Gun Control Misfires in Europe

The Wall Street Journal ^ | May 4, 2002 | BY JOHN R. LOTT JR.

[tomball]

What's behind the massacres in Germany, France and Switzerland?

BY JOHN R. LOTT JR.

Sixteen people were killed during last week's school shooting in Germany. This follows the killing of 14 regional legislators in Zug, a Swiss canton, last September, and the massacre of eight city council members in a Paris suburb last month. The three worst public shootings in the Western world during the past year all occurred in Europe, whose gun laws are exactly what gun-control advocates want the U.S. to adopt. Indeed, all three occurred in gun-free "safe zones."

[IronJack]

The three worst public shootings in the Western world during the past year all occurred in Europe, whose gun laws are exactly what gun-control advocates want the U.S. to adopt.

This should be the epitaph for the gun-stealers. But it won't be.

[Rudder]

"the underground supply of guns does not seem to have dried up at all."

Surprise, surprise!

The only way gun control laws could work against criminals would be to eliminate every gun from the entire planet. Such action, of course, is absurd.

[cfrels]

Good morning Rudder.

Recently, a suburban Chicago town tried to pass anti-gun ordinance similiar to Chicagos' and 400 people(including about 8 or 10 freepers) showed up to convince the trustees to defeat the proposal 7-1.

One day at a time, we will take this country back from those who would destroy it.

[bandleader]

I had the Priviledge of hearing Mr.Lott speak on Steve Mahlzburg's radio program(WABC)this morning.This man was never a gun-rights advocate(he doesn't even own one)until he conducted his exhaustive research into the subject.His book"More Guns,Less Crime"is a MUST READ!!!!!!!!!!!

[bandleader]

I especially liked when Mr.Lott pointed out that a number of survivors of the Zug massacre would have been concealed-carrying had they not complied with new Swiss laws severely restricting conceal-carry!!!You don't have to be a rocket scientist to come to the obvious conclusion that had one of these people been armed,this thing could have been stopped!!!!Why is this such a difficult concept for the"Lib Gun-Grabbers"to grasp???????????????????

[Rudder]

One day at a time, we will take this country back from those who would destroy it.

Excellent! Job well done there--keep up the good work and you'll be correct...someday we will get the country back into shape.

[donmeaker]

One must note that even if all guns were destroyed, it is 12th century technology, and anyone with 12th century know how could make more guns. Then again, with the government school systems, perhaps we will deconstruct ourselves back to the 12th century....

[mississippi red-neck]

I have read a large umber of his articles. He originally was anti-gun and said he set out to prove gun control works. He had never owned a gun of any kind. Sometime after he finished his intense study it convenced him just the opposite was true. He was so convenced that gun ownership reduced crime and saved people's lives that he went out and purchased a .38 for defense of his home and family.