Should Idaho Falls Require Heads of Household to Keep a Defensive Firearm?
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Sometimes these stories turn out to be hoaxes (especially when one reads them on an uber-conservative or uber-liberal website and nowhere mainstream), but I read with interest this story about Kennesaw, Georgia “Gun Town, USA” where they enacted a city ordinance in 1982 requiring households to contain a firearm and ammunition.
Many of you have probably already heard this story, but they passed this ordinance in direct response to Morton Grove’s (Illinois) handgun ban the prior year. Since passing the pro-gun ordinance, Kennesaw has had a significant crime drop. Morton Grove has purportedly experienced significantly higher murder and crime rates in the years since enacting their handgun ban (which was ruled constitutional and stands to this day).
So the obvious question is to ask ourselves if Idaho Falls should require every household to keep a defensive firearm and ammunition? Idaho Falls already experiences low crime rates, but that could change with all the growth we are undergoing and all the Californians and gangs migrating to our area. Is it better to nip this problem quickly?
A Kennesaw detective reported their violent crime rate is about four times lower than Georgia’s and national rates. He also said “Violent crime is almost nonexistent in residential neighborhoods” and the violent crimes they do have are usually around motels and commercial developments.
I found in Kennesaw’s wikipedia page that they do not have a penalty for violating the required handgun law. They also amended their ordinance in 1983, exempting people who cannot own firearms (felons, mental problems, physical disabilities), or conscientious objectors.
With rights there come responsibilities, so if Idaho Falls passed this we should also provide more gun safety courses, and indoor shooting ranges and practice shooting events. I could see street signs touting the law and reminding people to try practicing their shots every couple months.
Regarding hangun purchases for people who have not done it before, what would you recommend for handgun makes and models that are affordable yet powerful enough to be a real deterrence? Would you recommend buying locally or via catalog or via Internet?
Also, can someone please shed light on the costs and process to earn a concealed weapons permit? Domestic violence offenders are prevented from owning firearms, aren’t they?
What do you think of this proposal?
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Comments
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0 Although I come down firmly on the side of the second amendment, I have to question making gun ownership mandatory. I’m afraid of irresponsible parents (and you cannot legislate that away) who leave firearms where children have access. Would we be willing to trade an increased number of gun-related childrens deaths for a decrease in overall crime? Any statistics on that?
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0 0 yea teach the kids about dangers of guns at an earlier age. Both of my kids wont touch a gun. I have left my gun unloaded before and left it on the table with my webcam watching it, and the kids looked at the gun and told each other that guns are dangerous and not to touch it. Then they came and beat on my door and told me there is a gun on the kitchen table. Maybe schools and parents should talk with children about guns and maybe even show them what a gun will do if fired at an object. I took both my kids out to the country and let them shoot my 44 mag and they do not want to touch guns till they get older.
I think every non felon family should have a gun.
I wish I could register a story with out giving my identity out. This site has threatened others of telling who they are several times with IP addresses.
But I think we should do a story about schools making parents put kids on drugs for ADHD that cause brain damage or face losing kids or even jail.
what happens is a teacher can’t handle a child so they want them drugged. And if the parent refuses the child gets kicked out of school. then you have to find another school or face jail or abuse charges.
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0 0 There are a lot of people who are not responsible enough to own and properly care for a gun. The last thing I want is having them forced to own one.
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0 0 I’m with Paula - gun ownership is a right, not a requirement, under the constitution. Demanding that every home has a gun is actually, not too bad an idea as compared to strict gun control, but it’s almost as bad as the extreme on the other side, isn’t it?
Any time a government makes something compulsory, it takes away the value of that concept - like, say, voting.
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0 0 Just a quick comment to guest555 that Joe does NOT give out IP addys unless he is forced by a subpeona (which to my knowledge he never has been…) and Joe HIGHLY values anonimity here. Your ADHD comments and accusations that Joe has threatened people with revealing their identities are ridiculous, and I will otherwise ignore you.
