Australia has been the “go to” model for the gun-grabbers, who propose that we mimic what Australia did, and have a government buyback to reduce the nation’s supply of firearms. In Australia in 1996, just south of one million rifles and shotguns were forcibly sold back to the government and destroyed, or 20% of the guns in circulation. Of course, for a similar proportional buyback in the U.S., over 60 million firearms would have to be rounded up and destroyed. An expensive, and logistically impossible task in America, where the public has an overwhelmingly favorable view of firearms.
Besides, Australia at least has an advantage in that they’re an island. If they could get rid of all guns, it would be nearly impossible to smuggle new guns in. On the other hand, we in America couldn’t keep 15 million illegal immigrants out of our country, or prevent the flow of hundreds of billions of dollars worth of drugs across the border. What makes us think we can keep guns out?
A number of the families of the Stoneman Douglas victims have proposed arming teachers, though their calls haven’t gotten nearly as much media attention as the band of students calling for more strict gun control. Specifically, those proposing arming teachers are only proposing allowing those who are already armed to carry in the classroom, such as someone with a military or law enforcement background. In Israel, where everyone is required to serve in the military, this is already the case.
And the results? Spectacular. When terrorists attacked a school in Maalot in 1974, instead of declaring every school a gun-free zone, Israel passed a law mandating armed security in schools, provided weapons training to teachers, and, even today, runs frequent active shooter drills. There have been only two school shootings since then, and both have ended with teachers killing the terrorists.
One may argue that the the mandatory military service that every Israeli undergoes justifies the trust Israel has of its citizens, but the vast majority of the IDF are not in combat roles. The pistol course needed to obtain a license takes less than four hours, so it’s hardly a laborious process.
What do you think? Should America follow the Israel model?
