The Key Word in Gun Control Is "Control"

 Time after time, California is given an A+ rating on its gun control laws by the gun grabbers.  But as Tom Knighton points out in an essay at Bearing Arms entitled So Much for California's Gun Control Efforts, these laws fail both to control who has guns, and to protect the people of California. Perhaps that is part of why they are leaving in droves?

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is a big fan of gun control. In fact, he likes it so much he wants to export it to the rest of the nation in the form of a constitutional amendment.

To be fair, Newsom isn’t alone. A lot of people on the anti-gun side of the debate want gun control similar to what Newsom has in effect already.

In fact, we’re told we’re insane for not wanting it.

Yet the problem is that gun control doesn’t really work. California is far from what most of us would call a safe state, and while it’s not the least safe either, that has to do with factors beyond gun control.

And for those who will try and argue that gun control actually does work, then please explain this to me.

"More than 100 guns were seized and nearly 30 people arrested this month as part of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Operation Consequences."

…

"At those locations, suspected gang members and people prohibited from possessing guns were found to have 102 guns, including 18 unserialized weapons known as “ghost guns,” resulting in 29 felony arrests, authorities said in a news release."

"An image shared by the SBSD shows assault-style rifles, a shotgun and a variety of pistols."

Also found were 50 pounds of methamphetamine and five pounds of cocaine.

Because drug control works brilliantly, too.

The problem, as I and others have constantly pointed out is that criminals, by definition, do not obey the law. So, they have guns even though the "law" says that they may not. It makes perfect sense too, if you consider that they are dealing in a product that is illegal as well. They can't very well come crying to the police that their illegal product was stolen by some other criminal gang, now, can they? From their point of view, they need protection and guns are a way to protect themselves and their property.

A more honest approach would be to allow everyone to own and carry guns without restriction, and then go after illegal activities such as drug dealing on the merits of the case. But gun grabbers don't really care about drug dealers, indeed, don't really care about criminals at all. They don't really even care about school shootings except as ways to publicize their preferences. The target of all gun control efforts is the law-abiding citizen. They don't want YOU or me to have guns. I don't know about you, but I don't trust any government that doesn't trust us with guns. After all, why should they care if they are not planning something that will provoke us?