Is This Sarcasm, or a Recommendation?

This first time I read the following letter to the editor, I thought "Wow, this guy is an idiot". The second time I read it I thought maybe he was being sarcastic. Now I'm just not sure, but leaning towards my first reaction. This guy is an idiot.

Make gun possession illegal in city limits

From the Journal Gazette:

By Jerome A. Welch

Congratulations to the city of Fort Wayne on the smoking ban that took effect June 1. Think of all the lung cancer that will be prevented.

Now let’s take on the gun problem. Make it illegal to possess a handgun within the city limits. Law enforcement personnel initially could be allowed to carry guns, but eventually even that would be unnecessary. Think of the homicides that will be prevented. Britain and Japan have very strict gun laws. Their homicide rates are a small fraction of ours.

Three cheers for Councilman John Crawford for persevering in a noble cause. And three cheers for former mayor Paul Helmke for his efforts to control guns.

First, smoking bans have never been about public health. Smoking bans are about property rights and the right of a business owner to allow the consumption of a legal product on the premises of a business establishment.

As to his recommendations about firearms. His idea is not even worth fisking, hence my thought that he may be attempting sarcasm. In the even he is not, I will make one little comment.

All I have to say to this:

Think of the homicides that will be prevented.

is - Think of Washington D.C.