--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Today, the people who would use guns to…" description: "\"Today, the people who would use guns to violate rights have little trouble getting them, while those who would use them to defend their rights have inc..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/sheldon-richman-22286_amendment_today-the-people-who-would-use-guns-to-v_2877903.jpg" --- # Today, the people who would use guns to violate rights… ![“Today, the people who would use guns to violate rights have little trouble getting them, while those who would use them to defend their rights have increasing trouble getting them. ... Gun control is in effect a subsidy for criminals.” quote by Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/sheldon-richman-22286_amendment_today-the-people-who-would-use-guns-to-v_2877903.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/sheldon-richman-22286_amendment_today-the-people-who-would-use-guns-to-v_2877903.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f1d/sheldon-richman-22286_amendment_today-the-people-who-would-use-guns-to-v_2877903.jpg) > “Today, the people who would use guns to violate rights have little trouble getting them, while those who would use them to defend their rights have increasing trouble getting them. ... Gun control is in effect a subsidy for criminals.” [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) ## 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 unintentionally benefits criminals by restricting law‑abiding citizens while allowing illicit access. **In simple terms:** Gun control may aid criminals. Key Takeaway Reevaluate gun policies for fairness. Themes policy rights crime law enforcement civil liberties Mood critical concerned analytical Type political controversial When to use this quote - legislation - activism - law enforcement - public debate Key Concepts public policy ethics social impact Questions to Reflect On - How can policies protect both rights and safety? - What alternatives exist to reduce crime? A Different Perspective Balancing safety and rights is complex. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Amendment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Defend Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defend-rights-355612/) [Effects](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/effects/) [Getting Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-gun-1696657/) [Gun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun/) [Gun control](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gun-control/) [Guns Violate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/guns-violate-3972264/) [Littles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/littles/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Rights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rights/) [Subsidies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/subsidies/) [Today](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/today/) [Trouble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trouble/) [Use](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use/) [Use Guns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/use-guns-339585/) ## Related quotes > [To make inexpensive guns impossible to get is to say that you're putting a money test on getting a gun. It's racism in its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-innis/to-make-inexpensive-guns-impossible-to-get-is-to-say-that-you-re/) [Roy Innis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-innis/) > [Call me a dreamer, but I think it would be great if getting medical attention were as easy as getting a gun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-borowitz/call-me-a-dreamer-but-i-think-it-would-be-great-if-getting-medical/) [Andy Borowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-borowitz/) > [I believe my first duty is to survive. And I'm not just talking about criminals coming into my home. I once seriously considered getting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-believe-my-first-duty-is-to-survive-and-i-m-not-just-talking-about/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) > [Can you imagine getting a gun for a secret Santa? That is especially not a good idea if you work in a post office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-handler/can-you-imagine-getting-a-gun-for-a-secret-santa-that-is-especially/) [Chelsea Handler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-handler/) > [ I think it \[getting a gun\] should be like getting a pilot's license. I think you should require training to get a license to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/i-think-it-getting-a-gun-should-be-like-getting-a-pilot-s-license-i/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [If I grew up in a different background, I could see myself getting a gun and shooting an abortionist. That's my job, to imagine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/todd-solondz/if-i-grew-up-in-a-different-background-i-could-see-myself-getting-a/) [Todd Solondz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/todd-solondz/) > [There is no law in the world - there is no law unwritten, there's no law on the books - that's gonna stop a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-no-law-in-the-world-there-is-no-law-unwritten-there-s-no-law/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [“Where did I get it? Smartypants, getting a gun in Gutshot, Tennessee is easier than getting chlamydia from a hooker.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-green/where-did-i-get-it-smartypants-getting-a-gun-in-gutshot-tennessee-is/) [John Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-green/) > [You must remember that the common criminal will always join the armed forces for, if nothing else, regular meals and expert training in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-ellis/you-must-remember-that-the-common-criminal-will-always-join-the-armed/) [Warren Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-ellis/) > [“They'll use guns and they'll use words, and the worst part of all is that you might listen when they say you're a freak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roanna-sylver/they-ll-use-guns-and-they-ll-use-words-and-the-worst-part-of-all-is/) [RoAnna Sylver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roanna-sylver/) > [Since we didn't use guns, we wanted to make sure we could earn the ability to win the audience over by making it believable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucy-liu/since-we-didn-t-use-guns-we-wanted-to-make-sure-we-could-earn-the/) [Lucy Liu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucy-liu/) > [One way to reduce crime and save lives is to target criminals who use guns with tough mandatory minimums.