As for compulsory gun ownership, I think it is a very bad idea, for the reasons which some have stated above. While I don’t think you should legislate common sense (and thus oppose mandatory seatbelt or helmet laws for adults) I DO think that children should be protected from stupid parents (so child seat and child helmet laws are good…) I think there are far too many stupid parents out there who would allow children to be harmed by guns in their homes.
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0 0 You can make me own a gun if you can push one into my cold, dead hands. I do not own a gun. I do not plan to get a gun in the forseeable future. I do not mind, however, if other people have guns, as long as they (the guns) are treated with respect, not as toys. If anything is mandatory about guns, it ought to be some kind of firearm safety training. I remember doing this in the sixth grade — we went through a hunter’s education course at Iona Elementary. That safety training ought to include not only safe operation of the weapon, but safe storage (gun locks, locked gun storage, ammunition stored seperately, et cetera) of the weapon. I applaud gun owners who educate their children about gun safety. I can recall many instances growing up where classmates, Idaho residents, et cetera, were hurt or killed by guns because they were stored improperly and/or the individual using the gun did not have safety training nor treat the gun as a weapon, not a toy.
And, let’s face it, there’s got to be more to this story than Joe’s link leads one to believe. Can they honestly say that mandatory gun ownership is the sole factor responsible for the town’s decrease in crime? I know enough about statistics to know you can get them to say whatever you want.
Making gun ownership mandatory, I believe, would violate the rights of people like me who just don’t want a gun around the house. Sure, this town doesn’t enforce the law. So why have it on the books? Do criminals read law books, find out this town has mandatory gun ownership and stay away, out of fear of being shot? Or, as I asked earlier, is there more to the story than gun ownership being the single factor in crime’s decrease in this town?
Making safety training mandatory, however, would make gun owners — and their families — more responsible, and safe.
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0 0 I don’t believe that there is any way that you can really “force” someone to own a firearm. It would be rediculous to really try. These towns around the country that pass these laws (and there have been several) are usually very small, “country” towns, in which everyione already has at least one firearm. And I bet that no one would ever be prosecuted for not having a gun. It’s a statement they are making. Meant to be taken by the “spirit” of the law — not the “letter.”
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0 0 Buy me a nice pistol and id take it, but don’t try to pawn off one of those peices of crap Kimball Mason had.
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0 0 I agree with most other posters wherein I don’t think it should be mandatory. That’s just crazy. I think some people just don’t have the common sense and shouldn’t be around firearms at all. It’d be like the wild wild west all over again.
I also believe the people that already feel comfortable around firearms already own them for hunting, sport, and protection.
I personally own a number of firearms as does most of my immediate family. We all enjoy hunting and target practice as well. And it’s a great stress reliever to go out to the target range fire off a couple boxes of ammo. At the same time, there is a lot of responsibility that goes along with owning a firearm and I believe as long as people get the proper training on how to handle their weapon, then I think everyone should take advantage of their constitutional right to own a firearm or two.
And for those who don’t want them around their children, I say take them out and show them how to be responible with a firearm when their young so they learn to repect weapons instead of fear them. It will also help prevent accidents from happening. Nine out of ten times, accidents with firearms happen because children and even adults haven’t been informed. Teach them at a young age, and then keep them locked up in a gun cabinet and have locks for your handguns. If you have children and you don’t have a gun lock for your handgun, don’t keep the weapon and ammo in the same place.
As with anything else, it’s all about education.
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0 0 guest 555
I used to think the same about being identified by this website,That impression I got from posters in the chatbox getting offended and stating they would have site host do what you are concerned about,Joe has stated he snapshot chatbox whatever that means?? please someone [not mad at fellow posters who call b——t} explain anonymous.
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0 0 I think guns would be great for non-felons people in idaho falls. As long they do it safely and know what they are doing with those guns.
I know a guy who got guns everywhere in his house. Under his couch, under his couch seats, in the walls, in his kitchen, etc etc.. about everywhere i can think of. Even in the bathroom!
But it makes sense because he lives alone and lives far out in the country.. in the middle of nowhere….
ITs nice to have a gun sometimes.. since it increases the feeling of security..
