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It is abundantly clear that the rate of handgun murders in the United States is not uniform. Very large murder rates can be observed in small, exceedingly violent populations of every race in this country, and these rates seem to be more related to issues of income, education and living conditions. Certainly guns are freely available in areas where our murder rates are appallingly high. They are also found in very large numbers in communities where handgun crime is virtually nonexistent.

I might add that the greatest numbers of gun related homicides is usually located in areas that were colored BLUE on the big election map of 2000, and showed a high predisposition for urban areas where guns have been completely outlawed or incredibly difficult to get (legally). In areas with concealed carry laws and shall issue ordinances, even the most liberal antigun whack job enjoys the protection of the benefit of the doubt. Ask the people of Chappaqua NY (of all places) what happened when they (briefly) make their community "gun free."