Late last week President Obama had some controversial things to say about guns during a town hall meeting in South Carolina. It is interesting he chose the Palmetto State to voice these anti-gun sentiments. South Carolina enjoys a higher rate of gun ownership compared to many other states due to looser gun registration and licensing requirements. In addition, the 2010 census ranked South Carolina as having the eleventh lowest gun murder rate in the nation. This is not a state looking for more stringent gun regulations.

During the town hall meeting Obama claimed, “As long as you can go on into some neighborhoods, and it’s easier for you to buy a firearm than it is for you to buy a book, there are neighborhoods where it’s easier for you to buy a handgun and clips than it is for you to buy a fresh vegetable,” Obama continued. “As long as that’s the case, we’re going to continue to see unnecessary violence.”

The President spewed additional anti-gun rhetoric throughout the speech, but for the purposes of this article I’m going to focus on the above quote. While the President’s statement claiming that it is easier to buy a gun may be true to some extent in poor areas, the amount that it’s true is likely very minute. But it is important to understand why this dilemma exists. Whether the President cares to admit it or not, this sentiment only applies to guns obtained illegally. A more appropriate and specific question would ask, why is it easy to buy illegal guns in poor neighborhoods?

This issue is far more complex than can be covered in a short article; a book could be written on this topic. In the interest of saving time, let’s focus on two of the main drivers that lead to illegal guns being readily available on the street.

Let’s start by analyzing where some of the demand comes from, because as every good part time economist knows, the supply market responds to demand. One of the biggest catalysts for illegal guns on the streets in poor neighborhoods is the War on Drugs. The War on Drugs pushes transactions involving prohibited substances to the black market. Disputes that occur as a result of these transactions require mediation. Due to the nature of black market transactions, participants are highly unlikely to use approved legal avenues to resolve these disputes because this would land them in legal trouble for mere participation in the market of prohibited substances. This leads many to use violence to settle disagreements.

The government has attempted to put a stop to this violence by passing legislation that makes it difficult to obtain a firearm. These regulations only make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to obtain firearms. Individuals that have already broken the law by participating in black market drug transactions are not deterred by these laws from obtaining handguns. The demand has already been established through illegal drug transactions, so why would stricter gun laws act as a deterrent from breaking another law?

These gun laws only add further incentive for illegal participation in the black market for firearms. The restrictions heighten the risk and in turn increase the reward for those supplying the illegal guns. Basically, government intervention has created an environment where profits escalate for those willing to break the law selling drugs or guns.

This answers the question why it is so easy to find illegal guns in poor neighborhoods, but why is it so hard to find vegetables?

If you guessed more government intervention in the marketplace, then you guessed correctly. Government regulations and subsidies make healthy items more expensive and decrease the cost of processed, less healthy foods. When you subsidize something you get more of it. Hence, more processed, unhealthy fast food options and less nutritious healthy options.

If the desired outcome is more vegetables and less gun violence, then intervention by a coercive government needs to be reduced. It really is that simple.

Check out the video with President Obama’s comments during the town hall meeting:

Source: Daily Caller

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