Sunday, January 08, 2006
Cal Skinner's Position on Guns in His 2002 Libertarian Party Candidacy for Illinois Governor
News from Skinner4Governor.org For immediate release
Skinner Proposes “Personal Security Act” To Lower Illinois Crime Rate
With the murder rate in Illinois climbing 10% and Chicago having been proclaimed “Murder Capital of America,” Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate Cal Skinner is proposing that Illinois enact a Personal Security Act allowing law-abiding citizens—with training and a permit—to carry firearms.
In what Skinner called “the only way to reduce crime in Illinois,” he proposed law-abiding Illinois residents be allowed to protect themselves with firearms, “just as citizens in over 30 other states can.
“It is all too obvious that the Chicago Police Department cannot protect all the people all the time,” Skinner said. “Two women with orders of protection have been killed in two months by their estranged husbands. That ought to be evidence enough that police protection is not good enough to provide one with personal security.
“It is time for Illinois citizens to be allowed to protect themselves from armed aggressors,” Skinner declared. “State law should be changed to allow people who want to lessen the risk of being the next crime victim to carry a gun to protect themselves.
“Indeed, the best social science research I have ever read—by Dr. R. John Lott, Jr.—proves that, as he puts it, a policy of ‘more guns leads to less crime,’” continued Skinner, who earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Michigan. .
In his book “More Guns, Less Crime” Dr. Lott found that violent-crime rates fell when states enacted so-called right-to-carry bills. Lott further discovered that the size of the drop in crime is closely related to the number of permits issued. Further research by Lott indicates that it is not just the number of permits that is important but also the type of people who obtain the permits. Skinner said Lott writes in his book, “’high fees discourage the poor--the people who are most vulnerable to crime--from getting permits.’” Study of crime statistics over time show permanent reductions become larger over time, as more people secure gun permits.
Lott’s research indicates that violent crime decreases 2.3% per year, murder goes down 1.5% annually, rape is cut 3.2% per year, aggravated assault down 3% each year, burglary decreases 2.5% a year, auto theft down 2.1% annually and larceny by 9/10 of 1% per year. (See Table 9.1 2000 paperback edition.)
-2- Skinner proposes Personal Security Act
“Remember the car hijackings in Florida a decade ago?” Skinner asked. “They don’t happen any more because Floridians who are not felons and who have proven themselves capable of handling guns safely can now keep one in their glove compartments. In short, car hijacking has disappeared because the prospective hijackers are afraid of what a law-abiding person might do if forcibly stopped on the highway. That’s one of many examples.
“John Lott compared crime rates before and after the enactment of various gun control laws. The conclusion he reaches is that typical ‘gun control measures’ often have unintended consequences. For example, enactment of ‘waiting periods’ actually increases crime. Lott speculates that this may be because by the time a women in relationships realize she are in danger from a man who already owns a gun, it takes too long for the woman to secure a weapon to defend herself.
“Allowing trained women to carry guns, on the other hand, can be predicted to lessen the occurrence of rape on college campuses, Lott’s logic suggests,” said Skinner. “It is just common sense that if a rapist knows young women on campus might be carrying deadly weapons, he will be much more cautious and probably stop his predatory behavior altogether.”
Skinner said the fresh experience of the State of Michigan confirms his view. A not dissimilar state, Michigan has just completed its first year under such a law.
“Dire predictions that policemen would be shot and that holders of gun permits would run amuck have not materialized,” Skinner said. “In fact after only nine months, The Detroit News reported, ‘…law enforcement officials say the law has caused no surge in gun violence, mishaps or vigilante justice.’” (3-21-02)
Skinner reported that Wayne County Sheriff Robert Ficano told the Detroit News, “’That’s really the surprise. There are no altercations or incidents I’ve seen that are at all attributable to the law change. We thought there might be some.’”
A poll reported in The Detroit News, Skinner noted, indicated that 36% strongly support the new law, while 22% somewhat favor it. 13% somewhat oppose it and 25% strongly oppose it. 3% didn’t know how they felt.
One permit holder, Steven Kreft summed up supporters’ views in he Detroit News story: “’I realized I’m responsible for my own safety. It’s not that I’m going to go around shooting anyone—in fact, I think I would walk away from an incident more quickly now because I have a gun. But having a gun gives me another option.’”
The Traverse City Record-Eagle’s headline on April 7th was, “Gun law spurs no violence.”
“Illinois citizens,” declared Skinner, “deserves that other option—the opportunity to defend themselves against deadly force.”
