By: Teresa Mull
“The mayor of West Palm Beach, Fla., declared a state of emergency on May 31 that banned the sale of firearms and ammunition as well as the right of citizens to carry a firearm for personal protection in public unless they are members of law enforcement,” reports the NRA’s website.
Mayor Keith A. James’ order comes at a time in which violent protests have erupted across the nation, many of which involve looting. WPVI-TV reports, “Residents stocking up on guns say they’ll defend against looters.”
James said in a statement:
“The public’s safety is my top priority, especially during this time of great unrest in cities nationwide. The nighttime curfew is an additional tool to promote public safety in our city.”
DJ Parten, Executive Director of Florida Gun Rights, told GPM:
“This type of action only serves to keep law-abiding citizens defenseless at a time when they most need the ability to protect themselves and their families. he blame for this lies at the feet of Republican lawmakers in Tallahassee who have allowed such an egregious gun ban to remain on the books for so long.”
As a reminder, most mass shootings take place in so-called “gun free zones, where victims are helpless and vulnerable. Americangunfacts.com reports:
With just one exception, every public mass shooting in the USA since 1950 has taken place where citizens are banned from carrying guns. Despite strict gun regulations, Europe has had 3 of the worst 6 school shootings.
Nations with strict gun control laws have substantially higher murder rates than those who do not in general. In fact, the 9 European nations with the lowest gun ownership rate have a combined murder rate 3x that of the 9 European nations with the highest gun ownership rate!
Teresa Mull is editor of Gunpowder Magazine. Contact her at [email protected].