LearnAboutGuns.com 

Firearm information and politics from a pro-firearms perspective, with an emphasis on self defense rights.

In 1 Day, 5 People Shot In A Single Chicago Neighborhood - despite the handgun ban

As reported, 5 people were shot in Chicago’s Englewood neighborhood during a 24 hour period. All were shot with handguns, despite Chicago’s decades long, ineffective, and likely unconstitutional handgun ban. Read the rest of this article »

Canadian Justice: Shoot A Home Invader in Your Home and Be Prosecuted

I noticed a truly disturbing article in the news today, involving a Canadian whose home was invaded. This citizen shot and killed one of the armed home invaders, who had broken in and held him captive at gunpoint. He is now being charged with manslaughter for defending himself within his own home: Read the rest of this article »

911 Home Invasion Phone Call Video Clip

This is the audio from an actual 911 call made by a woman whose stalker broke into her home.  She called 911 and locked herself in her bedroom - with her handgun.  Incredibly, the 911 operator tells her “not to do anything too rash” to the stalker who just broke into her home and is approaching her!  After he attacks her physically and she repeatedly cries for the attacker to stop, she fatally shoots him in self defense. Minutes later, the police arrive.  Multiple police reports and calls to 911 didn’t stop this woman’s attacker, but 3 bullets from her handgun saved her life.  This is why I support gun rights.

Watch the video here.

“Please Respect My Gun Ownership Rights”

I recently debated the issue of gun rights with a relative of mine who is decidedly anti gun.  She has never fired a gun, and has no desire to do so.  She is afraid of guns in and of themselves, rather than being concerned about the actions of criminals.  I though I would post a particularly salient portion of the discussion, as I can best remember it: Read the rest of this article »

A Must-Read Article on “Assault Weapons” and “Saturday Night Specials”

Gary Reed has written a great article addressing the use of terms such as “assault weapon” and “Saturday night special.”  Here is one of the more humerus quotes:

“Hometown Herald - A pair of assault thugs stole a Ford Saturday Night Special Crew Cab and drove it through the front door of the Saturday Nyte Special 99 Cent Store. They attacked the ATM with an assault crowbar, but the shop owner drove them off with a small self-defense assaultin’ pepperbox revolver.”

Oak Park Armed Robberies On The Rise - despite the handgun ban

As reported, the armed robberies in Oak Park, Illinois are increasing, despite the more than 20-year-old handgun ban: Read the rest of this article »

The Purpose of the Second Amendment Video Clip

This video clip is one of the most compelling personal accounts about guns and self defense that I have ever seen. Texas state representative Dr. Suzanna Gratia-Hupp’s parents were killed by an insane gunman while her gun was out in the car - left there because of the laws restricting concealed carry at that time. She gives some very moving and bold testimony about the REAL purpose of the Second Amendment: Self defense, and how the gun control laws only served to leave her family defenseless.
Read the rest of this article »

85 Year Old Woman Holds Burglar at Gunpoint, Makes Him Call the Police

As Fox News reports, an 85 year old woman from Point Mariod, PA was at home when a burglar broke in to her home at about 3pm.  Leda Smith went to her bedroom, got her handgun, and held the 17 year old male intruder at gunpoint.  She then made him pick up the phone and call the police, who arrived and arrested him. Read the rest of this article »

A Response to Senator Ulysses Currie’s Anti Gun Rights Statements

In a community newspaper, Maryland State Senator Ulysses Currie called the Supreme Court “blind to [the] consequences” of the recent District of Columbia. v. Heller decision, in which gun ownership for self defense was determined to be an individual right, independent of militia service.  Senator Currie, who is not an attorney himself, starts out by criticizing the legal rulings of our country’s highest court.  He then proceeds to suggest that the Second Amendment should be ignored by courts and legislatures, since the constitution was written over 200 years ago.  Finally, Senator Ulysses Currie make the unfounded argument that allowing law abiding citizens to have firearms in their homes for self defense against the law-breaking criminals will result in more violence.  I address each of these erroneous contentions below: Read the rest of this article »

Priceless Video Clip

A short but truly “priceless” video clip about self defense: Read the rest of this article »