-30-
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
Skinner Proposes “Personal Security Act” To Lower Illinois Crime Rate
With the murder rate in Illinois climbing 10% and Chicago having been proclaimed “Murder Capital of America,” Libertarian Party gubernatorial candidate Cal Skinner is proposing that Illinois enact a Personal Security Act allowing law-abiding citizens—with training and a permit—to carry firearms.
In what Skinner called “the only way to reduce crime in Illinois,” he proposed law-abiding Illinois residents be allowed to protect themselves with firearms, “just as citizens in over 30 other states can.
“It is all too obvious that the Chicago Police Department cannot protect all the people all the time,” Skinner said. “Two women with orders of protection have been killed in two months by their estranged husbands. That ought to be evidence enough that police protection is not good enough to provide one with personal security.
“It is time for Illinois citizens to be allowed to protect themselves from armed aggressors,” Skinner declared. “State law should be changed to allow people who want to lessen the risk of being the next crime victim to carry a gun to protect themselves.
“Indeed, the best social science research I have ever read—by Dr. R. John Lott, Jr.—proves that, as he puts it, a policy of ‘more guns leads to less crime,’” continued Skinner, who earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Michigan. .
In his book “More Guns, Less Crime” Dr. Lott found that violent-crime rates fell when states enacted so-called right-to-carry bills. Lott further discovered that the size of the drop in crime is closely related to the number of permits issued. Further research by Lott indicates that it is not just the number of permits that is important but also the type of people who obtain the permits. Skinner said Lott writes in his book, “’high fees discourage the poor--the people who are most vulnerable to crime--from getting permits.’” Study of crime statistics over time show permanent reductions become larger over time, as more people secure gun permits.
Lott’s research indicates that violent crime decreases 2.3% per year, murder goes down 1.5% annually, rape is cut 3.2% per year, aggravated assault down 3% each year, burglary decreases 2.5% a year, auto theft down 2.1% annually and larceny by 9/10 of 1% per year. (See Table 9.1 2000 paperback edition.)
-2- Skinner proposes Personal Security Act
“Remember the car hijackings in Florida a decade ago?” Skinner asked. “They don’t happen any more because Floridians who are not felons and who have proven themselves capable of handling guns safely can now keep one in their glove compartments. In short, car hijacking has disappeared because the prospective hijackers are afraid of what a law-abiding person might do if forcibly stopped on the highway. That’s one of many examples.
“John Lott compared crime rates before and after the enactment of various gun control laws. The conclusion he reaches is that typical ‘gun control measures’ often have unintended consequences. For example, enactment of ‘waiting periods’ actually increases crime. Lott speculates that this may be because by the time a women in relationships realize she are in danger from a man who already owns a gun, it takes too long for the woman to secure a weapon to defend herself.
“Allowing trained women to carry guns, on the other hand, can be predicted to lessen the occurrence of rape on college campuses, Lott’s logic suggests,” said Skinner. “It is just common sense that if a rapist knows young women on campus might be carrying deadly weapons, he will be much more cautious and probably stop his predatory behavior altogether.”
Skinner said the fresh experience of the State of Michigan confirms his view. A not dissimilar state, Michigan has just completed its first year under such a law.
“Dire predictions that policemen would be shot and that holders of gun permits would run amuck have not materialized,” Skinner said. “In fact after only nine months, The Detroit News reported, ‘…law enforcement officials say the law has caused no surge in gun violence, mishaps or vigilante justice.’” (3-21-02)
Skinner reported that Wayne County Sheriff Robert Ficano told the Detroit News, “’That’s really the surprise. There are no altercations or incidents I’ve seen that are at all attributable to the law change. We thought there might be some.’”
A poll reported in The Detroit News, Skinner noted, indicated that 36% strongly support the new law, while 22% somewhat favor it. 13% somewhat oppose it and 25% strongly oppose it. 3% didn’t know how they felt.
One permit holder, Steven Kreft summed up supporters’ views in he Detroit News story: “’I realized I’m responsible for my own safety. It’s not that I’m going to go around shooting anyone—in fact, I think I would walk away from an incident more quickly now because I have a gun. But having a gun gives me another option.’”
The Traverse City Record-Eagle’s headline on April 7th was, “Gun law spurs no violence.”
“Illinois citizens,” declared Skinner, “deserves that other option—the opportunity to defend themselves against deadly force.”
-30-
To return to McHenry County Blog, click here.
# posted by Cal Skinner : 7:19 AM
