USA, Canada /
The 2nd Amendment (USA), the right to own guns [261]
interesting articles - is there a western country that has changed legislation to allow ownership of fire arms, what impact has this had on gun related homocide/suicide and was there an increase of both during the transition stage?
I don't think there's been any nation that has drastically changed gun laws, or at least there hasn't been any study done on a nation in transition from one policy to the other.
BUT, based on all the available data, we'd have to expect the crime rate to go down as firearms become more available.
So, when I shoot sb and go to prison, I should feel safe there?
Most crimes are committed in countries with extremely strict firearm regulation and most crimes are committed with "illegal" (non-registered) guns.
On the other hand, crime rate is SIGNIFICANTLY lower in areas with more accessible firearms.
We killed most of the Indians and the British don't want us back so why the need for a militia? This is one "right" that needs to be infringed.
No, that is one of our most important rights.
First of all, if we ban militias, we're essentially also breaking our first amendment rights (right to assemble).
Second of all, we need a militia as a countermeasure of a government with the potential to become too powerful.
Interesting articles. While we Americans are generally allowed to own firearms it is interesting to me that the areas with the highest murder rates, gun violence rates and for that matter, crime rates in general, are the ones in which guns are banned or extremely restricted. (NY, LA, DC etc come to mind) Areas with widespread legal firearms ownership also tend to have lower violent crime rate.
Is there a connection? I think so.
John P.
Quoted for the truth.
research seems to suggest a connection and supports the relationship between legal ownership and reduced crime rate as you say - are criminals more detered by the possibility of their victims carrying a gun than by the police force?
Yes.
In certain areas of Texas, criminals are even afraid of just breaking and entering into someone's home, let alone assaulting people.
The government cannot be everywhere to protect you, which is why criminals exist. On the other hand, common people with guns can be around everywhere, which is why crime rates are lower in areas with less gun regulation.
That may be true JohnP but, like Saddam Hussein, do u want to run the risk of sth happening? A well-placed bullet can end a life. By allowing people to have guns, u directly increase the chances of a shooting. Don't u think Europeans think about self protection too? We don't use guns to do it
You obviously just ignored all the evidence I posted.
When a nation reduces firearm regulation, violent crime tends to go down.
The issue here is regulating firearms but not overregulating them. They need to be accessible to all mentally stable citizens.