Britain Needs Gun Rights - BritainNeedsGuns.co.uk

As I’ve previously mentioned, crime in England has skyrocketed since their passage of strict gun control laws.  The criminals still shoot innocent citizens, and gun smugglers bring illegal guns into the UK just as illegal drugs are imported.  The criminals who are willing to commit violent crimes such as murder are just as willing to violate a relatively minor gun control law.  Tired of seeing law abiding citizens at the mercy of criminals, Graham Showell decided to do something: Read the rest of this article »

Gun Registration Bears No Relationship to Crime Prevention

Some residents of Morton Grove, which recently repealed its handgun ban, are now calling for gun registration requirements.  I’ve also heard other people tout gun registration as some sort of cure to the actions of criminals.  Allow me to explain why gun registration bears no relationship to crime prevention, and is instead a wrongful infringement of the 2nd Amendment individual right to keep and bear arms for self defense: Read the rest of this article »

Oak Park Youth Robbed of Shoes and Bag At Gunpoint - despite the handgun ban

As the Chicago Tribune reported, a boy in Oak Park was robbed of his shoes, gym bag, cash, and iPod by a bicycle riding criminal at 12 Madison St, Oak Park, Illinois.  The gunman rode up on a bicycle and displayed a black pistol, before relieving the teenager of his properly, valued at about $500. Read the rest of this article »

How To Prevent All Gun Related Crime Video Clip

This satirical video clip has the solution for preventing murder, armed robbery, rape, home invasions, school shootings, racist attackers, and psychopathic killers.  Personally, I’ll stick with having a shotgun for home defense. Read the rest of this article »

A Psychiatrist Examines The Anti-Gun Mentality

Below is a rather interesting scholarly journal article, written by psychiatrist Sarah Thompson, MD. In the article, Dr. Thompson addresses hoplophobia, the mental disorder which describes irrational fear of guns, and the mentality surrounding this issue.  It is an interesting read: Read the rest of this article »

Brady Campaign Lies #2 Video Clip

In this video clip, the Brady Campaign is shown spreading misinformation about Florida’s “stand your ground law” which allows law abiding citizens to defend themselves against life threatening attack by criminals. Read the rest of this article »

Another Bike-By Shooting In Chicago - despite the handgun ban

The bike by shootings reportedly happened about 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of North Avenue and Karlov Avenue, in the Humbolt Park neighborhood.  A male cyclist rode by, opening fire on two pedestrians, before peddling away. Read the rest of this article »

Oak Park Criminals Continue Armed Robberies - despite the longstanding handgun ban

As the Wednesday Journal reports, the armed robbers in Oak Park have continued for another week, in spite of the 23 plus years that Oak Park has banned handguns.  More information is below: Read the rest of this article »

Evanston, IL Handgun Ban Repealed

As the Chicago Tribune reports, the city of Evanston, Illinois has repealed its handgun ban.  Evanston is now the 3rd suburb of Chicago to repeal its handgun ban, following Wilmette and Morton Grove.  Only Oak Park, IL and Chicago, IL still have handgun bans, and the NRA’s lawsuits will hopefully soon cause those unconstitutional bans to be struck down.

The Unfair Tendency To Blame All Gun Owners For the Actions of A Negligent or Criminal Gun User

I’ve seen a tendency to blame all gun owners after one gun user is negligent, or commits a crime.  This is unfair, and counterproductive: Read the rest of this article »

Right To Carry Video Clip

This video clip discusses the history of “shall issue” concealed carry laws in the United States, and has interviews with people whose lives were saved by the right to carry a concealed firearm.  The myth that concealed carry will lead to O.K. Corral style shootouts in the streets is also demonstrated to be false. Read the rest of this article »

College Football Coach Bans Players From Owning Guns Off Campus In Their Private Homes

Randy Shannon is the head coach of the University of Miami Hurricanes, and he dislikes guns.  Because of his personal feelings on guns, he has reportedly banned his college football players from having guns, even off campus in their private homes. Read the rest of this article »

Chicago Murder Rate Up 18% - despite the Handgun Ban

As the Chicago Tribune reports, Chicago’s murder rate is up 18% over the same time frame last year.  62 people were killed in the month of July alone, and there were several high profile shootings, such as the Taste of Chicago shootings or the murder of a cop with his own gun.  In the overwhelming majority of these murders, criminals used handguns, despite 20+ year long ban on handgun ownership in Chicago.  Clearly, the criminals are ignoring the handgun ban. Read the rest of this article »