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0 0 Good for him! Guns seem to be very un-politically correct these days, and we need to bring them back into public life.
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0 0 Murders and robberies reportedly “rose sharply” for the second straight year in 8 of 10 biggest American cities.
Small and mid-sized cities experienced dramatic decreases in murders and robberies during the past year.
There will likely be more people escaping the bigger cities for smaller, safer communities like Idaho Falls. Big city gangs may see Idaho Falls as still-fresh areas to move into.
Idaho Falls can make a statement by requiring handguns in every eligible household, or at least encouraging safe handgun ownership and shooting practice.
Where are the shooting ranges in and around Idaho Falls?
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0 0 I would like to know what Californians moving to the area has to do with an increase in crime rates. Many people that live in this area are not native to the area and come from all over the country. Idaho Falls is home to many site workers that move to the area for work and it has been that way for a very long time. I myself am from back East and can honestly say I felt safe there. I had lived here for all of a month and my friend and I were attacked by a man who claimed he had just killed his girlfriend. We later found that the man was on crystal meth and have since found out that Idaho has very high meth use. The man who attacked us was born and raised here, so I am still trying to understand where anyone would say that Californians moving to Idaho Falls would make this town any less safe.
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0 0 I think he meant more in the way of gangs from California moving into the area. (but it does read like he meant Californians in general)
I think in this day and age, no one place is any more or less safe than the other. I also came from the SE part of the country in a very large metropolitan area and I always felt safe there. I think when there are more people in a certain area, of course there will be more crime, but if you average out the crimes per ratio of people, Idaho Falls is no more safe than any other part of the country. I think people get a false sense of security moving to a small town thinking there won’t be any crime.
Overall there may be less crime here, but it’s only because there are less people.
I do think people are much more friedly here than back east and there’s a stronger sense of community as well.
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0 0 make them all have a gun I agree with that. I am down for all residences to have guns in the home it should be manditory.
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0 0 Forcing people to have guns? Where is our FREEDOM to NOT carry a gun? I don’t like the idea of forcing anyone to carry or not carry a gun! Does that mean the drug addicts and irresponsible parents will also be required to have a gun in the house?
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0 0 True….I don’t think it should be “mandatory”. There are way to many people out there that should not be around a firearm to begin with. And the people that DO have and want a firearm in the house for protection, already have one anyways. So whats the point in making something like that “mandatory”?
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0 0 I for one do not own a gun, nor do I plan on ever owning one. I raised two kids as a single parent and never saw the need or rationale for having a gun. I think requiring people to have a gun is wrong. I agree with comments #18 and #19.
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0 0 I honestly thought this was a joke when I first read it; what is this, Road Warriors or something?
I would never own a gun. I understand some people feel it is their “right” to own one; fair enough, if you want to take that resonsibility and risk; but to imply that a “duty” exists to own one?
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0 0 Personally, I don’t think it should be “mandatory”. But I DO think everyone should own one or two just to have them. Lock them away in the basement somewhere and forget about them. Gun ownership is a right and at the rate our rights are being violated, it won’t be long until that right will be taken away. Get them now because some day, you may not be able to get one at all.
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0 0 I thought the same thing, CR67, but I figured I’d have to find a way to keep them locked away so my grandchildren couldn’t possibly find them when they come to visit.
Their dad is a Treasury agent and he carries a weapon, but he has a cool safe gizmo so the kids have probably never even SEEN his gun. Maybe I could get something like that.
So even though I don’t use one, I may have to exercise my right to get and own one before I don’t have that right anymore.
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0 0 Reading this actually made my IQ drop by 5 points. Garbage - trash - irresponsible -hogwash….you fill in the best moniker.
And this statement coming from an NRA lifetime member that has testified in front of a congressional committee on gun ownership and home defense.
Mandate citizens to own a firearm ? Really? Bring it on Joe, these data you cite are from .com sites and have agendas. This is not data, it is propaganda.
Idaho Fallz.com does not represent Idaho Falls and her values. JOEVANDAL.com .is a much more appropriate name for this site.
However, that is just my opinion and I could be wrong.
