Review by Larry S. Sterett | Contributing Editor
JOURNAL ON FIREARMS & PUBLIC POLICY, Volume 26, Fall 2014 ©2014. Published by the Second Amendment Foundation, James Madison Bldg., Dept. TGM, 12500 NE Tenth Place, Bellevue, WA 98005. (online: saf.org) Price: $10.00 postpaid.
Published annually, this 124-page softbound booklet is an official publication of the Center for the Study of Firearms and Public Policy of the Second Amendment Foundation. This recent volume contains five different studies, ranging from a preliminary evaluation of The Canadian Long-Gun Registry to Negroes and the Gun. There is no bibliography or index in this book, but except for the final piece, which features a quotation by Dr. Condoleeza Rice, the studies all have endnotes and a list of references. Illustrations are limited, consisting of a few black and white photos, line graphs, etc.
It’s not too surprising that Canada, Australia, and New Zealand followed the lead of the United Kingdom relating to firearms control. That all three countries have extensive sparsely settled areas where firearms are essential to food gathering would seem to be a sound reason for more liberal firearms laws. However, the fact that dangerous criminals tend not to register their firearms does not seem to be important, and as of 2007 it was believed that less than half of the Canadian firearms had been registered. (Since 1961, 123 Canadian police officers have been shot and killed, but only one of these murders involved a registered long arm, and it did not belong to the murderer. Surprise!)
This book provides a good bit of information on what has not worked in other countries relating to firearms registration. In addition, the two US District Court cases—one in DC and the second in eastern California—provide good insight on the thinking of the judges on the subject matter involved. It’s a handy booklet to have on the reference shelf.