Attempted Rape In Oak Park, IL

As the Wednesday Journal reports, Oak Park, IL police are investigating a rape attempt. The woman was in the rear of her property on the 1000 block on North Austin Blvd., around 8:30 p.m., Aug. 5, 2008, when a man grabbed her by her arm and by her throat. The attacker then attempted to remove her pants.The woman fought back, kneeing her attacker and stomping on his foot, causing him to cease the attack and escape eastbound on Augusta Boulevard. Read the rest of this article »

Chinese Immigrant Stabs Bus Passenger to Death and Eats the Victim - while unarmed citizens flee in terror

As the Boston Herald reported, passengers aboard a Greyhound bus in Canada said that shortly after they re-boarded following a break, the suspect suddenly stabbed the man sitting next to him several dozen times as others ran away in horror. He then severed the man’s head, displayed it and began hacking at the body. The attacker then ate parts of the victim’s body. Vince Weiguang Li, who immigrated to Canada from China in 2004, is charged with second-degree murder in the death of 22-year-old carnival worker Tim McLean. Read the rest of this article »

Home Invasion and the Importantance of Firearms Video Clip

This video clip includes an interview with a woman whose suffered an attempted home invasion, which was caught on tape.  The home invaders wore gloves to avoid leaving behind finger prints, and cut the phone line to prevent the home owner or the security system from calling the police. Read the rest of this article »

Oak Park: Armed Robbers Continue to Ignore the Handgun Ban

As the Wednesday Journal reports, there were 5 armed robberies in Oak Park during the last week.  3 of the armed robbers used firearms, while 2 used knives: Read the rest of this article »

The Danger of Gun Control Video Clip

This video clip discusses how almost overnight, the citizens of Brittan lost their gun rights after 2 high profile shootings.  Collectors with guns that were hundreds of years old and worth thousands of dollars were forced to turn in their firearms for destruction.  Olympic target shooters were forced to travel to another country to practice their sport.  Still others had to hand over firearms given to them by long-since-dead parents, to have the barrels and receivers chopped apart.  This is a warning what can happen when the law abiding gun owners of a country sit idly by as their gun rights and heritage is legislated away in a very brief period of time… And making matters worse, the gun control laws only led to a thriving black market for guns, defenseless law abiding citizens, and preventable murders. Read the rest of this article »

What is Gun Control? - an introduction to firearms regulation efforts

I was reviewing the search engine statistics for this website, and found that there were quite a few people searching for “What is Gun Control”?  I, and many readers of this website are quite familiar with gun control, however I thought an introduction to gun control might be helpful for some people: Read the rest of this article »

ABC’s 20/20: John Stossel Links Gun Control to Higher Crime Rates Video Clip

In this video clip, ABC’s 20/20 discusses the myth that gun control laws reduce crime. Instead, of showing a reduction in crime, John Stossel finds that gun control leads to an increase in crime, prevents law abiding citizens from defending themselves, doesn’t deter criminals, harms the weaker members of society, and paves the way for school shootings.  It is refreshing to see a major news outlet reporting these facts in a unbiased manner. Read the rest of this article »

Wrongful Gun Confiscation After Hurricane Katrina Video Clip

After Hurricane Katrina, various police agencies in Louisiana wrongfully and unlawfully confiscated the firearms of law abiding citizens, leaving them at the mercy of criminals who took advantage of the hurricane to commit crimes.  This video consists of interviews with several law abiding victims of firearms confiscation, including a woman who was thrown to the ground and punched by police. Read the rest of this article »

Criminals Make Mistakes - a good reason to have a gun for self defense

A good percentage of crime consists of criminals victimizing other criminals, often over drugs, money, or gang turf.  However, criminals will often break into the wrong house, or attack the wrong person, after mistaking them for someone else.  Self defense in this situation is yet another reason to own a gun: Read the rest of this article »

Citizen Shoots and Kills Armed Home Invaders In Self Defense

As CNN reports, Houston police said three or four people broke into a home in the 10000 block of Foy Lane. The suspects were armed with guns, and at some point in the robbery they shot the home owner, who then managed to get a gun and return fire.  One home invader was killed and another was injured.  The home owner is expected to recover from his injuries. Read the rest of this article »

