Op-Ed: Going postal in gun-free zones

February 6, 2006
Townhall.com

By Donald R. May

Evildoers like the Goleta killer flaunt their destruction on the world stage. The deranged former postal worker killed six unarmed defenseless Goleta, California postal workers and a former neighbor before turning the gun on herself. As with Muslim terrorists seeking attention for their causes, suicidal murderers rivet our attention to their unhinged mental state and to the hatred they spew.

It should be no surprise that evil strikes in areas of least resistance. People intent on committing mass murder seek a high level of certainty that they will not face immediate armed confrontation. Though the details are still limited, the Goleta killer probably realized she would not encounter anyone able to resist her with a gun. Suicidal murders may be deranged, but they are not dim-witted.

Persons who are determined to kill large numbers have often targeted United States Post Office facilities. Other popular murder spree sites have been schools and churches. What these places have in common is that all ban law-abiding citizens from legally carrying personal defense weapons, access for criminals with weapons is relatively easy and unchallenged, and armed security is limited or absent. Mass murders are more likely to occur in designated gun free zones and not where others are armed. Large numbers of people are not shot in gun stores and at shooting ranges.

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