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0 0 That’s quite the brash statement Alumni. Why don’t you tell us how you REALLY feel. Instead of bashing Joe and the comments he wrote, why not offer us something of substance? Despite your claim of testifying in front of a congressional committee, surely you must have an opinion regarding the actual topic. I mean seriously, was that supposed to impress us or did you actually have a point you wanted to make aside from your extreme distaste of this particular post and this blog in general? I would also like to point out that I don’t believe I’ve ever heard Joe mention, nor have I read anywhere on this site, that it or he, claim to be a representation of Idaho Falls and her values. Surely you can bring more to the table that just your NRA card and an insult.
(Your comment just seemed a little too convenient now that Joe is no longer the site owner. Afterall, he did write this post almost a year ago.)
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0 0 Greenleaf Idaho also passed this type of ordinance last year. It was also done to make a statement and with no intention of actually enforcing the law. Kennesaw has never prosecuted anyone for not owning a gun and neither will Greenleaf. This type of law serves two purposes. It advertises to criminals that they need to take their business elsewhere because the citizens are ready and willing to protect themselves. It also makes an in-your-face statement to the liberal left who want nothing less than to confiscate every firearm from every law abiding citizen in the country (except for their own personal bodyguards of course).
While I support the philosophy behind them I don’t think it’s really a good idea to pass these mandatory gun ownership laws. There are many truly unbalanced people out there who should not own a gun because they would be too incompetent to ever use it safely.
Others just don’t understand or like guns and want nothing to do with them. They have a right NOT to own a gun just as I have a right to own one.
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0 0 I must have taken too long to post reply 26. I was logged in when I started!
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0 0 Test post - Am I me again?
CafeDelSol
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0 0 I am a poor attention payer. I didn’t know Joe was no longer ram-rodding this site. I guess between the “lets legalize hard drugs”, “let’s arm college kids”, and “let’s force people to own a firearm” , I finally snapped.
But in my defense, I did state, THIS IS MY OPINION AND I COULD BE WRONG.
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0 0 Nobody’s twisting your arm to comment on or even read any of the posts on this site. It’s just like a tv or radio….if you don’t like what you read or hear, change the channel. Or better yet, write a post of your own on a topic you’d like to discuss. Many of the topics written on this site are in regards to what’s happening in our community and our world today. You can either choose to discuss these important topics in a civil manner or keep your rose colored glasses on and go about your business thinking our town, country and world is this perfect happy place.
But that’s just MY opinion.
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0 0 After reading comment #24 I thought, “goodness dude what kind of sick manifesto did I write a year ago?”
But after re-reading the original article, I just have to disagree with comment 24. I didn’t claim it was my original idea, I read about it elsewhere and thought it was topical to the Idaho Falls area because firearms issues are part of our society and culture. But that’s just my opinion also.
Personally I don’t think a mandatory firearms law could work on a city over a magic population because you get more mental issue folks, but the idea I think here is encouraging more people to own and train themselves with firearms.
That’s interesting that Greenview, Idaho passed this same law, anyone know the dynamics of its passage and what they’ve experienced since then?
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0 0 Well geekery, I personally enjoyed reading your posts and comments. Even if TheNewGuy is great, too (and I’m hoping that’s the case) I will miss you when you leave.
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0 0 Is it Greenview or Greenleaf, Idaho?
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0 0 Greenleaf.
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0 0 It is not good for every citizen in Idaho. it has increase the crime rates in every year. Government should provide for securities to the Idaho citizen.
_______________________
Anderson smith
Addiction Recovery Idaho
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0 0 huh?
re: your last statement, I beg to differ. I don’t think its up to our govt to “provide securities” for us within our own homes. The govt is already in too much of our lives, I sure as heck don’t want them “in my home” trying to protect me. I would like to hear some of your thoughts as to how our govt would go about doing this? Your comment really doesn’t make sense to me so if you could elaborate a little as to better help me understand I would appreciate it.
thx
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whew, slow day, time to all start commenting again!
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What percentage would you estimate of Idaho Falls households that already have a firearm?