British Police Bust of Gun Smugglers Shows Ineffectiveness of Gun Control Laws

As the Times Online reports, a British based gun smuggling ring was busted, and its leaders were sentenced to long prison terms.  The operation was reportedly run by Madasser Ali, Agnius Malcevas, and his brother Edgaras Malcevas.   Although this is being heralded as a victory in the war against “gun crime,” it should instead be seen as sobering proof that gun control just won’t work.  Allow me to explain: Read the rest of this article »

Chicago Considers Gun-Offender Registry - styled after sex-offender registries

As the Chicago Tribune reports, a committee of the Chicago City Council is considering a proposal to create an online database of gun offenders, complete with photographs and interactive maps.  If approved, anyone convicted of a felony gun offense after the ordinance’s effective date would have to register with the city as a gun offender. Offenders would have to register within 48 hours of conviction or, if sent to jail or prison, their release from the institution. Conviction for failure to register could result in a 6-month jail sentence and $500 fine.  Allow me to explain the problems with this firearms offender registry plan: Read the rest of this article »

Every 13 Seconds, an American Uses a Gun in Self Defense

Americans use a gun in self defense once every 13 seconds: Read the rest of this article »

Oak Park is Short on Cash - but still has money to defend the handgun ban

As the Wednesday Journal reports, Oak Park, IL is short on cash due to decreased revenue, which is blamed on the faltering economy.  Despite the $1,368,100 budgetary shortfall, Oak Park will still spend taxpayer money defending their (likely unconstitutional) handgun ban. Read the rest of this article »

Bat Wielding Racist Assailant Shot in Self Defense

As the Wednesday Journal reports, a highly intoxicated man who jumped out of a car on Austin Boulevard hurling racial slurs and swinging a bat was shot by one of his would-be victims.  This is particularly interesting because it happened right on the border of Oak Park and Chicago, which both ban handguns, and in the state of Illinois, which bans concealed carry: Read the rest of this article »

84 Year Old Uses Handgun to Stop Home Invader

As the Sun Herald reports, an 84 year old Mississippi man used his handgun to stop a home invader.  The elderly man was at home with his 74-year-old wife, at about 5 a.m. at their residence in the area of Adams Street, in Bayside Park. Hancock County Sheriff’s Investigator Andre Fizer said the couple heard a noise as an alleged criminal tried to break through the front door, then tried to enter through a back door, and also through a rear window of the residence.  As he grew weaker trying to hold off the intruder at the back door, the resident asked his wife to bring his .45 caliber Colt handgun. He fired one shot through a lower panel of the door, wounding the alleged home invader, Wade Ledesma. Read the rest of this article »

Drew Peterson Gun Possession Charges Trial Will Proceed

As the Sun Times reports, the illegal gun possession case against Drew Peterson will now proceed.  Drew Peterson, who is suspected in the disappearance of his wife Stacy, was charged with possessing a rifle whose barrel was a fraction of an inch too short.  Allow me to explain the injustice here: Read the rest of this article »

Morton Grove, IL Handgun Ban Repealed

As the Chicago Tribune reports, the Morton Grove, Illinois handgun ban has been repealed by a 5-1 vote of the village board. Read the rest of this article »

Heller Plantiff Files Lawsuit Against D.C.’s New Unconstutional Gun Restrictions

As Fox News reports, the plaintiff in the Supreme Court case that overturned the District of Columbia’s unconstitutional handgun ban has filed a new federal lawsuit against the city.  Dick Heller and two other plaintiffs claim that the city’s new gun regulations still violate their self defense rights, as guaranteed by the constitution: Read the rest of this article »

Gun Rights for Convicted Felons?

The Gun Control Act of 1968, a US Federal statute, prohibits convicted felons from possessing firearms.  In the wake of the D.C. v. Heller Supreme Court decision, several lawsuits have been filed by convicted felons, seeking to regain their right to keep and bear arms for self defense and sporting purposes. Most of the people I’ve discussed this with are of the opinion that convicted felons should not be allowed to own guns.  I, however, have reached the conclusion that such blanket prohibition on gun ownership by felons is not reasonable.  Allow me to explain why: Read the rest of this article »

Criminal Opens Fire in Tennessee Church

A criminal reportedly opened fire in a Knoxville, Tennessee church, where a group of children were performing a play.  The criminal, who used a shotgun, is reportedly thought to have targeted the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church because it is very liberal, and allowed gay ministers and gay marriages. Churchgoers dived for cover under pews, but nine members of the congregation were hit before a group of them managed to tackle the gunman as he reloaded. At least two people, Greg McKendry and Linda Kreager, were reportedly killed.  Jim D. Adkisson, the 58 year old suspected shooter, has been charged with first-degree murder and is being held on $1 million bail, according to city spokesman Randy Kenner. This tragedy shows the need for armed, law abiding citizens, who can quickly act in self defense: Read the rest of this article »

