Idaho Town Asks Residents to Own Guns

[Rhino]

Nov 16, 3:48 AM EST

Idaho Town Asks Residents to Own Guns

By JESSE HARLAN ALDERMAN
Associated Press Writer

GREENLEAF, Idaho (AP) -- After seeing the chaos of Hurricane Katrina, a city councilor in this tiny Idaho town founded by pacifist Quakers came up with a novel idea.

Ordinance 208, passed by the City Council on Tuesday, asks Greenleaf's 862 residents who do not object on religious or other grounds to keep a gun at home in case they are overrun by refugees from the Gulf Coast.

"This is not an 'it'll never happen here kind of thing,'" said Steven Jett, the ordinance's sponsor. "We could get refugees."

In this town about 35 miles west of Boise near the Oregon line - where an estimated 80 percent of the adults already own guns - the proposal hardly caused a stir: It went through weeks of public hearings and drew only mild criticism from the pastor of the town's Quaker meeting house.

But in the six weeks since Jett first introduced the ordinance, national media have flocked to the story........http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GUN_LAW?SITE=FLTAM&SECTION=US

[Wolfcounsel]

Common sense somewhere at last!

[Lubbock]

Wouldn't have to ask me twice.

In fact, wouldn't have to ask me once.

[The_Sonarman]

It's one of the Midwest states.

I'm not surprised at this story. I expect sanity from that area.

[Timberwolf]

Greenleaf is on the western fringe of Canyon County, a fast-growing suburb of Boise. As developers turn alfalfa rows into tract housing and hay bales into big box stores, Jett wants newcomers to know that criminals will not be "comfortable" in Greenleaf.

"We don't have a crime problem," he said. "But this area is going to grow and we're going to keep it that way."
If anyone (mainly directed at you liberals) doubts the effectiveness of the aforementioned ordinance, ask yourself this very simple question, "Were I one who was looking to do so, would I rob the house that displayed a sign stating, 'This house is PROUDLY gun free' or the house that had a sign that read, 'This house protected by Smith & Wesson'?"

Yup...proactive common sense...I live in a border city. Across the state line in Minnesota is a city with about 20% our population, yet they have a much higher crime rate, despite efforts to relax CCW laws...we North Dakotans don't even have a waiting period (AFAIK)...I know that I walked out with my S&W within one hour of making the purchase.
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[Antigone]

You wouldn't really have to ask them to go out and get a gun. Most of us people in Idaho already have one. In fact most of us have more than one. :)

[Lubbock]

You wouldn't really have to ask them to go out and get a gun. Most of us people in Idaho already have one. In fact most of us have more than one. :)

That would have been my guess about the vast majority of the residents of Idaho. The ordinance is more window dressing, and serves as a warning to those from the outside who might have mischief on their minds: Steer clear of Greenleaf. Those folks over there are deadly seroius about protection of property and person.

[Rhino]

If anyone (mainly directed at you liberals) doubts the effectiveness of the aforementioned ordinance, ask yourself this very simple question......Or just look at Kennesaw, GA.

[Timberwolf]

True.

[Peachdiane]

As a former resident of Kennesaw, I'm thrilled. We need more ordinances like this. :)

[Beowulf]

Funny, Peach, I saw the title and thought of you and Kennesaw, a town with almost no crime thanks to mandatory gun ownership.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

If there are places like Kennesaw and Greanleaf, then why isn't the message getting out -- an armed citizenry makes for a safer citizenry? One would think the correlation would be pretty crystal clear. Of course, we all know the "word" does get out when there are groups of people who take their 2nd Amendment rights seriously ...

Was pondering the other day my family's blessing that we've never had any crime related incidents where we live. My family lives at the end of a dead end road, across from the youth sports park. Our three homes are tucked away behind trees and fences, so one would think it relatively easy pickin's for a motivated thief. Several of the houses down our street and around the corner from the park have been broken into, a couple burglarized -- houses one would typically not hit as they are really visible -- but not ours. You think it might have something to do with that peeping-tom fellow that tried to look through my sister-in-law's skylight? You know, the one my Mother-in-Law shot at and almost nailed with her Saturday Night Special? :evilgrin: Nobody messes with pistol-packin mamas, he he he

[Peachdiane]

:lol:

Yeah, one would think that with all the attention on guns, the spotlight would be on these towns and cities. But, it isn't. I can't even recall the alphabet media mentioning Kennesaw and the others. These ordinances PROVE that owning firearms actually improves safety and security. It's a great way to reduce crime and build an emergency task force amongst homeowners. The rest of the nation isn't going to hear about it because we know MSM doesn't like facts. The MSM wants all of us to believe guns are evil.

Funny, Peach, I saw the title and thought of you and Kennesaw, a town with almost no crime thanks to mandatory gun ownership.:thumb: I believe another town is Virgin, Utah! Even a small town is a huge step. The ACLU of course, went after Kennesaw and lost. Hah!

[Lazarus]

It's one of the Midwest states.

I'm not surprised at this story. I expect sanity from that area.Actually, Sonar, I dont klnow if you could classify it as Midwestern... Idaho is west of Colorado - That places it squarely in the middle of the Western states... So we're seeing the old Cowboy spirit here...

Im not suprised, really... Idaho has one of the most conservative populations per capita of any of the Western states... Unlike places like Colorado and Wyoming, the rich California libs have not invaded Idaho...

[Ant]

This only passed because most of them already own guns (not that there's anything wrong with that). What was the point of this ordinance if it changed almost nothing?

[Antigone]

. Unlike places like Colorado and Wyoming, the rich California libs have not invaded Idaho...

They are trying. But we try to keep them contained in Sun Valley and Boise. :biggrin:

[Beowulf]

This only passed because most of them already own guns (not that there's anything wrong with that). What was the point of this ordinance if it changed almost nothing?
For those who move in most likely, especially if crime is low. No argument from me on it!

[HooverWasRight]

I bet the people i Greenleaf couldn't hit the broadside of a barn with a handful of grain.
We all know the best shooter is down here in Burley. :D

[Maggie_T]

This is why I'm moving to Idaho! :thumb:

[The_Sonarman]

This only passed because most of them already own guns (not that there's anything wrong with that). What was the point of this ordinance if it changed almost nothing?

This ordinance got a lot of publicity. As such, it's a very public statement to those who would attempt to prey upon the law abiding.

Sort of like posting a "Trespassers will be shot: survivors will be shot again" sign for your entire town.