I can't say that arming the populace for defense of crimes is crazy.
Not too far back in our history everyone was armed. I don't think it would be the issue you claim it to be.
I've often thought that every person needs to take responsibility for protecting themselves, if they don't then they can't ask for police assistance.
I'm sure there would be some mayhem if everyone started carrying.
It would work itself out though. We would be raised around them again and have a more intimate relationship with them. I think people would be more responsible after a period of time.
All of what I've just stated is probably from my up bringing. We lived out in the sticks so far the police and ambulance response times were in hours.
It is not as simple an argument about the gun. Yes, the gun allowed for many people to be killed.
As you say though, a car might have been far worse.
Peolle have been killing each other since we have been around. Technology has made killing easier and more efficient.
I can think of quite a few ways to kill 50 people without a gun. Don't take that out of context.
You and I have gone back and forth on this issue and I think with reasoned arguments from both. We pretty much agree that gun safety begins with following well known guidelines regarding storage and handling. I wish that 30% or 1/3 of all gun owners did not ignore logical guidelines and leave armed firearms within easy reach of children, but they do. When the gun kills a kid or a family member, nothing happens to change the odds the next time, even when laws are in place that would call that child endangerment.
I submit that you have nothing to substantiate this: "
It would work itself out though. We would be raised around them again and have a more intimate relationship with them. I think people would be more responsible after a period of time."
About 30% of all homes own a gun. If we scale up the number of gun owners from 30% of all home to let's say 90%, I submit that 1/3 or all gun owners will still not follow safety guidelines. Because you can't fix stupid. This would double or triple the number of kids shot daily by accident. Also gun theft would flood the streets with even more guns. Also, peoples judgement aren't going to improve because, again, stupid, so more people will get shot by poor choices. I'm not making this up. I'm just extrapolating from existing statistics. So, no. Society would not be safer with universal gun ownership.
What you say about rural homes needing guns for protection is absolutely correct. However, I don't live in the sticks and I'll not hesitate to call the police if I am threatened in my home. That has nothing to do with my owning a gun. The fact, provable statistically, remains that the average owner is less safe and I'm not talking about suicide. Not saying people should not own guns but this is one reason I have for not owning a gun. Not saying this is true for everybody either. Just saying the average gun owner is less safe.
Regarding the "people fight and kill and have been since before Home sapiens were around" trope. The US stands out among western first world economies for two things: number of people killed or maimed by guns and lax gun ownership laws. One only need to look north or our border to Canada who has similar culture to ours. Canada's rates of gun violence and accidents are a fraction of ours and they have more stringent gun control laws. So, again, you are wrong in the inevitability of the number of gun deaths in this country because "human nature".
Just to change the subject for the sake of keeping the discussion lively, I'm not fearful of Muslims either.
