The second amendment of the constitution guarantees the right to keep and bear arms. As the specter of gun violence continues in our workplaces, roads and schools, the question keeps arising: do guns keep you safe, or just increase the level of violence?
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Explanation:
Whether one agrees with the right to own guns or not, it is highly hypocritical of the States United to Prevent Gun Violence to dismiss the NRA's argument as invalid, due to problems in causal relationships, and then go on to commit its own similar arguments.
The Hepburn and Hemenway document that was referred to is not without faults, and it actually works in neither the SUPG or the NRA's favor to cite it. The bipartisan fact checking website, Factcheck.org, provides a valuable article regarding this question and the topic at hand at http://www.factcheck.org/askfactcheck/are_violent_crimes_more_or_less_common.html .
Of important note is the following:
"It found that studies of the United States or U.S. cities, states and regions 'generally find a statistically significant gun prevalence-homicide association.' ...So where there are guns, there is likely a higher rate of murders committed with guns in particular. However, the report noted, 'None of the studies can prove causation. They merely examine the statistical association between gun availability and homicide.' In fact, major studies on this issue have not shown cause-and-effect – that the presence of guns causes more murders to occur (or crime in general) – which is certainly a more difficult hypothesis to test."
Though I personally am a strong supporter of gun ownership and do believe that widespread gun ownership is safer than none, the argument for it (or against it), when it comes to causation of crime and murder, is not as simple as the NRA or the the States United to Prevent Gun Violence suggests. It is a very difficult thing to measure and quite often goes far beyond inanimate objects themselves.
- leliathomas
December 10, 2008 10:43PM
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How about the murder per capita?? It is about the same as The rest of the country, no?? Maybe a little less-they have to walk a mile to find a neighbor to shoot.
- Nightowl22
December 12, 2008 9:04PM
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I think it's funny to suggest that there may be confirmation bias on the part of NRA supporters who call the conclusion of the Hepburn and Hemenway study into question.
One might use the quote: 'None of the studies can prove causation. They merely examine the statistical association between gun availability and homicide.' One might use this quote as IF the Hepburn and Hemenway study DID find causation, they would AGREE with that causation, which according to their own POV, they WOULD NOT. May I suggest that the "causation" mentioned is to keep the researchers from having to face endless witch-hunts? You know, when you disagree, sometimes people tend to get violently 'passionate' with you.
Of course when one side uses a document like the Constitution as the basis of their moral arguments, a document written by white slave-owners who imposed martial law to restrict the freedoms of millions... then one will always be correct in their assumptions of safety and freedom behind the barrel and the bullet.
- poemgranite April 7, 2009 9:43PM
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More Guns, Less Crime
- From NRA
By National Rifle Association - Everything Firearm Related
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guns can lead to safety
i know personally of people who have obtained unregistered guns, because anyone planning on using a gun for crime does not want it tracked back. i have also seen neighborhoods where everyone has a gun but no1 says or uses them because they know everyone else has one.
- ignint
October 1, 2008 9:07AM
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Stopping criminals
The one time I used my 45, I was glad I had it.
I was at home ,it was early morning.My dogs were in a kennel in the backyard,barking.
Our driveway had no cars in it as my wifes car was in for repair and she was using mine---this is something thieves look for.
I was in bed, the dogs had woken me, a shadow went by the bedroom curtain on the sliding glass door,
I grabbed my 45,ran down the hall, stopped at the corner and peered around it. I could here prying come from the sliding glass door in our living room.
Two guys outside were trying to break in, they thought no one was home-------Surprise-----I held them at gun point called the cops and had even discharged a round to let them know I meant business.
Cops came, wife arrived home for lunch, what a day.
But in the end it was bad guys-0, good guys-2 ---- 2-bad guys equals 2 points.
So, Damn right it makes us safer,but with firearms ownership comes a heap of responsibility, so keep your weapons like you keep your wife and kids, close by your side and respect their unique abilities.
- wedge
October 16, 2008 8:30PM
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More Guns, Less Crime
More guns, less crime.. More freedom, less crime.
The facts speak for themselves..
(More freedom means more adherence to the constitution).
- Nightowl22
November 18, 2008 10:06PM
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Does the Constitution make you feel safer?
The question asked was, "do guns make you feel safer'.
My answer is no, they don't. But that's not the point. For years I took the IRAs stance that hunting rifles etc o.k. Assault rifles, bad idea. However, now that I have taken the time to read the second amendment of the Constitution, I have changed my position.
My question is, is there a Constition? Some people seem to think it's just a piece of G.D. paper. mmm. Next question. Why do we swear in our military and public officials with verbage stating they would support and defend the Constitution? (foreign and domestic) That domestic part may have something to do with tyranical government.mmm
Is it or isn't it? Do we have a Constitution or not? Are our leaders in government upholding the Constitution or usurping our rights?
In my humble opinion, ban the use of pharmaceutical drugs. Cause God only knows alcohol and guns don't mix; certainly a handful of prozac and a baseball bat couldn't either.
