US village wants every household to have a gun

A tiny village in the US has passed a law demanding that the head of each household must own a gun and ammunition.

The Kansas hamlet of Geuda Springs, population 210, introduced the rule in a bid to cut crime even though only two crimes have been reported there this year.

“When everybody in a place is armed, the bad guys don’t want to go there,” said Councilman John Brewer.

The small town does not have its own police force, marshal or private security.

But despite the low crime level councillors fear their lack of protection has left them an open target.

So under the new law anyone found not to own a gun will be fined $10 (€8.46).

People convicted of serious crimes or with mental or physical disabilities are “exempt” from the legislation.

The town is already awash with firearms.

“Most people who live here already have guns,” Mr Brewer told the Washington Times.

“About 85% to 90% have loaded firearms in their homes… and we use them here all the time against coyotes and skunks.”

But Sumner County Sheriff, Gerald Gilkey, is concerned that people convicted of domestic violence are not exempted from the law.

He also said he was worried for the safety of his officers.

More than 20 years ago the town of Kennesaw, in Georgia, introduced a similar law, requiring all households to have a gun.

FBI figures show that crime fell dramatically there and remains low to this day.