Poll: Gun Control: Does limiting who can get a gun reduce crime?

[PJABBER]

That's because criminals can easily drive & get their gun in a neighbouring state that has lesser gun control. The effect would be much different if all states had the same strict gun control laws. Why isn't this a federal power?

It's like in Canada where our biggest gun control problem is the flood of handguns coming from the states.

The United States Constitution has the Second Amendment that guarantees citizens the right to be armed, should they so choose.

The Amendment is a protection against the encroachment of a government that does not recognize the spirit and intent of the constitutional form of government that we have. The American founders rightfully did not trust that future national leaders would have the same goals and intents that they did. They rightfully thought that power is addictive and that those who are granted such power will need constraints, even to the point of armed resistance by the population.

All else is secondary to this imperative and it is why so many thoughtful citizens view attempts at disarmament with grave reserve. The human cost of an armed population is little compared to the cost that would come with the rise of an authoritarian government.

We can argue about how likely such an event is going to be in this very moment, but history has shown over and over again what does happen when nations allow the rise of authoritarian governments. History shows that such a rise can happen very quickly if sufficient constraints are not applied. The time frames are so short that once a population is disarmed, they will no longer have the means to re-gain such a right and will be subject to the consequence of that decision.