Monday, January 21, 2013

Revolutionary America and the Wild West both had Gun Control

And, along comes a book that basically says, America, you've in for a surprise. Your founding fathers did practice gun control. And, your folks on the Wild West practiced it, too.

Adam Winkler's "Gunfight: The Battle over the Right to Bear Arms in America" came out in 2011.

First, note what Winkler says of the Wild West, where the lack of law and battling with Indians prompted most everyone to have a gun if they lived out of town. But, Winkler says, if they came into town in Dodge City, Kansas, or Tombstone, Arizona, or Deadwood, South Dakota (now there are three gunfighting towns, right?), the law required them to park their guns at the marshall's office, check their firearms in there.

That would be a little more restrictive than anything I'm currently aware of in America. At least, I don't think there are any cities where you have to check your gun in at the sheriff's office as you arrive in town.

What about the Founding Fathers? Did they practice gun control? I haven't read Mr. Winkler's book, but I'm told it says those who opposed the Revolutionary War were banned from having guns. I don't know how widespread the law was, just that Winkler suggests that was the law.

That amounts to gun regulation based on political beliefs. It would be a lot like saying those who oppose the war in Afghanistan cannot have guns. Now, just how well would that go over? Shall we try it?

http://blog.nj.com/njv_editorial_page/2012/12/gun_control_is_as_much_a_part.html

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