Either it is or it ain't. I think the message is clear from the top down, it ain't. So call a spade a spade Mr.Congressmen/Senator/Military Commanders. Just call it the way you see it.
At least then the "Law" abiding citizens of this country can make the necssary decisions that need to be made. Either you are for US or against US.
Tank you for your time.
- Lowell L Morse
March 13, 2009 7:24AM
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Are you safer or less safe owning a handgun?
I believe owning and keeping a handgun in your home makes you liable to accidental injury or even death. So I'd like to see honest statistics showing whether owning and keeping a handgun makes you safer.
This has nothing to do with the question of whether it is your right to oown a handgun. The current legal opinion is that you do. This could, of course, change. In the past, many Supreme Court decisions have been reversed. This recent decision seems very questionable.
Note that if you do have in your home a handgun, and a burglar enter, he/she will "have the drop on you". He may not shoot you if you dont show him your gun. but he surely will if you do.
So I urge you not to have a handgun. A sports rifle is a different matter.
I also see it as being more effective to show people that having a handgun only gives you a false sense of security. In real life, it will not help. This approach is likely to be more effective than trying to pass legislation, which might require changing the Constitution.
GKM
- GKM
June 8, 2009 7:31PM
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Maybe if you have no idea of the responsibility.
Yes I feel safer because I am safer. I have used my gun on more than one occasion to prevent theft, assault and who knows what else had I not been armed. In all cases I did nothing to provoke anyone, never fired a shot and no children died from my weapon. In "real life" just having the weapon is enough of a deterrent. In cases when I did not have a weapon it resulted in a physical altercation sometimes resulting in injury.
Typically a burgler would make some type of noise entering your home. Unless you welcome him in by leaving the doors and windows unlocked. I could never imagine a situation where anyone woud "have the drop on me" ever, especially in my own home.
And having a gun in my home is no more dangerous than any other tool.
- jaker277
June 30, 2009 9:36AM
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Responsibility
Accidental injury and/or death from a handgun usually is the result of improper handling. Quite frankly, if you are handling a firearm and not using the standard safety techniques, you're asking for trouble.
The gross majority of legitimate gun owners respect the potential of their weapons, and things like that don't happen. The few who don't, however, are the ones who make the news for being stupid. I'd rather not be lumped in with them. I know what I'm doing with mine.
In real life, having a handgun DOES help. There have been many stories of defense from a handgun that would not be afforded by any other means. I just read an article about a man who was stalking a woman for over a year. She bought a gun. He broke in. She called 911 and hid in her bedroom, and he broke down the door. He then tried to strangle her, and then HIS funeral was planned for that weekend. Without the gun, it would have been hers.
As for the right to own a handgun, that will never change . Or, better yet, if it does, it will very literally cause an armed rebellion. The whole purpose of the second amendment was to protect us against the tyranny that government can bring. It is the last defense of the people against the government. Take that away, and the second American revolution starts.
- rayven
September 18, 2009 12:13PM
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Reasonable
I am a military man (retired) guns have never killed unless used by a person. Outside the line of duty I have used a weapon two times. NEVER fired it, just seeing that the opposition was armed stopped both attempted assaults. I have a half century in military and /or law enforcement and strongly favor Americans having and being trained to use firearms for self protection.
Please think logically, most LEO's never have to fire their weapons in the line of duty. There is a reason for this, the criminal knows he WILL use the weapon and he will use it fairly well. The average criminal will prefer to surrender when he realizes he is facing someone trained and willing to use lethal force.
- oneoldman
June 10, 2009 10:49PM
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Im really undecided on this topic but
When I go to church there are more gun toting mama's and papa's there and I cant tell you one thing it does make me feel safer. These are responsible people by the way, not druggies or crazies, just God fearing, country loving, family protecting good ole folks. Maybe I will get a gun. No I think I ll just hang with those who have them instead.
- Hope7
July 2, 2009 11:56AM
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I don't know about guns in church
When I preach I do step on toes.I have the druggies and some crazies and not very many responsible people setting in church .With god on my side I will keep preaching .
- countryboy
July 3, 2009 10:34PM
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Do Guns Make YOU Safer?
Well, I can see both sides trying to justify their position. Here's mine: I cordially invite ANY burgler to come and invade my home. Do I have a gun or not? Enter at your own risk!! Since I'm doing the invitation, you probably think I have a gun/ guns . Are you willing to RISK YOUR LIFE on that? Are you prepared to meet your maker? You will not get a "stop or I'll shoot" warning. CLICK, BANG. That is all you'll receive. Still wanting to try to enter my home? Enough said. Guns make you safer because CRIMINALS LOVE UNARMED VICTIMS. RESPONSIBLE gun owners dont kill people. They kill criminals, muggers, car jackers, rapists, child molesters and those tryng invading their homes. James Allyn Washingon.
- jaydee1958
September 25, 2009 7:18PM
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