Corrupt politicians are much more of a factor in large urban centers than in rural communities and small towns. The same applies to organized crime. it is associated with urban areas. It is much harder for significant corruption to exist when the amounts are small, the people involved mostly know the politicians personally, and there are no large public works to play favorites with. A significant exception might be planning and zoning, where local elites have great power, little accountability, and where significant money is at stake.
Corrupt politicians and organized crime figures hate the idea of an armed population. When you are stealing, cheating, and extorting people on a daily basis, some of them are bound to take exception to it. Push them far enough, and a few will decide to push back, even at the cost of their own lives. Do it enough, and it becomes a near certainty. It is much more difficult for corrupt politicians or organized crime to exist in the midst of an armed citizenry. From Vanity Fair, the Reluctant Don, Sammy “the bull” Gravano:
“Gun control? It’s the best thing you can do for crooks and gangsters. I want you to have nothing. If I’m a bad guy, I’m always gonna have a gun. Safety locks? You pull the trigger with a lock on, and I’ll pull the trigger. We’ll see who wins.”
