Guns as Defensive Weapons
People like Rick (Lil’ Abner) Perry and the NRA (National Rifle Association) keep pushing the idea that guns are defensive weapons. The more you have the safer you are. This is obviously not true. How do I know?
- You almost never hear of a citizen taking out a criminal with a gun, certainly compared with the number of shootings. The problem is not a shortage of guns. There are 300,000 of them.
- The safest places in the USA are airports and a bubble around the president. Both are gun free.
- The USA has more guns that any other country. It also has way more shootings. If Perry were correct, it should have the fewest shootings.
- Criminals have the advantage of preparation. They can cache multiple huge clips of ammunition. They can rehearse for months. They can have a plan for every contingency. They can don body armour. They can take the optimum position. They can pick the optimum time to begin the attack.
- Criminals have the advantage of surprise. For example, in a theatre, criminals can take out those carrying unconcealed weapons before their victims even know there is an attack in progress.
- Science says guns are used for defence is less than 1% of the time. Further guns give you no advantage is dealing with a criminal. Brandishing a gun greatly increases your risk of injury.
- Consider a western. Whoever got the drop won. Criminals get the drop. Their victims are blithely watching the movie, paying no attention at all.
- What works in other countries is gun-free zones, and keeping guns away from crazy people, terrorists and criminals. What works is arresting anyone with a weapon more powerful than its legitimate purpose. In Canada, and other civilised countries, burglars do not carry weapons because if they are stopped, that is automatic jail time, open and shut. Further, no homeowner is going to shoot them. Burglars do not need guns to defend themselves. Other counties have almost no shootings compared with the USA.
