No to Conceal Carry for Illinois and Peoria
Here is what I just wrote to the Peoria Journal Star:
Dear PJ Star,
I am writing in response to a Forum letter published on June 20 titled Concealed-carry could save lives in Peoria, submitted by Chuck Emig, responding to a earlier Forum letter from John Longmire. Mr. Emig advocates a concealed/carry law for Peoria and for Illinois. Fair enough, but I wonder on what evidence Mr. Emig bases his support for conceal carry. He says, “If Mr. Longmire would have done some research before writing his letter, he would have seen that crime is down where they have concealed-carry.”
Well, if Mr. Emig had done some research beyond NRA talking points he would known that like every story this one has at least two sides. I have done a little research and I found this conclusion in a study published in the Stanford Law Review titled: Shooting Down the “More Guns Less Crime” Hypothesis “No longer can any
plausible case be made on statistical grounds that shall-issue laws are likely to
reduce crime for all or even most states.”
In another article titled The Latest Misfires in Support of the “More Guns, Less Crime” Hypothesis
In our initial article “Shooting Down the More Guns, Less Crime”Hypothesis1″ we reached two main conclusions: First, that there was no credible statistical evidence that the adoption of concealed-carry (or “shall issue”) laws reduced crime; and second, that the best, although admittedly quite imperfect, data suggested that the laws increased the costs of crime to the tune of $1 billion per year (which is a relatively small number given the total cost of FBI index crimes of roughly $114 billion per year).
Later, Ayres concludes, “We feel confident concluding that we have indeed shot down the more guns, less crime hypothesis.”
I am opposed to a conceal and carry law for Illinois (including Peoria) because more guns means more death, accidental and otherwise. More guns will not stop the drive by shootings and gas stations robberies. Many residents of the areas where these crime occurs want fewer guns on the street, not more.
I just wish that advocates for conceal carry laws would have the intellectual honesty to look at all the data, not just the studies that support their point of view. Maybe the media should look at some of this research as well, so that a reasonable and well informed debate on this issue could finally occur.
Comments welcome.
Please dont take this the wrong way, but it is hard to even read this article when the punctuation is bad and not enough research has been done. Mainly on the topic of statistical data. 50% of all statistics are false, just made up numbers to get the populace to believe whatever is bieng proven or dis-proven. It is facts you should look at because those are true numbers statements, research, etc… And the fact is it is proven that within five years of a concealed cary law coming into effect crime exponentialy declines. Though it takes time i would rather see the inception of a concealed carry and watch crime rate fall in five years instead of watching it stay at a constant or possibly rising. I have tried to see the possotives and negatives of both sides of concealed carry laws and agree and disagree with both, but after looking at the facts i mam leaning more to passing some sort of concealed cary instead of just letting the criminals carry and do as they please.
Jeff
28 Jun 09 at 4:00 pm
You write “And the fact is it is proven that within five years of a concealed cary law coming into effect crime exponentialy declines.” I am afraid that just in this short quite there are a couple of spelling errors, and more can be found in the rest of your comment.
More importantly, can you refer me to a source for your allegation that within five years of a concealed carry law coming into effect crime exponentially declines? I am aware of no such evidence. I hope you are not referring to studies on this subject done by John Lott, because they have been discredited.
slothropia
29 Jun 09 at 10:23 am
a responce to slothropia and others: The work done by John Lott has not be discredited by everyone. Yes, the paper by Ayres looks to do a good job, but if you change around the inputs enough, you can come to about any conclusion with a computer model. I have read his paper, and the bottom line is not surprising, considering the very Liberal source.
Steve
2 Jul 09 at 11:03 am
Concealed Carry is coming to Illinois! The 2nd Amendment is clear and concise and even the Supreme Court agrees.
The momentum will not be stopped…the voices will not be silenced…the innocent will not be ignored. FINALLY law-abiding citizens will be allowed to defend themselves against criminals who have NEVER been without their guns.
Logan
2 Jul 09 at 2:57 pm
Steve: “The work done by John Lott has not be discredited by everyone.” So. Your point? Creationists haven’t been disputed by everyone either. Are they right? Evolution hasn’t….get the point.
Logan: Who gives a shit. Seriously. Yeah, voices will be silenced. The ones that don’t want the old west back. And you could give a shit about the innocent. You guys just want to carry your toys around and assert your aplha maleness/femaleness. I can’t wait till some gang member pops your ass. I wish I could see that stupid surprised look on your face as he caps you in the head as finishes you off. Go gang members….wooooot!!!
*Good the Bad and the Ugly plays in the back ground*
se7en9
11 Aug 09 at 10:16 pm
Sir,
I live in Illinois close to St. Louis. I was in a store when it was robbed. There was two men who made everyone get down at gunpoint. There was five people in the store. When one of them made all of us gather in a backroom lined up with our face against the wal is when I displayed my weapon and shot three times killing him. The second man ran out. I live with this the rest of my life. I am viewed as a hero the ones who lives were saved. I wonder how you would feel if you were one of them in that store?
I carry today legal or not. I don’t like breaking the law. I have said all I am going to say.
Bill
27 Mar 10 at 7:02 pm