The tipping point

July 1, 4:31 PMDenver Gun Rights ExaminerDan Bidstrup

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A tipping point can be viewed as the moment when a shift in popular sentiment reaches a sufficient majority to bring about significant change.  It might be that a tipping point is coming among the American people.  Fifteen years ago, support for gun control was very high.  Since then, state after state has loosened their rules for gun ownership, and ownership has increased.  Florida was watched very carefully when they went to a "shall issue" default position for concealed carry permits. According to research by David Kopel, "In Florida, for example, a murder rate that was 36% above the national average when carry reform went into effect in 1987, fell by 1991 to 4% below the national average."  Violent crimes of all sorts also fell such as rape and robbery. 

How were the armed Floridians behaving? Shortly after the law passed, Florida set up a separate database to track crimes committed by concealed carry permit holders, but after a couple of years they stopped keeping a separate count because there were so few infractions by permit holders. Research by John Lott shows that permit holders are far less likely to be involved in any crimes than the general population, let alone shooting folks since they had a gun handy. The statistics compiled by the FBI over the last 13 years have been studied county by county as gun laws have changed, and repeatedly the story unfolds the same way.  As the level of gun ownership goes up,  the incidence of violent crimes goes down.

Most recently, Tennessee passed a law allowing people carrying concealed weapons to dine in restaurants where alcohol is served as long as they personally don't drink.  The legislature passed it over the governor's veto even while he warned again that it would be dangerous to all involved.  Colorado and many other states already have such a law, and there are no cases where a concealed carry permit holder got drunk and drew his weapon for any reason.  Personal responsibility led many citizens to get concealed carry permits, and that same personal responsibility keeps those citizens out of trouble. 

The Brady Center people and other anti-gunners have been crying wolf for too long.  There is enough accumulated statistical evidence that disarming law-abiding citizens has a deleterious effect on public safety.  More people die, more people get raped and more people are beaten and mugged when you disarm the regular populace, because doing so doesn't disarm the criminals.  It gives them a safer working environment, and more criminals come to ply their trade in those protected areas such as D.C. and Chicago and New York.

Even with the major media outlets in television and print in the anti-gun camp, the sentiment seems to be shifting toward greater confidence in our fellow citizens and more people choosing to exercise their self-reliance and self-responsibility by getting guns.  As discussed in the last column, every new gun owner since November 4th learns that guns are tools and the other gun owners are not murderous monsters any more than they themselves are, they are just folks taking personal responsibility for our own safety.  All of this being said, leaders in the White House and Congress are disposed toward gun control (read: remove guns from the people) based on their statements and laws they have supported along the way.  The people have to clearly communicate to the country's leaders where the people wish the country to go.  It will take sustained communication by engaged and informed citizens, not just the NRA. The tipping point is near.