Interesting Gun Law

[Muzikman]

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06341/744334-100.stm

Borough won't require all homeowners to have guns
Thursday, December 07, 2006

The Associated Press

CHERRY TREE, Pa. -- Council members in this tiny Indiana County borough voted overwhelmingly last night to dismiss a contested ordinance that recommended all households keep weapons and ammunition to prevent crime.

In the 6-1 vote, only Councilman Henry Statkowski, who proposed the Civil Protection Ordinance, objected to a motion to drop it.

"This would ... make a statement to the rest of the community and criminals in this area. If you want to break into a home in Cherry Tree, you might not like the consequences," said the 59-year-old retired U.S. Army master sergeant and Vietnam veteran.

But other officials questioned how the ordinance would be enforced and whether it might open the borough to litigation.

"We don't want Cherry Tree to be known as a gun-toting town," Councilman Drax Felton said.

The Cherry Tree measure would not have been the first gun-related ordinance in Pennsylvania. In 1994, Franklintown repealed a law enacted 12 years earlier requiring each household to own a gun and ammunition.

Gun-control advocates have said such measures risk putting guns into the hands of criminals and increase gun violence.

Mr. Statkowski has acknowledged that Cherry Tree, a one-time logging center about 70 miles northeast of Pittsburgh, does not have a crime problem.




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( Copyright 2006 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

[Army]

Modeled on the ordinance passed in Kennessaw Georgia back in the 80's, requiring all households to own a firearm and keep ammunition nearby.....unless you didn't want to.

Crime in Kennessaw (now an Atlanta suburb) dropped to less than 1/3 of that in all surrounding cities and towns.

Because the law allowed anyone to opt out due to personal or religeous reasons, lawyers had no challenge to it.

[Lohman446]

Just what we need. People who know nothing about proper gun storage or use, who buy one simply to comply with the law. No thank you please.

[Army]

Just what we need. People who know nothing about proper gun storage or use, who buy one simply to comply with the law. No thank you please.

What makes you think they won't learn about it, or go to a range to become familiar with it?

[Altimas]

What makes you think they won't learn about it, or go to a range to become familiar with it?

Because everyone thinks they know how to use a gun... SHOOT, READY, AIM!

[Lohman446]

What makes you think they won't learn about it, or go to a range to become familiar with it?

Because I know people who own guns (without being required by law) and still don't have a clue.

[Army]

A whole lot of people drive, with having no clue about cars yet they learned how to drive safely.

[tsc]

A whole lot of people drive, with having no clue about cars yet they learned how to drive safely.

Theoretical driving is my forte.


Gun ownership is not a bad thing. A law saying 'have a gun', not necessarily a bad thing. Assuming people will remain ignorant is.

People have an AMAZING capacity to learn, even when faced with things completely out of their ken-- my 80 year old grandmother learned to IM me when I got home from school to see how I was doing.

People can learn how to operate a (fairly) simple mechanical object.

I think many people don't simply because firearms aren't something that people really think of. If you've never been exposed to them..what do you care? A girlfriend of mine from work is full on *afraid* of firearms-- but she realizes it's a product of her ignorance and is working on getting out to the range with me. Go her !

And she doesn't even "have" to.

The nub of it is: firearms in homes deter crime. Especially when everyone in that town knows that everyone else has one. Keeping honest people honest is not a bad thing.

[Lenny]

Because everyone thinks they know how to use a gun... SHOOT, READY, AIM!

Hmm... I think that process is a wee bit out of order...

I think it's good. I'm all for guns. The way I figure it, the "bad guys" will already be carrying a gun despite owning a liscence, etc, or not. But, once the playing field is more even and they don't have that advantage, most people tend to sissy out, for their own good.

Shoot, I own a muzzle loader and don't carry a liscene! Though I use it for Civil War reenactments, instead of firing...

[Lohman446]

A whole lot of people drive, with having no clue about cars yet they learned how to drive safely.

Are they required by law to own a car? I'm sorry, I have a very expensive safe behind me. Do you think all the people who go down and buys a $70 surplus WW2 rifle for the sole sake of complying with the law, is going to properly store it? If we are lucky they will use the cable lock.

There are already far too many problems created by improper storage of firearms, by people "using" them who have no clue. I doubt you can mandate a training class and a requirement to own. Even then, how dangerous is the person who took one class and thinks they know what they are doing.

All for firearm ownership by responsible people.

[Altimas]

Hmm... I think that process is a wee bit out of order...

Yeah..sorry I shoulda used the , SHoot, Ready, Aim is our Police forces motto here.

[Rudz]

wait..they HAVE to have weapons? wyf you gonna do about guys like soopa?


..has thoughts of when homer simpson owned a gun..uh ohs..

[Lohman446]

For once I agree with Rudz. You'd be ok with MANDATING that Soopa owns a firearm? Think of the children....

[Muzikman]

Theoretical driving is my forte.


Gun ownership is not a bad thing. A law saying 'have a gun', not necessarily a bad thing. Assuming people will remain ignorant is.

People have an AMAZING capacity to learn, even when faced with things completely out of their ken-- my 80 year old grandmother learned to IM me when I got home from school to see how I was doing.

People can learn how to operate a (fairly) simple mechanical object.

I think many people don't simply because firearms aren't something that people really think of. If you've never been exposed to them..what do you care? A girlfriend of mine from work is full on *afraid* of firearms-- but she realizes it's a product of her ignorance and is working on getting out to the range with me. Go her !

And she doesn't even "have" to.

The nub of it is: firearms in homes deter crime. Especially when everyone in that town knows that everyone else has one. Keeping honest people honest is not a bad thing.

Sarah! How you been girl?

[FiXeL]

I'm not so sure this is a good idea...

Action provokes reaction. If any household in town has to own a gun for safety, what will the criminals do? - Get bigger guns. Somehow i don't feel this i a solution to the problem....