--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: You won't get gun control by disarming…" description: "\"You won't get gun control by disarming law-abiding citizens. There's only one way to get real gun control: Disarm the thugs and the criminals, lock the..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/ronald-reagan-119_abiding_you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-l_1743763.jpg" --- # You won't get gun control by disarming law-abiding… ![“You won't get gun control by disarming law-abiding citizens. There's only one way to get real gun control: Disarm the thugs and the criminals, lock them up and if you don't actually throw away the key, at least lose it for a long time... It's a nasty truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are…” quote by Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/ronald-reagan-119_abiding_you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-l_1743763.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/ronald-reagan-119_abiding_you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-l_1743763.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/ronald-reagan-119_abiding_you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-l_1743763.jpg) > “You won't get gun control by disarming law-abiding citizens. There's only one way to get real gun control: Disarm the thugs and the criminals, lock them up and if you don't actually throw away the key, at least lose it for a long time... It's a nasty truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are not fazed by gun controllers. I happen to know this from personal experience.” [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Gun control cannot be achieved by disarming law‑abiding citizens; only by targeting criminals and restricting their access. **In simple terms:** Disarm criminals, not law‑abiding citizens. Key Takeaway Focus on criminals, not law‑abiding. Themes public safety gun policy law enforcement Mood serious analytical Type political policy When to use this quote - law enforcement - community safety - policy debates Key Concepts Criminal justice civil rights policy effectiveness Questions to Reflect On - What are effective ways to reduce gun violence? - How can rights be protected while enhancing safety? A Different Perspective Balancing rights and safety is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abiding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abiding/) [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Citizens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/citizens/) [Control Disarm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-disarm-1542920/) [Control Disarming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/control-disarming-1542919/) [Controllers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/controllers/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Disarm Thugs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disarm-thugs-1542918/) [Disarming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disarming/) [Disarming Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/disarming-law-542492/) [Get real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get-real/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Gun control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-control/) [Harm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/harm/) [Keys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keys/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law abiding citizen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-abiding-citizen/) [Locks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/locks/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Nasty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nasty/) [Personal experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal-experience/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Thug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thug/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [Because you won't get gun control by disarming law abiding citizens. There's only one way to get real gun control: Disarm the thugs and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/because-you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-law-abiding-citizens/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It is unclear how disarming law-abiding citizens would better protect them from the dangers and threats posed by those who would flout the law.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-scott/it-is-unclear-how-disarming-law-abiding-citizens-would-better-protect/) [Rick Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-scott/) > [As long as there are guns, the individual that wants a gun for a crime is going to have one and going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/as-long-as-there-are-guns-the-individual-that-wants-a-gun-for-a-crime-2/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [As long as there are guns, the individual that wants a gun for a crime is going to have one and going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/as-long-as-there-are-guns-the-individual-that-wants-a-gun-for-a-crime/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Gun laws are an attempt to nationalize the right of self-defense. Politicians perennially react to the police's abject failure to prevent crime by trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-bovard/gun-laws-are-an-attempt-to-nationalize-the-right-of-self-defense/) [James Bovard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-bovard/) > [Coordinating our efforts and sharing information and expertise is a great way to step up our fight against violent criminals. We are determined to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-fantino/coordinating-our-efforts-and-sharing-information-and-expertise-is-a/) [Julian Fantino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-fantino/) > [I'M FEARFUL because in the back of my mind I know that although I'm a law abiding citizen I could still be looked upon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-watson/i-m-fearful-because-in-the-back-of-my-mind-i-know-that-although-i-m-a/) [Benjamin Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-watson/) > [I think people are frustrated in this society, where predators prey upon normal, law-abiding citizens, and you never see justice in the courtroom. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-seagal/i-think-people-are-frustrated-in-this-society-where-predators-prey/) [Steven Seagal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-seagal/) > [It's not what you know, it's what you think you know.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/it-s-not-what-you-know-it-s-what-you-think-you-know/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [The time has come to end the deadly experiment of disarming peaceable, law-abiding citizens near schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-stockman/the-time-has-come-to-end-the-deadly-experiment-of-disarming-peaceable/) [Steve Stockman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-stockman/) > [I was 32 years old, and I've changed my mind. And the biggest reason that I changed my mind was my seven years as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/i-was-32-years-old-and-i-ve-changed-my-mind-and-the-biggest-reason/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [I believe law-abiding citizens ought to be able to own a gun. I believe in background checks at gun shows or anywhere to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/i-believe-law-abiding-citizens-ought-to-be-able-to-own-a-gun-i/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [If I had the choice now, I'd make New Jersey a state where you can have a shall issue on conceal and carry. Now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-christie/if-i-had-the-choice-now-i-d-make-new-jersey-a-state-where-you-can/) [Chris Christie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-christie/) > [When the penalty for a policeman's mistake is to put a criminal back out on the street, then we are hurting America; we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/when-the-penalty-for-a-policeman-s-mistake-is-to-put-a-criminal-back/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) ## More by Ronald Reagan > [Today, the world looks to America for leadership. And America looks to its Corps of Marines.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/today-the-world-looks-to-america-for-leadership-and-america-looks-to/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-know-by-the-time-you-reach-my-age-you-ve-made-plenty-of-mistakes/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Yes, across Europe, this wall will fall. For it cannot withstand faith; it cannot withstand truth. The wall cannot withstand freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/yes-across-europe-this-wall-will-fall-for-it-cannot-withstand-faith/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Simple fairness dictates that government must not raise taxes on families struggling to pay their bills.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/simple-fairness-dictates-that-government-must-not-raise-taxes-on/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The time has come to turn to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America - our country is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-time-has-come-to-turn-to-god-and-reassert-our-trust-in-him-for/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Professional politicians like to talk about the value of experience in government. Nuts! The only experience you gain in politics is how to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/professional-politicians-like-to-talk-about-the-value-of-experience/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [The WPA was one of the most productive elements of FDR's alphabet soup of agencies because it put people to work building roads, bridges,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/the-wpa-was-one-of-the-most-productive-elements-of-fdr-s-alphabet/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Where there's liberty, art succeeds.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/where-there-s-liberty-art-succeeds/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Since I came to the White House, I got two hearing aids, a colon operation, skin cancer, a prostate operation, and I was shot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/since-i-came-to-the-white-house-i-got-two-hearing-aids-a-colon/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [A moment I've been dreading. George brought his ne're-do-well son around this morning and asked me to find the kid a job. Not the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/a-moment-i-ve-been-dreading-george-brought-his-ne-re-do-well-son/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [On Father's Day, we pay tribute to all in our society who have taken on the responsibilitie s and joys of fatherhood. Whether our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/on-father-s-day-we-pay-tribute-to-all-in-our-society-who-have-taken/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [There is no limit to the amount of good you can do if you don't care who gets the credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/there-is-no-limit-to-the-amount-of-good-you-can-do-if-you-don-t-care/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [It's not that liberals aren't smart, it's just that so much of what they know isn't so](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/it-s-not-that-liberals-aren-t-smart-it-s-just-that-so-much-of-what/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [Love your country, not for her power or wealth, but for her selflessness and her idealism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/love-your-country-not-for-her-power-or-wealth-but-for-her/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Explore all 1,244 Ronald Reagan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) ## More Abiding quotes > [If there is an abiding theme in 'The Pursuit of Happiness,' it is the idea that you come into the world already shaped by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-kennedy/if-there-is-an-abiding-theme-in-the-pursuit-of-happiness-it-is-the/) [Douglas Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-kennedy/) > [Why is it, my shadow-striding friend, that we don't fear dreams? We lose consciousness, lose control, things happen with no apparent logic and abiding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/why-is-it-my-shadow-striding-friend-that-we-don-t-fear-dreams-we-lose/) [Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/) > [I think that there is just a deep and abiding sexism that's part of your life from the moment that you're conscious as a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liz-w-garcia/i-think-that-there-is-just-a-deep-and-abiding-sexism-that-s-part-of/) [Liz W. Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liz-w-garcia/) > [Faith is the capacity of the soul to perceive the abiding, the invisible in the visible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-baeck/faith-is-the-capacity-of-the-soul-to-perceive-the-abiding-the/) [Leo Baeck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-baeck/) > [I think we have two conflicting traditions in this country. I think it's important for us to recognize that we've got a tradition of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/i-think-we-have-two-conflicting-traditions-in-this-country-i-think-it/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [A wicked mortal is not the idea of God. He is little else than the expression of error. To suppose that sin, lust, hatred,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-baker-eddy/a-wicked-mortal-is-not-the-idea-of-god-he-is-little-else-than-the/) [Mary Baker Eddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-baker-eddy/) > [When the penalty for a policeman's mistake is to put a criminal back out on the street, then we are hurting America; we are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/when-the-penalty-for-a-policeman-s-mistake-is-to-put-a-criminal-back/) [Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/) > [The value of a dollar is to buy just things; a dollar goes on increasing in value with all the genius and all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/the-value-of-a-dollar-is-to-buy-just-things-a-dollar-goes-on/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [The aims of these three groups are entirely irreconcilable. The aim of the High is to remain where they are. The aim of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-orwell/the-aims-of-these-three-groups-are-entirely-irreconcilable-the-aim-of/) [George Orwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-orwell/) > [After more than two decades of trying to destroy the firearms rights of more than 80 million law-abiding American gun owners - and statistically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-gottlieb/after-more-than-two-decades-of-trying-to-destroy-the-firearms-rights/) [Alan Gottlieb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-gottlieb/) > [When you defile the pleasant streams, And the wild bird's abiding place, You massacre a million dreams, And cast your spittle in God's face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-drinkwater/when-you-defile-the-pleasant-streams-and-the-wild-bird-s-abiding/) [John Drinkwater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-drinkwater/) > [How can we hope to retain our freedom through the generations if we fail to teach our young that our liberty springs from an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-falwell/how-can-we-hope-to-retain-our-freedom-through-the-generations-if-we/) [Jonathan Falwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-falwell/) > [Love and friendship, two of life's abiding rewards, are endangered species in Hollywood. People crave both, mistaking alliance for friendship, lust for love, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynda-obst/love-and-friendship-two-of-life-s-abiding-rewards-are-endangered/) [Lynda Obst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynda-obst/) > [In a government like ours, the Crown is the abiding and unshakable element in government; politicians may come and go, but the Crown remains…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robertson-davies/in-a-government-like-ours-the-crown-is-the-abiding-and-unshakable/) [Robertson Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robertson-davies/) > [I sometimes forget that life is fragile. The fact that I have more time to dream my dreams and take my ease is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luci-swindoll/i-sometimes-forget-that-life-is-fragile-the-fact-that-i-have-more/) [Luci Swindoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luci-swindoll/) [Browse all 387 Abiding quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abiding/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "You won't get gun control by disarming law-abiding citizens. There's only one way to get real gun control: Disarm the thugs and the criminals, lock them up and if you don't actually throw away the key, at least lose it for a long time... It's a nasty truth, but those who seek to inflict harm are not fazed by gun controllers. I happen to know this from personal experience.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ronald Reagan" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-law-abiding-citizens-there-s/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Abiding" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-law-abiding-citizens-there-s/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/ronald-reagan-119_abiding_you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-l_1743763.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/ronald-reagan-119_abiding_you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-l_1743763.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e92/ronald-reagan-119_abiding_you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-l_1743763.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“You won't get gun control by disarming law-abiding citizens. There's only one way to get real gun control…” — Ronald Reagan", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ronald Reagan", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "You won't get gun control by...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-law-abiding-citizens-there-s/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/you-won-t-get-gun-control-by-disarming-law-abiding-citizens-there-s/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```