Originally Posted by MS Fowler

Most of those who favor big-government solutions for all problems want to be judged on their ( stated) intentions, and never on the results.
Restrictive guns laws are but one example. As Brian has continually pointed out CT already HAS among the most restrictive gun laws in the country. Did those restrictions help? Evidence would suggest they did not. Whether they promoted an easy target is arguable, but laws did not stop the killing.
What evidence is there that laws stop bad behavior? Writing bad checks is illegal--and still people do it. Robbing banks is illegal, and still people do it. Identity theft is illegal, and people still do it. Public drunkenness and public urination are illegal, and people still do those things, too.
Sometimes laws do have the desired effect. Marijuana use is illegal, and always has been wherever I have lived, and for that reason, alone, I have refrained from it. But I am a law-abiding citizen. There are still people who use (illegally) Marijuana all over this country. Laws do not generally stop law-breakers from doing what they decide to do.
I wonder how much society would change if we erased all laws from the books--law abiding/ caring for others--like all of us here on PP--would continue to behave pretty much as we do. The law-breakers would continue to behave as they do.

Passing laws will not make bad people act like good people.