By Dean Weingarten
Arizona – -(Ammoland.com)- Corrupt politicians are much more of a factor in large urban centers than in rural communities and small towns.
The same applies to organized crime. It is associated with urban areas.
It is much harder for significant corruption to exist when the amounts are small, the people involved mostly know the politicians personally, and there are no large public works to play favorites with. A significant exception might be planning and zoning, where local elites have great power, little accountability, and where significant money is at stake.
Corrupt politicians and organized crime figures hate the idea of an armed population. When you are stealing, cheating, and extorting people on a daily basis, some of them are bound to take exception to it. Push them far enough, and a few will decide to push back, even at the cost of their own lives. Do it enough, and it becomes a near certainty. It is much more difficult for corrupt politicians or organized crime to exist in the midst of an armed citizenry. From Vanity Fair, the Reluctant Don, Sammy “the bull” Gravano:
“Gun control? It’s the best thing you can do for crooks and gangsters. I want you to have nothing. If I’m a bad guy, I’m always gonna have a gun. Safety locks? You pull the trigger with a lock on, and I’ll pull the trigger. We’ll see who wins.”
In Arizona, a corrupt politician was protected by her politician buddies who had the case transferred to a friendly prosecutor, who dismissed it. This was after two grand juries found reasons to indict. She was shot in the rear end by a homeless citizen. He just got out of jail. She was and is a big proponent of gun control. She is still in office. From the phoenixnewtimes.com:
Did Wilcox the county supervisor deserve to get shot in the ass?
Yes.…..
Among those in the know, Wilcox is noted not for her integrity but her arrogance. South Phoenix is considered by many to be controlled by the Wilcox political machine. Comparisons with old Chicago have been drawn.
Gun control in New York was driven by corrupt politicians desire to protect their criminal gangs. Big Tim Sullivan, who pushed through the Sullivan law, did not want his gangsters to face armed resistance.
Senator Yee is one of the most strident proponents of gun control in California. He was recently indicted for corruption, including the facilitation of illegal gun trafficking.
Chicago fought for more and more gun control than almost any other part of the nation. Chicago is known as one of the most corrupt polities in the country.
Nevada is generally gun friendly. The only county that requires registration of pistols is Clark County, which contains Las Vegas. The statute was put into effect while Las Vegas had the reputation of a town run by the mob.
Cleveland is another example of corruption. The city government fought against reform of Ohio gun restrictions for years. It finally lost its court cases.
Corruption and citizen disarmament, or to use the current sophistry, “gun safety” legislation go together like organized crime and extortion.
Niccolo Machiavelli noted the problems with politicians disarming people:
When you disarm [the people] you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred against you. – Niccoló Machiavelli, The Prince. 1537.
“Progressives” use stale and discredited Marxist concepts to describe the motives of the gun culture. They claim that second amendment supporters are being duped by the NRA to prevent “gun safety” in order to increase the profits of “big business” who are anxious to trade children’s blood for a few dollars more.
They ignore what happens to gun manufacturers such as Smith & Wesson or Ruger when they give in to political pressure to side with politicians who want to gut the second amendment. Smith & Wesson went under new ownership. Ruger suffered for years until it reversed its policies. When one actually examines the numbers, the concept becomes ridiculous. It is those who wish to disarm the public that have driven gun sales through the roof.
The motivations for corrupt politicians and organized crime, often working in concert, are simple and clear. They do not want to get shot.
c2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included. Link to Gun Watch
About Dean Weingarten;
Dean Weingarten has been a peace officer, a military officer, was on the University of Wisconsin Pistol Team for four years, and was first certified to teach firearms safety in 1973. He taught the Arizona concealed carry course for fifteen years until the goal of constitutional carry was attained. He has degrees in meteorology and mining engineering, and recently retired from the Department of Defense after a 30 year career in Army Research, Development, Testing, and Evaluation.