Sunday, August 12, 2007

People's Republic of Massachusetts Seeing a Decline in Gun Ownership

Shocker.
BOSTON - The number of licensed gun owners in Massachusetts is falling.
In the past six years, gun licenses have dropped by 25 percent, a decline driven by more restrictive laws, higher fees and a gradual change in culture, according to law enforcement and gun owners.
Much of the drop-off is centered in the state’s urban areas.
In Boston, Springfield, Fall River and Waltham the number of licensed gun owners has fallen by at least 30 percent, according to statistics from the state’s Criminal History Systems Board reported by the Boston Sunday Globe.
The only areas to see an increase in gun owners were 40 mostly smaller communities in the central and western parts of the state. Some of the exceptions were Weston and Brockton in the eastern part of the state that also saw increases.

Many point to the state’s 1998 Massachusetts Gun Control Act as one of the main reasons for the decline.
Of course, they also pull out a quote from the imbecile, uhh, police chief of Quincy:
"Fewer firearms on the street makes life safer for everyone," said Quincy Police Chief Robert Crowley. "The average citizen who has a gun 24-7 I don’t believe has the experience, knowledge and training to know when and if they should use a firearm."
I'm betting the same can be said for him and a lot of his officers.


1 comment:

Granted said...

This one is a shocker. Who knew that raising fees to over $100 and increasing the requirements would result in reduced ownership.

And yes, that chief is an asshat. Does he care to explain why the murder rate is HIGHER than it was in 1998 despite "fewer guns on the streets?"