act of civil disobedience when I was living in Chicago back when unauthorized possession was a felony. (They've since dropped it to a midemeanor.)

View Poll Results: The next ban to fall?
New York City	3	23.08%
Chicago	9	69.23%
Other (please explain in thread)	1	7.69%
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll

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