Posted on 02/02/2012 5:56:56 PM PST by FreedomPoster
The ostensible purpose of gun control legislation is to reduce firearm deaths and injuries. The restriction of access to firearms will make criminals unable to use guns to shoot people. Gun control laws will also reduce the number of accidental shootings. Those are the desired effects, at least in theory. It is important, however, for conscientious policymakers to consider not only the stated goals of gun control regulations, but the actual results that they produce.
What would be the effect of depriving ordinary, law-abiding citizens from keeping arms for self-defense? One result seems certain: the law-abiding would be at a distinct disadvantage should criminals acquire guns from underground markets. After all, it is simply not possible for police officers to get to every scene where they are urgently needed.
Outside of criminology circles, relatively few people can reasonably estimate how often people use guns to fend off criminal attacks. If policymakers are truly interested in harm reduction, they should pause to consider how many crimes — murders, rapes, assaults, robberies — are thwarted each year by ordinary persons with guns. The estimates of defensive gun use range between the tens of thousands to as high as two million each year.
This paper uses a collection of news reports of self-defense with guns over an eight-year period to survey the circumstances and outcomes of defensive gun uses in America.
Federal and state lawmakers often oppose repealing or amending laws governing the ownership or carrying of guns. That opposition is typically based on assumptions that the average citizen is incapable of successfully employing a gun in self-defense or that possession of a gun in public will tempt people to violence in "road rage" or other contentious situations. Those assumptions are false. The vast majority of gun owners are ethical and competent. That means tens of thousands of crimes are prevented each year by ordinary citizens with guns.
David Burnett, one of the authors, is our very own DaveLoneRanger.
Ping; FReeper author, Cato paper, good stuff.
Ping.
I studied under a guy named Gary Kleck at Fsu. He’s a liberal as expected, but did some great studies.. gun rights protect citizens and deter crime.. a no brainer.
The inescapable fact is, when a criminal enters your home there are no cops there. If you are lucky enough to hear them entering and call the cops, there is a certain amount of time before the cops get to your house. In a gun control world the criminal is armed and in your house and you are not armed and are waiting for “help” to get to you. Chances are very good that by the time “help” arrives you are either dead, injured or raped and the criminal is on his way home...and the cops are left to fill out a report.
There is no obligation for cops to protect us.. a 9mm will though.
I prefer a 45. My son his Tokarev in 7.62 x25
Currently here in Grant County New Mexico, an inmate with federal charges escaped the detention center yesterday. The individual (Scott Freeman) has told his ex-wife and her family that he desired to kill them all. In this community along the Gila River the HQ of both the State Police and the County Sheriff are over 30 miles away.
I am thankful that this community is armed. Escapee Scott Freeman would be a Meth’d up dip-s*it to come back here into this community.
I do not understand libtards.
Yes! There is no obligation to protect.. they are report takers.. im engulfed in a healthcare law class for an mba, but my experience is in law enforcement.. don’t rely on cops. They are always late..
You are correct.
Or as I like to say, the police are there to secure the crime scene for the EMTs and possibly the M.E.
Armed self defense by citizens is so the above crew have a much better chance to be dealing with the appropriate person.
Excellent.
My comment went to wrong person about the 45 acp.
Of course! Its our right! Im underserved by the a .380 s&w bodyguard. But I feel ok today. Will be pursuing. 22lr in the near future. Im not rich. Im a tea party guy..
Downloaded for later.
“Im a tea party guy..”
Do you really want to pursue a lesser caliber? Most of us here on Free Republic are ‘tea party guys’ as well...
CUSTOMER IN CONVIENCE STORE: "Hey, you..... got a question for you."
PUNK POINTING GUN AT STORE CLERK: Ya'll all talking to me, Mother Fxxker?
CUSTOMER: "Yeppers, big boy."
PUNK: "What kinda question you want ax me, Fxxk Face?"
CUSTOMER: "Here it is....do you know what 'double tap means?"
PUNK: "Fxxk yo mama, Mother Fxxker."
CUSTOMER (pulling back his jacket with left hand and reaching to his waist with his right):"This, a$$hole !!"
LATER, ANOTHER CUSTOMER WHO HAD JUST ENTERED THE STORE: "I don't know, officer...I was about to open the door and walk in when I heard 'bang, bang' real fast and close together. Then, saw that guy hitting the floor and the guy wearing the suit, by the Coke machine with a big smile on his face".
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