A Response To Chicago Mayor Daley’s Recent Anti-Gun Arguments

While discussing the lawsuit which seeks to strike down Chicago’s ineffective and likely unconstitutional handgun ban, Mayor Richard Daley made a series of anti-gun arguments.  These arguments appear to be based upon faulty or non-existent reasoning, and make the utterly untrue assumption that law abiding citizens will generally misuse guns for no reason at all.  This article analyzes and rebuts Daley’s rather weak anti-gun arguments one by one: Read the rest of this article »

British Handgun Rights Petition

I received an email from Graham Showell, a law abiding British citizen who is hoping to bring American-style concealed carry rights to his country. Mr. Showell requested that I post a link to his petition in the hope of gaining added publicity. The petition can be seen here, and more information about it is included below: Read the rest of this article »

Guns Deter Crime - An often overlooked fact

Gun ownership by law abiding citizens has a deterrent effect upon criminals, and the reason is quite clear: A criminal out to commit robbery/rape/theft/etc. is looking for an easy target, not one that will fight back. Since criminals can’t know which potential victim is armed, they know that committing a crime is a risk. Accordingly, the more armed citizens that we have, the greater the deterrent effect upon criminals. Read the rest of this article »

L.A. Gang Gun-Runners Arrested

As UPI reports, Federal agents announced that they had rounded up 38 reputed Los Angeles gang members and associates on gun and drug charges.  The arrests were made after an undercover agent bought fully automatic (machine guns) such as AK-47s and M-16s from the gang members. A total of 119 guns were confiscated during the investigation and an alleged drug trafficking ring was broken up as well.  This is simply more proof of the fact that criminals who want guns will get them, and banning guns only leaves the law abiding citizens unable to defend themselves.  It also serves to prove true the point I made before, that stricter gun control laws will result in criminals with machine guns.

Criminals Like Gun Control Laws

Almost every day, politicians and other public figures get on their soapboxes and argue for gun control. They say their latest pointless and ineffective gun control laws will be “tough on criminals.” The reality of the situation is that criminals like gun control laws. This is because criminals will still have guns, and their victims will be easier targets. get Allow me to explain further: Read the rest of this article »

Oak Park Woman Robbed at Gunpoint - despite the handgun ban

As the Chicago Tribune reports, a woman was robbed by a man who threatened to shoot her on the platform of the Austin Blue Line stop, Oak Park police reports indicated. The woman was standing on the platform when she was approached by a man who asked her for spare change. When she declined, the man stuck a hand under his shirt and threatened to shoot her with a gun. The criminal then grabbed her by the wrist, and took her cell phone and wallet valued at $350. This robbery, like the countless others in Oak Park, IL, occurred despite the decades long handgun ban. Read the rest of this article »

Toronto Cop Arrested for Weapons Smuggling

As 680News reports, a 39-year-old Toronto police officer has been arrested for allegedly buying a prohibited gun barrel over the Internet and illegally importing it into Canada.  The gun barrel was discovered as the police officer attempted to re-enter Canada from the USA. Read the rest of this article »

Gun Buy Back Programs: An Ineffective Waste of Money

Various cities across the country, most notably Chicago, have run gun buy back programs. These programs offer citizens money in exchange for turning in guns. Such programs allow politicians to claim that they have “taken hundreds of guns off the street” that would have otherwise been used in crimes. In reality, these programs don’t do much (if anything) to stop crime, but do consume large sums of money that would be better spent actually fighting crime: Read the rest of this article »

Wilmette Handgun Ban Abolished

As WBBM reports, the Wilmette, Illinois handgun ban was abolished last night by the 7-0 vote of the village board. The Wilmette village board should be applauded for removing this likely unconstitutional and proven ineffective handgun ban, which served only to hinder the ability of law abiding citizens to defend themselves: Read the rest of this article »

Smith & Wesson To Create D.C. v. Heller Commemorative Revolver

As ABC News reports, Smith & Wesson is manufacturing a commemorative revolver in honor of the landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling in