"A clandestine market for unregistered weapons still exists despite crackdown," reporter Hu Yinan of China Daily informs us.
Illegal traders advertise with graffiti on walls, despite China's near total ban on private gun ownership. To what effect has the black market succeeded?
"In 2007, a study by the Geneva-based Graduate Institute of International Studies estimated the total number of guns held by civilians in China at 40 million, third only to the United States and India."
The government, of course, disputes this. In truth, they don't know. No one does.
But despite seizures and destruction of confiscated firearms, the trade continues. It's too profitable not to, despite severe penalties for those caught in violation of Chinese citizen disarmament laws.
From a 2007 China Daily report by Zhu Zhe:
"High profits are deemed the biggest attraction for people who trade illegal guns, although those found guilty of selling guns or explosives face punishment ranging from three years in jail to the death penalty."
Welcome to Sarah Brady Paradise. China has every law--and then some--advocated by our domestic gun grabbers, and I'm talking pre-Heller/McDonald, when they were still going for total bans, as opposed to the so-called "reasonable common sense restrictions" they say they'll settle for, at least until a 5 to 4 Supreme Court ratio for an individual right shifts in their direction.
The photo of the task force officer examining a handmade pistol in "Writing on the Wall for Guns" says it all. As does this admission:
"'In two to three days, these gun traders make more money than we do in a month,' joked a gun taskforce member who did not want to be identified."
The paradox and unintended consequence for the gun banners is, the more they make owning a gun difficult, the more innovative and unregulated the market becomes. They create conditions where the real world outcome is exactly the opposite of what they say they want.
There's a lesson in there somewhere for all of us, and it's about a lot more than just guns.
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Speaking of McDonald...
The same day that decision took place, my editor at GUNS Magazine told me he could replace my scheduled "Rights Watch" column with a summary of the case if I could turn something out quickly. While magazines are generally poor places to report news due to the layout/publishing/distribution lag between article submission and the time they hit the stands, the story was too important not to cover.
The October 2010 issue is now out, and my column "Second Amendment Ruled Applicable To States" is in it.
Click here to read it. And click here to read other features, including a complete digital edition of this issue.
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A snitch in time
What's the downside to anonymous tip line programs, where you can report people illegally possessing guns to the police? What about so-called "buyback" programs?
I'll be discussing this and more with host James B. Towle today at Noon PST on Trigger Sports Live!
Click here to join us at the appointed hour. Or later. This program will continue running until replaced by next Wednesday's show.
Comments
I agree
People will always demand the right to defend themselves against oppressive laws and governments. We may have agreed to live together for the common good but the common good should never replace individual rights.
When will it be determined that 98% of these guns come from American gun shows?
Heh. Repeating firearms of all types are 19th century technology. Anyone with a rudimentary machine shop and a bit of skill can make pretty good ones. A good machine shop can crank them out by the hundreds once the jigs and fixtures are made and set up. Modern (ak-47, sten, H&K G3, FN-FAL, etc) were designed to be made out of stamped steel parts quickly. Far easier to turn out modern sturmgewher than Model 70 Winchesters or Model 29 S&W .44 magnums.
If the Bloomberg and the Brady Bunch achieved their fondest desire, it would happen here too.
As long as we in the ''UN" , our 2nd amendment rights along with the entire Constitution is in serious trouble . This is no time to rejoice .
They will never go away and they will never stop because it's never been about gun and crime control, except for those who can't chew bubble gum and breath at the same time.
This is about control of the people, their minds and control of their resources. Without consequences, should they suddenly awaken to a police state of one sort or another and not have anyone listening to their complaints.
Suddenly, I feel a familiarity......
test comment
Please do a web search for a free book on the web it’s titled.
A guide to the drilling reaming and broaching a bolt action receiver at home
by Raymond Benwood
Name any object or substance. All any ban has ever done is drive up the price and guarantee that if you really want it, you will have to deal with a criminal to obtain it and become one yourself in the process.
The world is full of fools demanding bans and restrictions when not one of these has worked. We who support firearm ownership are to blame for that because we sit on our bums and allow the most deceptive and dangerous organisation in the world to educate citizens to fear guns.
Imagine that.
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