Ron Paul Rejects NRA Gun Proposal, Calls Out Against Gun Control

Impact

Ron Paul (R-TX) is the first Republican to publicly speak out against a key pillar of the gun plan presented by the National Rifle Association (NRA) during last Friday's press conference. Although retiring from the House next week, Paul took to his website to express his dislike of the proposed solutions from across the political spectrum.

Here's an excerpt:

"Connecticut already has restrictive gun laws relative to other states, including restrictions on fully automatic, so-called “assault” rifles and gun-free zones. Predictably, the political left responded to the tragedy with emotional calls for increased gun control. This is understandable, but misguided. ... Many Americans believe that if we simply pass the right laws, future horrors like the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting can be prevented.  But this impulse ignores the self evident truth that criminals don't obey laws.   

The political right, unfortunately, has fallen into the same trap in its calls for quick legislative solutions to gun violence. If only we put armed police or armed teachers in schools, we’re told, would-be school shooters will be dissuaded or stopped. While I certainly agree that more guns equals less crime and that private gun ownership prevents many shootings, I don’t agree that conservatives and libertarians should view government legislation, especially at the federal level, as the solution to violence. Real change can happen only when we commit ourselves to rebuilding civil society in America, meaning a society based on family, religion, civic and social institutions, and peaceful cooperation through markets. We cannot reverse decades of moral and intellectual decline by snapping our fingers and passing laws."

With his libertarian-leaning ideologies, it is clear that Paul is not in the pro-gun control crowd. He strongly believes that "more guns equals less crime and that private gun ownership prevents many shootings."

However, he has also come out slamming the NRA and political right who think the best solution to gun violence is armed police and teachers in schools. Paul has returned to calls for the rebuilding of civil society through a greater focus on family, religion, civic and social institutions, and peaceful cooperation through markets.

December 24 saw the fatal shooting of two firemen in western New York as they responded to a blaze. Does Paul's claim that "more guns equals less crime" still hold weight?