TexasCHLforum.com

You are absolutely right.

Approximately 4 to 6 million* firearms are sold into the U.S. civilian, non-LEO market every year. The lifetime of firearms is unknown, but decades-old pieces are common (I own two from the 1970s). It is possible that there is one firearm for every man, woman, and child in the U.S.

Meanwhile, the rate of violent crime is declining.

You don't have to be a statistician (which I am not) to understand that weapons do not cause crime.

*This number is an estimate, but it is reasonably accurate. BATFE knows the number of new weapons manufactured, but their data do not reflect the number sold to individuals, law enforcement, and the military. Many weapons sold to law enforcement are later resold to non-LEOs. The FBI knows the number of background checks, but some of those are for second-hand weapons.

For those of you who may be statisticians, this page is full of goodies: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/guns.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

The data is mostly from the 1990s. Apparently this research was not a priority after 1999.

- Jim

It is not possible to extrapolate trends in crime rates over such short timeframes.

The rate of violent and property crimes has been decreasing steadily since 1992. There are occasional upticks in one category or another, but the overall trend is downward.

During that time, the "assault weapons ban" came and went, and tens of millions of firearms were sold into the U.S. private market. These factors had no effect on crime rates.

Legal sales of firearms and ammunition have almost nothing to do with criminal activity. Most criminals cannot legally own or even touch a firearm or ammunition because of previous felony convictions or because they are underage. (I say "almost" there because straw sales and thefts of legally owned firearms are factors in criminal access to firearms.)

I have never understood how someone can think that an adult who is legally able to buy a firearm -- which in many states requires more rigorous background checks than in Texas -- is going to go to a gun store, buy one, come out, and commit mayhem and robbery.

- Jim

I'm am going to repeat this as many times as necessary:

In the year 1900, the United Kingdom had the lowest rate of violent crime that has ever been seen before or after in history. It also had no "gun control" laws.

A century later, they had banned all handguns and semiauto long guns for non-LEO civilians. They now have a higher rate of violent crime per capita than the U.S. They have more homicides and shooting assaults than they had when anyone could own and carry a firearm.

Meanwhile, nearly every household in Switzerland has had a rifle and ammunition since rifles were invented. Their rate of violent crime has always been enviable.

Guns do not cause crime. "Gun control" does not prevent crime. It never has. It never will.

- Jim