[Pollster1]

I do not own a gun; however, I am considering getting one. I believe guns should be licensed and their owners properly trained . . . However, there is some evidence of a deterrent effect of licensed, concealed weapons. FBI statistics, cited by the National Rifle Association, show that “right-to-carry” states have 22 percent lower total violent crime rates, 30 percent lower murder rates, 46 percent lower robbery rates, and 12 percent lower aggravated assault rates, as compared to the rest of the country. I wonder what would be the effect on hate crimes.

I don't approve of posting that you don't own a gun below your real name - that sounds like asking for trouble.

I don't approve of posting that you might buy a gun below your real name - that sounds like asking for trouble.

I don't approve of requiring that guns be licensed. That makes it too easy for an out of control government to try to take them away.

I VERY strongly approve this guy getting training before owning any firearms. He sounds like he may be teachable but is currently shockingly clueless.

While I believe that firearms make us safer, I am skeptical of the statistics he sites. The right-to-carry states cited by the NRA are entirely different in culture from the other states, and the association with lower crime rates cannot be inferred to be cause and effect. I suspect the NRA conclusion is correct, but the evidence mentioned is not relevant.

[drbuzzard]

>While I believe that firearms make us safer, I am skeptical of the statistics he sites.

You might want to check out http://www.amazon.com/More-Guns-Less-Crime-Understanding/dp/0226493636

This is a very rigorous statistical treatment of crime rates vs. gun ownership and concealed carry. Lott does take the time to correct for a lot of factors (income, minorities, population density, etc), and his conclusion is that gun ownership and concealed carry consistently lower crime rates.

[buffaloguy]

I am not at all skeptical of the figures. In most of those states that have CCW, the crime rates fell dramatically after the legislatures passed shall issue legislation.

It is what it is....