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/one-way-to-reduce-crime-and-save-lives-is-to-target-criminals-who-use/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [My father taught me the way to use guns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-fuller/my-father-taught-me-the-way-to-use-guns/) [Robert Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-fuller/) > [“No, no guns, they won’t get us anywhere. I tried that when I was young and it’s a useless interim game. Use guns and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-whittemore/no-no-guns-they-won-t-get-us-anywhere-i-tried-that-when-i-was-young/) [Edward Whittemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-whittemore/) > [More people use guns to kill themselves than to kill others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-petrow/more-people-use-guns-to-kill-themselves-than-to-kill-others/) [Steven Petrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-petrow/) ## More by Sheldon Richman > [The alternative to the market process is government control, and we know where that principle leads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-alternative-to-the-market-process-is-government-control-and-we/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Those who create the wealth naturally want to keep it and devote it to their own purposes. Those who wish to expropriate it look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/those-who-create-the-wealth-naturally-want-to-keep-it-and-devote-it/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Government interference with the economic process represents a substitution of political for consumer objectives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/government-interference-with-the-economic-process-represents-a/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Perhaps the deterioration of American education is illustrated by the high correlation between the number of years a person has attended school and his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/perhaps-the-deterioration-of-american-education-is-illustrated-by-the/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [The government's coercive taxing power necessarily creates two classes: those who create and those who consume the wealth expropriated and transferred by that power.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-government-s-coercive-taxing-power-necessarily-creates-two/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Why is Netanyahu pushing war? Among several reasons, demonizing Iran reduces pressure on Israel to negotiate seriously with the Palestinians. Many Israelis prefer building…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/why-is-netanyahu-pushing-war-among-several-reasons-demonizing-iran/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [When government 'creates jobs' by taking money from the private sector and 'investing' in favored projects, it is not truly productive activity. Rather, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/when-government-creates-jobs-by-taking-money-from-the-private-sector/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [No matter how much the government controls the economic system, any problem will be blamed on whatever small zone of freedom that remains.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/no-matter-how-much-the-government-controls-the-economic-system-any/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Apologists for activist government never tire of telling us that the benevolent state is our protector and that without it wed be at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/apologists-for-activist-government-never-tire-of-telling-us-that-the/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [It should go without saying that even the most narrowly construed eminent-domain power would violate individual rights. Either a person owns his legitimately acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/it-should-go-without-saying-that-even-the-most-narrowly-construed/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [In an unmolested market economy - one where all dealings are consensual - the 'allocation' of wealth and income is the result of transactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/in-an-unmolested-market-economy-one-where-all-dealings-are-consensual/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [We must acknowledge, of course, that what looks like failure to us Americans outside the privileged elite may not actually be failure for our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/we-must-acknowledge-of-course-that-what-looks-like-failure-to-us/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [Some conservatives are surprised to find people on the Left supporting the war in Afghanistan. It's not surprising at all...It is hard for the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/some-conservatives-are-surprised-to-find-people-on-the-left/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [The more power government has to provide things, the more power it has to dictate terms.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-more-power-government-has-to-provide-things-the-more-power-it-has/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) > [The housing and financial crisis could not have occurred in the absence of government housing and monetary policies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheldon-richman/the-housing-and-financial-crisis-could-not-have-occurred-in-the/) [Sheldon Richman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) [Explore all 27 Sheldon Richman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheldon-richman/) ## More Amendment quotes > [There are a lot of people who want to retain the Eighth Amendment - I don't agree with that view myself - there are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leo-varadkar/there-are-a-lot-of-people-who-want-to-retain-the-eighth-amendment-i/) [Leo Varadkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-varadkar/) > [“Let's just make this easy. 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Polsby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-d-polsby/) > [Can you understand why the Congress, most states and most cities refuse to pass legislation requiring the registration and licensing of any and all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-forbes/can-you-understand-why-the-congress-most-states-and-most-cities/) [Malcolm Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-forbes/) > [This separation was absolute in our original Republic. But the sky-godders do not give up easily. In the 1950s they actually got the phrase…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/this-separation-was-absolute-in-our-original-republic-but-the-sky/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [Guns aren't the problem; sick people are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-sessions/guns-aren-t-the-problem-sick-people-are/) [Pete Sessions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-sessions/) > [The proliferation of right-to-carry laws throughout the states has drawn plaintive complaints from the criminal element. They feel that it makes their profession too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-cooper/the-proliferation-of-right-to-carry-laws-throughout-the-states-has/) [Jeff Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-cooper/) > [Gun violence has cost us too many political leaders, and hardly ever the worst ones.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-j-o-rourke/gun-violence-has-cost-us-too-many-political-leaders-and-hardly-ever/) [P. J. 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Interestingly,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-behr/people-who-have-attended-concealed-carry-classes-and-those-already/) [Gary Behr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-behr/) [Browse all 2,041 Amendment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/amendment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Today, the people who would use guns to violate rights have little trouble getting them, while those who would use them to defend their rights have increasing trouble getting them. ... 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