The Times is upset that some states are legislating non-compliance with proposed federal gun laws. Even so, sayeth the Times:
Not necessarily. According to this chart, Vermont (where I live) has the least restrictive gun laws in the nation. In spite of this, Vermont ranks among the lowest of the states when it comes to rates of gun violence. And there are, trust me, plenty of guns around and a lot of enthusiasm for gun ownership. After the shooting in Connecticut, the new leader of the overwhelmingly Democratic state senate proposed an “assault rifle ban.”
A few days later, he had changed his mind, saying in a written statement that:
This is not to suggest that Vermont should be a model for the nation in much of anything. But it is worth noting. Especially since one of those states where gun laws are very tough is Illinois. And in Chicago, gun killings are depressingly routine.
