Do Gun Control Laws Criminalize Law-Abiding Citizens?

The Second Amendment, ratified in 1791, stands as an archaic document in the face of modern gun laws. A staggering 99.5% of these laws are deemed unconstitutional due to their prohibitive impact on weapons that did not exist at the time of the Amendment's ratification.

Impact on Law-Abiding Citizens

Gun control laws are designed to criminalize law-abiding citizens rather than the felons and gang members they claim to target. Prosecutors and law enforcement agencies often drop charges in favor of lesser, more manageable offenses rather than taking the case to trial. This results in the persecution of otherwise law-abiding citizens, who are left to fend for themselves in a system that does not serve their interests.

The Paradox of Criminalization

Given that gun ownership is already prohibited for felons, the laws in question would target law-abiding citizens if enacted. For instance, if guns were outlawed, a significant portion approximately 45% of American citizens would become criminals overnight. In the face of such rampant criminalization, criminals would no longer fear the repercussions of being shot by law-abiding individuals. Instead, they would be more vulnerable to other criminals with the same mindset, making the society as a whole more dangerous.

Consequences of Ineffective Gun Control

While gun control laws aim to criminalize gun owners who fail to adhere to the new restrictions, the larger problem is that these laws victimize law-abiding citizens. Criminals rarely heed gun control laws, as exemplified by the fact that convicted felons can't own firearms. This reliance on police forces to enforce gun control laws exacerbates the problem, as law enforcement agencies often struggle to respond in a timely manner. On average, police take about 10 minutes to arrive at a crime scene, far beyond the time span in which most crimes occur. Courts have also ruled that police have no obligation to protect individuals, further intensifying the reliance on law-abiding citizens to protect themselves.

Increased Dependence on Government

The increasing burden on police forces for enforcing gun control laws leads to higher taxes. This increase in taxes disproportionately affects the lower and middle classes, as they have less access to less-heavily taxed income streams. As a result, these citizens become more dependent on the government to meet their needs. Meanwhile, the wealthy and connected have proven access to alternative, more tax-efficient methods of income generation, which further undermines the social equity of the system.

Conclusion

Gun control laws may criminalize law-abiding citizens, but the systemic issues created by these laws go far beyond mere criminalization. They create a vicious cycle of increased dependence on the government and law enforcement, while simultaneously undermining their effectiveness. The real issue lies in the disproportionate burden placed on law-abiding citizens and the failure of gun control laws to meaningfully curb criminal activity.