Can poor people be trusted with guns?

foxnews.com ^ | 12 March, 2013 | John Lott

[marktwain]

Can poor people be trusted with guns? Overwhelmingly, Republicans thinks so. But while Democrats fight against taxes on the poor and oppose voter photo IDs because they impose too much of burden, they seem to be doing everything possible – from fees, expensive training requirements, and photo IDs -- to make it next to impossible for the poor to own guns.

Indeed, legislation in at least 17 states around the country is aimed specifically at making it more costly to own a gun. Democrats are voting in mass against exempting the poor from fees when it comes to guns. New Yorkers aren't alone facing everything from registration fees to buying liability insurance.

That's too bad, because many law-abiding citizens, particularly minorities in crime-ridden neighborhoods really do need a gun for self-defense. There is little doubt that the people who are most likely to be victims of violent crime – again, overwhelmingly poor blacks in urban areas -- are also the ones who benefit the most from owning guns. Research, including my own, has demonstrated this.

Apparently, Democrats believe that the right to self-defense is something that only belongs to the wealthy.

[eyeamok]

Let’s not forget that at the same time, they are doing everything in their power to make sure All of US become Poor.

[publius911]

Can poor people be trusted with guns?

Sure.
But only if a) the Second Amendment isn't illegally deleted and b)The "stand your ground" and the "Castle Doctrine" become universal and immune to challenge.

[GOPJ]

Once again I can't help notice how the libs have such complete contempt for the people they claim to speak for.

It's almost like dems want the poor broken, frightened and dependent... (which of course they do...)

[CottShop]

better yet, can only the rich elite and official government run military be trusted with guns when noone else can own them? Let’s count the countries where just such scenarios played out

[Pfesser]

I went to Wall-mart today to buy bullets. They had none so I went to a well known
, high priced, gun store. I stood in line over an hour and still got no bullets.
What is going on?

[Real Cynic No More]

I seem to recall the USSC voided inexpensive poll taxes as infringing on the right to vote. Could they strike down these expensive costs as infringing on 2nd Amendment rights as well?

[Eye of Unk]

Sounds like some newsy is trying to hunt down some gimmicky trend topic for the Fox talking heads today, I hate it when MSM morons come to forums asking stupid nonsensical questions.

[1010RD]

The armed poor are criminals.

[rockinqsranch]

"Apparently, Democrats believe that the right to self-defense is something that only belongs to the wealthy Democrats."

There ya go. I fixed it.

[OldPossum]

The inside the beltway crowd, metro NYC, and LA will be dead in a week.

I think it's a good guess that it won't be the result of starvation, either.

[DaveA37]

“Poor People?.... By labeling people for this purpose, we take for granted they have no sense of responsibility or need for a weapon. Certainly the intercity poor have defferent needs for protection than do country people who also are “poor”. I know several rural people who are struggling and by some standards are considered “poor”. Yet, few if any of these people go around shooting or killing their neighbors just for the funo f it. Rural poor, actually use their guns as tools for survival (yes they do). I think it unfair to label a person poor and then take away his/her rites to survival.

[MamaTexan]

I was just thinking this morning how odd it is that libs flip out at the idea of showing an ID to vote

Especially since they required one to attend their convention.

Hypocrites all.

[sergeantdave]

“legislation in at least 17 states around the country is aimed specifically at making it more costly to own a gun.”

The lines of division for CW II are becoming more clear everyday.

[Carry_Okie]

I guess Zero will just have to make ammo a permissible purchase with an EBT card.

[i_robot73]

I’m still trying to find this ‘Right to vote’ myself.

Poll tax = NO, but a license, registration fee, stamp tax (and possibly ammo taxes) = A.O.K.??

I wish they’d finally bring a lawsuit up to the USSC and have them try to define ‘shall not be infringed’ along with all the existing laws....If abortion is a ‘right’ by the 4th, how is a license/stamp tax NOT an infringement??

[familyop]

"The armed poor are criminals."

The families of Holmes and Lanza have very large incomes from prestigious corporate positions. Both mass murderers attended universities and did well in them. Both are products of the trendy divorce/cohabitation paradigm. We'll be seeing more atrocities from upscale folks, as the debt regime rots.

As the default process goes on, increasing numbers of them will be laid off or receive pension haircuts and turn from soaking the shrinking private sector to committing more traditional crimes like robbery. Meanwhile, many millions of good poor people own firearms, and nearly all are more conservative than members of the debt/revenue-sucking political/regulator class.

We're all in it together, and further violating the Second Amendment against any subgroup would be end of our civil (constitutional) rights.

[familyop]

"I went to Wall-mart today to buy bullets. They had none so I went to a well known , high priced, gun store. I stood in line over an hour and still got no bullets. What is going on?"

Vain, political people are pushing to foment panic in all kinds of ways in their efforts to each grab more from the pile of worthless debt. For decades, they've moved production overseas, outlawed new competition in all kinds of ways here (NIMBYs, all) and generally made our country more corrupt and less productive. Now, in their larcenous guilt, they're hysterical and losing their senses in public.

They publish and broadcast all kinds of false end-of-the-world prophecies while fearing that they'll lose all that they have because of their own vanities and foolishness (phony markets without domestic production, etc.). Scaring themselves, they're buying out firearms and ammunition supplies that they'll never use and driving prices sky high. Before long, due to the default process, they'll be foreclosed, ejected from their houses and will be selling those items cheap.

Meanwhile, many of the more humble folks will be forced to give up expensive vices, become more hard working, technically inclined and become generally tougher. Best thing to do is to support a state organization that works to preserve our Second Amendment right. All of those organizations, as far as I know, do work for us all. Doesn't cost much, and they're also a good, honest source of news.

[1010RD]

Sorry to not have been clearer. In Chicago the laws and circumstances are such that the good poor are disarmed. Hence my statement that the armed poor are criminals.

Either they really are criminals or they have been criminalized.

[stevie_d_64]

Well, I figure if you fixed, (i.e.: get rid of this tax and spend agenda that permiates all corners of our governmetn at ALL levels) that a rejuvinated economy would allow folks in a lower income bracket the ability to afford such armaments that they deem necessary to protect themselves against criminal activity...

By fomenting this destructive economic direction we are ALL in, the Fabian socialists are gaining more and more people dependent upon their existance...And the porrer you are the less likely you are looking at the overall picture in a proper perspective...

[familyop]

"Sorry to not have been clearer. In Chicago the laws and circumstances are such that the good poor are disarmed. Hence my statement that the armed poor are criminals.

Either they really are criminals or they have been criminalized."

Thank you. I fear that most of the rest of us will be criminalized, if regulatory and anti-family spending isn't drastically cut soon.