Mayor, we've got a giant drawback on our hands," stated Police Chief Bud Anderson to Mike Branden, mayor of Palm Metropolis, Florida, a small metropolis of 200,000 old school People, sitting in the middle of the Florida panhandle. It was an exquisite spring day in April.

Bud Anderson was a handsome man, in his thirties, darkish brown hair, blue eyes, a wide, straightforward mouth. He wore a mild-blue quick-sleeve shirt and denims. Mayor Mike Branden, additionally dressed casually, was in his forties, tall, and nicely-constructed. He used to be an orange-grower, his family going again generations in Palm City. He had a weather-beaten face, sturdy mouth, and calloused hands the scale of mitts. He had simply been elected mayor in November and received the election on his promise to clean up crime in town.

During the last five years, the town had change into a little bit Silicon Valley, with computer companies moving in by the droves as a result of there have been no company taxes in Florida or in Palm City. The city was prospering, and the newly-wealthy laptop millionaires and their workers with stock choices had been all building huge, fancy houses by the river. The money and huge houses had attracted the thieves. Town crime charge had been exploding, particularly home burglaries and rapes. All the ladies in the town have been scared and up in arms over the crime spree, and wished one thing achieved. Mayor Branden promised to do something about it.

"Bud, inform me what you suppose the issue is," Mike Branden mentioned. "Tell me what you think we will do."

"Effectively, Mike," Bud Anderson mentioned, "I think the thieves and rapists have it too simple. They're good. They case the mark's house fastidiously before they break in. They solely break in after they know the wife is home alone. But that is not the true drawback, Mike."

"The actual drawback is that the women are defenseless. You could not know this, being so new as Mayor, but about 5 years ago the previous Mayor passed gun laws that made it unlawful to have a gun in the home, and illegal to use one towards a burglar. He also made it illegal for anybody to hold a concealed gun outdoors the house. That's when our troubles began, Mayor."

Mike Branden grew up with guns ever since he was a boy. He belonged to the National Rifle Association. He loved skeet shooting, and bought his youngsters their first rifles once they have been eight years outdated. He taught them tips on how to shoot straight and the way to use a gun safely. His spouse also owned a rifle and handgun, shared his love for skeet taking pictures, and was a crack shot. Mayor Mike Branden was not a faculty graduate, however he had guts, frequent sense, and imagination. He instantly saw the issue, and the answer.

"Nicely, I believe we'll change these gun laws, Bud. Thieves and rapists have it too simple around right here. They know they'll rob houses and rape ladies with no risk.

Let's put the danger back. Let's see what happens once they get shot in the event that they break into a house or hassle one of our women. I'm sick to loss of life of all the gun laws in this country, so let's strive a bit experiment. I am going to convince the town Council to revoke our gun-control laws. Next, I will convince them to cross a new legislation requiring each man and girl in Palm Metropolis to personal a handgun or shotgun, and understand how to use them safely. I desire a pistol and shotgun in each residence. I want each woman walking round town with a concealed gun in her purse or below her dress. Let's see what occurs when we change the legal guidelines.
Let's see what occurs after we give the victims a method to defend themselves.

I additionally want you to place a collection of adverts within the Palm Metropolis Gazette and Day by day Press that announces the brand new legal guidelines, so everyone is aware of that every Palm City resident will quickly be armed. I want you to set up gun safety and training programs on the local firing ranges, so we all know that each girl on this town might be useless shot."

Bud Anderson's eyes lit up with admiration for his new Mayor. He had been eager to revoke these gun laws for the last 5 years, however never dreamed of the daring plan the new Mayor now wanted to put into motion.

"That is a damned incredible thought, Mike. You're going to make a hell of a Mayor. I believe the residents in this city are going to love you. They're going to have a fantastic time studying how to use a gun once more, particularly the girls. I do know the women will type gun clubs. They will in all probability want to buy designer guns with pretty colours. Hell, I would even purchase a pearl-dealt with forty five myself."
Mike Branden laughed out loud at his Police Chief's boyish enthusiasm. He said, "I believe the new legal guidelines needs to be in place in about a month, Bud. Let's meet again in about three months and you'll tell me whether or not we've had any success with the plan."

Bud Anderson gave a mock salute to his Mayor, said "yes, sir," and walked out the door into the Spring sunshine.

THREE MONTHS LATER:

It is a sizzling July day within the Mayor's workplace, and Police Chief Anderson and Mike Branden are having an enthusiastic conversation.

"Mike, mother-of-god did your plan work! The crime charge has dropped like a rock in Palm Metropolis. Burglaries are down eighty percent. Rapes are down 90 %. I've never seen something prefer it. All of it started about two months ago, Mike. There was a burglary gang that had been hitting most of the homes. Effectively, about ten of them have been shot, three killed within the last two months. As soon because the burglar alarm goes off, the ladies took their guns from their purses and began capturing. I've interrogated among the thieves we caught. They're pretty stupid and don't read much, in order that they weren't aware of the new gun laws. They thought we were nonetheless working below the previous laws. You must have seen the shock on their faces. They have been mad as hell. They by no means anticipated fairly younger housewives to be spraying them with semi-automatic fire. They had been mad as hell at you."

"Then there have been the rapists who didn't learn about the new gun laws both, those who prayed on ladies at evening in the purchasing-mall parking heaps. Did they get the shock of their lives! About twenty of them have been shot already, five killed. They just came up to the ladies, brazen like, considering they may get away with anything like they used to. Then the ladies suddenly pulled out their pretty pistols and started firing away. It's best to hear how the girls laughed with glee and pride when they advised me their stories. They informed me how thankful they have been to have their guns. I believe all the ladies on this city love you now, Mike. It is an excellent factor you're already married."

"I believe the dangerous guys are getting the image, Mike. Burglars and rapists are getting scarce in Palm Metropolis. Matter of reality, I just bought a name from Ben Radley, Police Chief at Hampton Bay. 9mm barrel have the same idiotic gun-control legal guidelines we had here. Seems they've been getting a sharp rise in home burglaries and rapes there. Seems like our unhealthy guys are moving on to simpler ground in Hampton Bay. I certain really feel sorry for the people in that town right now. Ben Radley desires to speak to you real bad. He desires to know the way you bought crime down so quick in Palm Metropolis. Who is aware of, Mike, maybe what you did right here will unfold all over the nation. I hope so."

"One other factor, Mike. Every teacher and principal in each public school on this town now carries a hid gun. Every one among the kids know this, and they now feel real safe in the colleges. They are not worrying anymore about considered one of their deranged teen-age friends immediately happening a taking pictures spree, like what occurred at Columbine Highschool. If anything occurs, they know they do not have to attend an hour for the cops to point out up. They know the teachers and principal can protect them. Did you know math and reading scores are going up at the colleges, too? It is the damndest thing."

"Mike, I believe you're going to be Mayor in this town for so long as you like. I hope you keep on perpetually, as a result of Palm Metropolis of us are really grateful to you. At first they were just a little skeptical about your plans. But now, after they've seen the results, you couldn't get them to hand over their guns anymore. We're even getting calls from newspapers, magazines, and Tv stations all around the country. CNN wants to interview you, did you know that? They known as me this morning. You are changing into a celeb, by god!"
Mike Branden laughed out loud. "Me, an orange grower, a celeb? Neglect the interviews Bud. How about we go fishing this afternoon after work? It is getting sort of quiet round right here, simply the way I like it."

Bud Anderson, grinning, caught out his hand to shake Mike's large, calloused hand, for he now counted Mike Branden as a very good good friend. That afternoon, they caught a dozen trout at Briar Creek lake. It was a superb afternoon.