Indians For Guns

The following anti-gun article on India was published in the
Washington Post; you can find the complete
article at:

Guns Are King in Indian State
Viewed as Key to Respect, Firearms Proliferate Among All Castes
By Rama Lakshmi

Uttar Pradesh officials say they receive thousands of applications daily for gun licenses, and at last count 500,000 cases were pending.

As you can see, officials when given discretionary power in issuing firearm permits are the same the world over - they always tend to delay & deny permits to civilians!

"If you have weapons, the crime rate will go down," he said, as he sat next to a heap of freshly harvested corn in his front yard. He said he needs guns to protect his crop from robbers and to chase away thieves trying to steal his tractor.

The above comment by a farmer illustrates that "more guns = less crime" is a logic that any sensible can understand intuitively!

In 2002, according to the National Crime Records Bureau, 24 percent of murders nationwide were committed with guns, compared with 20 percent in 2000. In Uttar Pradesh state, the share of gun murders stood at 54 percent in 2002.

For people who cannot afford a license or a factory-made gun, cheap country-made guns are an easy option -- and it is these guns that account for the bulk of gun crimes. "The licensed guns are mostly for
display and intimidation. Crimes are not committed by these, as we can easily trace it back to them," said Sagar, Unnao's chief bureaucrat.

The above clearly illustrates that even government officials accept that legal guns ARE NOT USED IN CRIMES! Then logically why deny licenses?! Go figure!!

Cheers!
Abhijeet

Contrast the above with the quotes below:

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanheral ... 004/i3.asp

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) N Shivkumar, people arming themselves is a healthy trend. "Guns give people confidence. It is not always possible for the police to be there at the spot every time a person is attacked. Self defence is the next best alternative," he says.

Here's to a Police officer who's clued in!!

AND

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/arti ... 999894.cms

Ninety per cent of the crimes in Delhi are committed using unlicensed guns. From the rudimentary desi katta - a rusty pipe attached to a crude wooden grip and a trigger to the more sophisticated 'Star' guns smuggled in from China and Pakistan, the illegal gun market is thriving like never before.

Officials say legal firearms are used only in stray cases of suicides and domestic violence. Delhi Police estimates that the number of illegal guns is five times higher than the 55,000 licensed guns in the city.

From the above it would seem that the police brass in Delhi concur with their counterparts in Bangalore...
Cheers!
Abhijeet

mundaire";p="28922 wrote:Contrast the above with the quotes below:

http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanheral ... 004/i3.asp

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Administration) N Shivkumar, people arming themselves is a healthy trend. "Guns give people confidence. It is not always possible for the police to be there at the spot every time a person is attacked. Self defence is the next best alternative," he says.

Here's to a Police officer who's clued in!!

AND

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/arti ... 999894.cms

Ninety per cent of the crimes in Delhi are committed using unlicensed guns. From the rudimentary desi katta - a rusty pipe attached to a crude wooden grip and a trigger to the more sophisticated 'Star' guns smuggled in from China and Pakistan, the illegal gun market is thriving like never before.

Officials say legal firearms are used only in stray cases of suicides and domestic violence. Delhi Police estimates that the number of illegal guns is five times higher than the 55,000 licensed guns in the city.

From the above it would seem that the police brass in Delhi concur with their counterparts in Bangalore...
Cheers!
Abhijeet

At last!... A refreshing gulp of fresh air!

Never thought I'd see the day- Sensible other-siders! God bless their cotton socks.

Hope we have more of them

This is a new and different perspective because forces are stretched. Hopefully there are more such officers in India.

Best