The New American magazine
reminds us that March 25th marked the 16th anniversary of Kennesaw, Georgia's
ordinance requiring heads of households (with certain exceptions) to keep at
least one firearm in their homes. The city's population grew from around 5,000
in 1980 to 13,000 by 1996 (latest available estimate). Yet there have been only
three murders: two with knives (1984 and 1987) and one with a firearm (1997).
"After the law went into effect in 1982, crime against persons plummeted
74 percent compared to 1981, and fell another 45 percent in 1983 compared to
1982. And it has stayed impressively low. In addition to nearly non-existent
homicide (murders have averaged a mere 0.19 per year), the annual number of
armed robberies, residential burglaries, commercial burglaries, and rapes have
averaged, respectively, 1.69, 31.63, 19.75, and 2.00 through 1998."
With all the attention that has been heaped upon the lawful possession of
firearms lately you would think that a city that requires gun ownership would be
the center of a media feeding frenzy. It isn't. The fact is I can't remember a
major media outlet even mentioning Kennesaw. Can you?
The reason is obvious. Kennesaw proves that the presence of firearms actually
improves safety and security. This is not the message that the media want us to
hear. They want us to believe that guns are evil and are the cause of violence.
The facts tell a different story.
What is even more interesting about Kennesaw is that the city's crime rate
decreased with the simple knowledge that the entire community was armed. The bad
guys didn't force the residents to prove it. Just knowing that residents were
armed prompted them to move on to easier targets. Most criminals don't have a
death wish.
There have been two occasions in my own family when the presence of a handgun
averted potential disaster. In both instances the gun was never aimed at a
person and no shot was fired. Yet, in both cases the thugs bent on criminal
mischief decided to take their ambitions elsewhere and my family remained safe.
Only God knows what would have happened if a firearm had not been handy.
Yes, there are times when gun accidents occur. There are many more accidents
involving automobiles, airplanes, bathroom shower stalls and backyard swimming
pools, however. And let's not forget that freedom is risky business. Freedom
allows people to make mistakes recognizing that the alternative is worse.
A local newspaper columnist recently said that other nations are free without
possessing firearms. He fails to see the obvious fact that people who are not
free to own firearms are not free. Many people live their entire lives and never
know a day of real freedom. And, while I'm sure that there are those who would
choose to live without freedom, there are some of us who would rather die free
than live enslaved.
