Kennesaw, Georgia
-- Gun law --
On May 1, 1982 the city passed an ordinance [Sec 34-1a] requiring every head of household to maintain a firearm together with ammunition. It was passed partly in response to a 1981 handgun ban in Morton Grove, Illinois. Kennesaw's law was amended in 1983 to exempt those who conscientiously object to owning a firearm, convicted felons, those who cannot afford a firearm, and those with a mental or physical disability that would prevent them from owning a firearm. It mentions no penalty for its violation. According to the Kennesaw Historical Society, no one has ever been charged under the ordinance.
-- Reports of resulting burglary rate statistics --
Gary Kleck, a criminologist and gun-control critic attributes a drop of 89% in the residential burglary rate to the law.[3] Kennesaw is often cited by advocates of gun ownership as evidence that gun ownership deters crime. (see, for instance, this 2004 sheet of talking points from the Gun Owners Foundation). Others have challenged this conclusion, however, citing data showing that the number of burglaries in the 10 years spanning the passing of the ordinance remains roughly the same, while burglaries dropped in the city of Morton Grove following their gun ban.[4]. These statistics are in turn refuted because the report in question lacked important considerations such as porpotions for the population and growth over time.
Current statistics indicate that Kennesaw's crime rate is lower compared to surrounding cities like Marietta, Smyrna, Alpharetta, or Atlanta.
3. ^ Gary Kleck (1991). Point blank: guns and violence in America. New York: A. de Gruyter. ISBN 0-202-30419-1.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennesaw,_Georgia