Gun owners in New Jersey won the internet this week when police in the state announced that precisely zero bump stocks were turned in despite them being made illegal in the state.
Now, does this mean that every gun owner with a bump stock in New Jersey is about to go around unleashing apocalyptic terror upon everyone they see? It’s been a couple days and that hasn’t happened yet, so either they’re all biding their time and playing the long game, or the vast majority of people with guns really aren’t that dangerous. We’re willing to put money on the latter.
This image perfectly demonstrates why this happened. The obvious intention here was the curb gun violence, which isn’t a bad thing. What matters is the methodology. Violence isn’t going to magically disappear because the state wills it so. After all, violent crime is reaching record levels in London, despite the fact that gun ownership is basically illegal there. Maybe it’s the people that are the problem? That seems like a better tplace to start.
So no — turning in your firearms or firearm-related equipment isn’t going to curb gun violence anymore than cancelling your credit cards is going to stop identity theft.
~ Facts Not Memes