FoxNews.com featured an articled today entitled, More Guns, Not Less, Would Prevent Shooting Massacres, in which John Lott once again tries to explain the reality of an armed citizenry in the face of those that are determined to kill.
…Up until the early 1970s, Israel had to deal with the cold reality of terrorists who would take machine guns into shopping malls, schools, and Synagogues and open fire. That type of attack doesn’t occur any more. Why? Israelis realized that armed citizens could stop such an attacker before he did much damage.
About 15 percent of Israelis are now licensed to carry weapons, and determined terrorists have to resort to less effective, secretive routes of attack such as bombing.
Increasing the probability that someone will be able to protect himself or herself increases deterrence. Even when any single person might have a small probability of having a concealed handgun, the probability that at least someone in the crowd will have a gun is very high…
…While right-to-carry laws– now operating in 40 states — do reduce violent crime generally, the effect is much larger for multiple-victim shootings. Normally about 2 to 6 percent of adults in any state have permits, and for most crimes that means some deterrence. But for a shooting in a public place where there might be dozens or hundreds of people, it will almost ensure that at least someone — someone who is unknown to the attacker — will be able to defend themselves and others…
…Most people understand that guns deter criminals. Suppose you or your family are being stalked by a criminal who intends to harm you. Would you feel safer putting a sign in front of your home saying “This home is a gun-free zone”? Would it frighten criminals away?
Good intentions don’t necessarily make good laws. What counts is whether the laws ultimately save lives. Unfortunately, too many gun laws primarily disarm law-abiding citizens, not criminals.
I’ve been told that the evidence for the failure of gun control in the U.K. is anecdotal at best. I wonder how long we will have to see these “anecdotes” before it moves into the realm of reality? Let’s take a look at this weeks news from the Telegraph.
It simply isn’t a matter of what feels right. The fact of the matter is we live in a world full of evil.
MORE GUNS = LESS CRIME
Bob Manross said he often keeps a firearm handy because of his area’s crime problem. “I don’t take any chances,” he said. That proved good policy when a man broke into his home, called him by name and said he would shoot him unless he handed over his money. “I told him I didn’t have the money with me, but I’d get it from the other room,” said the 77-year-old Manross, who had a rifle at the ready nearby. “He wasn’t expecting me to come back through here and shoot him.” Manross shot the burglar, whom he recognized as a man living nearby. He directed police to the suspect’s home, where they found him suffering from a gunshot wound. “I am no proud of what I have done,” Manross said of the incident, “but I have to protect my wife and my house.”
Houston Chronicle Houston, Texas, 04/04/07
I have decided to take an hiatus from firearms for a year or so (no this has nothing to do with Virginia Tech). I sold my Ruger GP100 revolver and my Remington 870 shotgun yesterday, and made a tidy sum that was about 85-90% of my investment.
I took my wife out to Red Lobster at her behest. I bought a target bag for my oldest son’s new bow and arrow, and my wife and I picked out a new Browning Discovery bow at Two Bears Custom Archery in Springfield Illinois. The Browning Discovery is a beginners bow, and has a very low draw weight from about 15lbs to 30lbs on the unit we picked out.
We also got half a dozen carbon arrows each. They are cut to a custom fit which means that my arrows are about 5″ longer than Jodi’s. In addition we each got an archery glove so that we would look like pros. We spent and hour at the range after our purchase and had an absolute blast. I’ve never been able to get my wife involved with target shooting, but apparently she loves to shoot arrows. I had to buy a red bow for goodness sake!
Of course this doesn’t mean I won’t still post about firearms and The Second Amendment, but I will be posting more about archery. highcaliberbows?
