ProsThere is a significant decrease chance in which criminals will attack someone who is armed. From a 1997 study, " robbery and assault victims who used a gun to resist were less likely to be attacked or to sufferan injury than those who used any other methods of self-protection or those whodid not resist at all" It was also noted that people who draw out their guns for self-defense often make the criminal retreat from crime. “Criminals simply retreats 55.5% of the time" when seeing their victims with drawled guns according to a Journal written by a Phd named Gary Kleck. There is a clearindication that criminals would be more tentative to attack those who are armed.
Armed citizens can help reduce crime because according to John Lott (PhD) gun laws helped reduce "homicides by 8.5%, aggravated assaults by 7%, rapes by 5%, and robberies by 3%" People feel a great deal amount safer with a gun even though they might never use it in public. It is impossible for the government to protect every single family and person. Ultimately is the adults' responsibility to defend themselves against attackers. For example in April 20, 1999, there was a Columbine High School massacre and on April 17, 2007, there was also a Virginia Techs shooting that could have been ended and lives saved if there was an armed citizen shooting the attackers. Because criminals carry firearms, citizens should have the same right and advantage during protecting themselves from armed attackers. This goes even when the criminal has illegal or legal firearms. In addition to that, most of adults who carry concealed handguns can be considered law-abiding citizens. Froma engineering stastic, the general public is " 5.7 times more likely to be arrested for non-violent offenses, than concealed carry weapon perimit holders". ( Texas Concealed Handgun Association Website) |
ConsAccording to a study by Charles Branas (PhD), he found that people “carrying a gun for self-defense was 4.5 times more likely to be shot during an assault than an assault victim without a gun” (American Journal of Public Health) This means that guns may not be the most effective and reliable form of self-defense. Furthermore, many people claim that Adults with guns are often not able adequately trained. There are some states that do not even require a lot of training before being able to be equipped for a concealed handgun.
In contrast to the reports about crime rate for the argument about pro guns, there is a study that shows that “Shall-issue” laws can lead to a higher increase in crime. According to Yale professors Ian Ayres (PhD) and John Donohue ( PhD), it appears that “shall-issues laws increased aggravated assault between 1977 and 2006”. Interestingly, both reports about the relationship between guns and crime seem to contradict each other. But in this report, “Shall-issue” laws increased rates of rape, violent crime, and robbery. In addition to crime, some argue that handguns can increase the risk of suicide. In 2005 " 53% of all suicides in the US involved a firearm " which means that there was "an average of 46 suicides from guns each day". Not only do people believe that guns can increase crime, but it can also increase suicide via guns. Some people argue that the ability to carry firearms for self defense is not granted by the US Constitution. These people argue that the 2nd Amendment only enables citizens to bear arms when they are called to military service. It did not specifically tell that citizens can carry arms for personal use and personal self defense. People claim that armed citizens makes other people very nervous. There were some reports in which scared citizens informed the police about suspicious citizens looking armed with a handgun. In addition, some claim that it is difficult for the police to distinguish or tell apart from normal responsible citizens who have legal firearms compared to criminals with firearms. In contrast to how armed citizens will deter criminals from attacking them, there is the idea on armed citizens can encourage criminals to arm themselves . Criminals would arm themselves so that they can threaten armed citizens which in effect would deter them from resisting the attackers. Another issue with guns is that sometimes they can be dangerous or turn lethal; especially when an adult is intoxicated or is under the influence. Even adults that are responsible can make the mistake of using or having a gun when intoxicated. In addition, carrying firearms also increases the chances of unintended shootings. From a peer reviewed study by Matthew Miller (PhD), Deborah Azrael (PhD) and David Hemenway (PhD) " approximately 50 people are unintentionally shot each day in America and a child under 14 years of age dies each other day from unintended gunfire". As you can see, even with guns under responsible law abiding citizens, there can be many tragic accidental incidents if guns are not restricted. |