Kennesaw, GA - Mandatory to own a gun

R

Red Bull

New member
I always woundered where this city was that is rumored about but never discussed by the public. I had heard of a town that made it mandetory to have a gun, and thereby reducing crime to almost nil. Here is the lowdown for those that also have woundered abuot it:

> Kennesaw, GA's Mandatory Gun Law A Proven Success
> Why Doesn't The Media Visit Kennesaw?
> By Chuck Baldwin
> 11-6-99
>
> The New American magazine reminds us that March 25th marked
> the 16th anniversary of Kennesaw, Georgia's ordinance requiring
> heads of households (with certain exceptions) to keep at least one
> firearm in their homes.
>
> The city's population grew from around 5,000 in 1980 to 13,000 by
> 1996 (latest available estimate). Yet there have been only three
> murders: two with knives (1984 and 1987) and one with a firearm
> (1997).
>
> "After the law went into effect in 1982, crime against persons
> plummeted 74 percent compared to 1981, and fell another 45
> percent in 1983 compared to 1982. And it has stayed impressively
> low. In addition to nearly non-existent homicide (murders have
> averaged a mere 0.19 per year), the annual number of armed
> robberies, residential burglaries, commercial burglaries, and rapes
> have averaged, respectively, 1.69, 31.63, 19.75, and 2.00 through
> 1998."
>
> With all the attention that has been heaped upon the lawful
> possession of firearms lately, you would think that a city that
> requires gun ownership would be the center of a media feeding
> frenzy. It isn't. The fact is I can't remember a major media outlet
> even mentioning Kennesaw. Can you? The reason is obvious.
> Kennesaw proves tha! ! t the presence of firearms actually improves
> safety and security. This is not the message that the media want us
> to hear. They want us to believe that guns are evil and are the
cause
> of violence. The facts tell a different story.
>
> What is even more interesting about Kennesaw is that the city's
> crime rate decreased with the simple knowledge that the entire
> community was armed.
>
> The bad guys didn't force the residents to prove it. Just knowing
that
> residents were armed prompted them to move on to easier targets.
> Most criminals don't have a death wish. There have been two
> occasions in my own family when the presence of a handgun
> averted potential disaster. In both instances the gun was never
aimed
> at a person and no shot was fired. Yet, in both cases the thugs
bent
> on criminal mischief decided to take their ambitions elsewhere and
> my family remained safe. Only God knows what would have
> happened if a firearm had not been handy.
>
> Yes, there are times when gun accidents occur. There are many
> more accidents involving automobiles, airplanes, bathroom shower
> stalls and backyard swimming pools, however. And let's not forget
> that freedom is risky business. Freedom allows people to make
> mistakes recognizing that the alternative is worse.
>
> A local newspaper columnist recently said that other nations are
free
> without possessing firearms. He fails to see the obvious fact that
> people who are not free to own firearms are not free. Many people
> live their entire lives and never know a day of real freedom. And,
> while I'm sure that there are those who would choose to live
without
> freedom, there are some of us who would rather die free than live
> enslaved.
 
It's not a rumor - the law in Kennesaw is that every homeowner must own at least one firearm. The law was passed in response to a northern community that passed a law making them "firearms free". Kennesaw is in the metro Atlanta area (remember, Atlanta is one of the two most violent cities in the U.S.), just north of Atlanta (I would say 20-30 minutes from the heart of downtown Atlanta). Kennesaw is in Cobb County, which, just a few years ago, was one of the 5 fastest growing counties in the U.S. and the home base of Newt Gingrich. It was also the site of the last major Confederate victory in the War Between the States. It's a neat place to visit, I'll be buying a home soon & I'll consider Kennesaw. BTW, I'd be shocked if there were less than 20,000 people living in Kennesaw now.

Now, the police don't go door to door searching to confirm that your house does have a gun (I know of several people who have broken this law), but most people obey the law. I've never felt endangered or uncomfortable in Kennesaw, and I do a lot of shopping there.

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Beginner barbarians probably had the idea that every house they broke into would be full of untouched loot and frightened, unarmed victims. It just doesn't work that way, my friend.

I hope these evil men come to understand our peaceful ways soon - My trigger finger is blistering!
 
They have billboards up all over town announcing that "It's the law in Kennesaw".

You can also buy T-shirts with the same stuff on it.
 
The town Kennesaw was responding to was/is Morton (Moron) Grove, ILL. If I remember right, there was a big stink in Moron grove a few years back because the mayor's wife or some other pol's wife had a permit to carry concealed.

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Ne Conjuge Nobiscum
"If there be treachery, let there be jehad!"
 
The ordinance was passed, I believe, in response to a law in Morton Grove, IL which made either handguns or all firearms illegal (I can't remember which...) I think that was back in 1981? Anyway, MG got a lot of attention, the usual anti-gun, media-hype, but little was heard about Kennesaw. I do recall a major newspaper doing a story on it, either Newsweek or US News and World Report...
 
I read a magazine article about Kennesaw around ten years ago.
A reporter went there and interviewed folks...his bias was obvious as all the pics selected for the article showed redneck- trailer-trash-inbred-any-other-negative- Southern-stereotype-missing-teeth-rubes displaying guns.
He (reporter) tried to portray this place as the most racist poverty ridden scary place in the country....problem was, despite his best efforts, it came across as a rather nice place...he tried to find black people who'd agree with him...he failed, so of course pics of blacks also reflected a negative stereotype.
He kinda ran out of steam when he found out that LEO doesn't come and search to make sure you have a gun....just as a matter of course if its found out you don't have one you are fined some small amount...($25 ?). When asked why, and what the point was, the Sheriff said something like "We can't be everywhere and we can't protect everyone so you should protect yourself".



------------------
"Quis custodiet ipsos custodes" RKBA!
 
Hmm. It seems that people of all races and economic standings like feeling safe in their homes. Ain't that a strange thing, DC? ;)

Yep, BQ is headquarted in Kennesaw, and so is Sturm and Atlanta Army/Navy (both big army/navy store wholesale companies). Galyan's has a big store there, too (recently opened).

A few years ago, Cobb Co. passed a resolution stating that they don't "approve" of the "gay lifestyle". A female friend of mine had a gay roommate, and at a party someone asked him what he thought about the resolution. He basically said, "I don't like it, but I'm not going to move downtown (Atlanta). It's safe here."

BTW, nearby neighbors in Powder Springs and Smyrna (two Cobb Co. towns) also include Cobray (of Mac-10 fame) and Glock.

------------------
Beginner barbarians probably had the idea that every house they broke into would be full of untouched loot and frightened, unarmed victims. It just doesn't work that way, my friend.

I hope these evil men come to understand our peaceful ways soon - My trigger finger is blistering!
 
Arrggggh! My first double post!!!


------------------
Beginner barbarians probably had the idea that every house they broke into would be full of untouched loot and frightened, unarmed victims. It just doesn't work that way, my friend.

I hope these evil men come to understand our peaceful ways soon - My trigger finger is blistering!

[This message has been edited by Danger Dave (edited November 10, 1999).]
 
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