An old saying goes, “laws are made to be broken.”
A lot of people use and abuse illegal drugs, despite the fact that they are illegal. A lot of people abuse alcohol, drive drunk, drink underage or serve alcohol to underage people, despite the laws.
During prohibition, people manufactured, transported, sold and consumed alcohol even though it was illegal. The majority of people on the highway at any given time, even those who otherwise call themselves law-abiding citizens, exceed the speed limit.
There is an element of society that will do whatever they want despite the law and despite any impact their actions may have on other people.
What impact will stricter gun laws have on people like this? Absolutely none! Banning various types of guns will have the same consequence as banning drugs or alcohol. It will create a black market of potentially violent gangs that will still sell these banned items to anyone willing to pay the price.
The guns are already out there. Banning their sale or possession will do little to keep people from obtaining them and using them to commit other violent crimes.
So, gun laws are not the answer. Instead, we must figure out what makes these people want to go on killing rampages and try to stop them before they do. We must vastly improve our mental health care network. And we must make it so that people who need help are not ashamed to seek it out.
John Gresiak
State College
