Coming home from work a couple of weeks ago my wife drove into our neighborhood and found (1) a police officer on every corner, (2) a patrol car on every street, and (3) a police helicopter overhead. She asked the nearest officer what was going on. He said two men had just broken into a nearby house and made off with a number of guns (didn't say how many). The men were not caught.
Two weeks later somebody broke into a local police supply store--this place is plastered with alarms--and stole 24 pistols.
Probably a coincidence. But I figure that criminals are resourceful and will open as many avenues to the procurement of firearms as are closed by the authorities. IWO, if we make it tougher for criminals to get guns one way, like buying them illegally at the local sporting goods store, they'll find another way, like stealing them or smuggling them. Of course, we should still try to keep guns out of the hands of criminal--just not with the expectation that they'll remain disarmed for long.
JMHO.
[This message has been edited by jimmy (edited September 22, 1999).]