10 January 2013

"If it saves only one child's life....

Shouldn't we do X anyway?"  Whatever X is.  So goes an argument for gun control.

Well that depends, what does X cost?  What if it costs 10 other children their lives?  I say an emphatic no!  Guns are used by good people to stop bad people far more often than guns are used to kill innocents.

Just the other day a woman used a .38 to protect herself and her children from someone that had broken into their home.  They had retreated into a crawlspace, far further than they should ever have to.

But one anecdote does not data make.  However Gary Kleck did actual research and found that guns are used defensively far more several million times a year, mostly without firing a shot.  Criminals know that when guns are legal and plentiful, that ups their risk that any given assault, any given break in, any given robbery, the victim will be armed and present a serious risk to their breathing rights. 

Ban guns and home invasions will increase.  Rapes will increase.  Robberies and car jackings will increase.  Violence will increase.  Mark my words.  The threat of violence from good people presents a risk to bad guys that keeps bad violence at bay.

Guns in the hands of good people make people safer.  If that were not true, would so called VIPs in Government and entertainment worlds be guarded by people with guns?  Why should our children be any less safe?

They should not.  NRA EVP Wayne LaPierre was right in saying the "only thing that stops a bad man with a gun is a good man with a gun."  Part of the reason the NewTown shooter (I refuse to post the S#'!heads name anywhere else than on my TP) killed so many was the 20 minute response time.  I want someone there to present an immediate response.

The SCSon's school has an onsite "resource officer".  Though he spends most of this time educating about online risks (careful what you post on line) and drug and physical abuse issues, his physical presence on site means he can probably be on scene in under 2 minutes.  Because he is onsite and armed.  And that is what counts when a bad guy shows up.

I'm all for addressing the problem.  Guns are not the problem.  bad people with guns are the problem!

1 comment:

Old NFO said...

All one has to do is look at the crime rates in England to see the 'results'...