Gun Control & RKBA

SecularMotion

(7,981 posts) Wed Aug 5, 2015, 06:49 AM Aug 2015

Does owning a gun make you safer? [View all]

The United States has the most heavily armed civilian population in the First World; our homes contain enough firearms for every man, woman and child.

Why do so many Americans own guns? The main reason, according to surveys, is protection. Advocates argue that guns in the home both deter crime (criminals refrain from even trying to break in because they fear being shot by an armed citizen) and thwart it (an armed citizen can stop a crime in progress, preventing injury or theft).

The scientific evidence, however, provides little support for these arguments. Quite the opposite.

In terms of deterrence, a recent study found that states with higher levels of household gun ownership have higher levels of firearm crime and do not have lower levels of other types of crime.

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/op-ed/la-oe-0804-hemenway-defensive-gun-home-20150730-story.html

42 replies

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Highlight:

Does owning a gun make you safer? [View all] SecularMotion Aug 2015 OP

Not safer just prepared...training and awareness make you safer. ileus Aug 2015 #1

In a lot of rural areas, everybody owns a gun, yet gun crime is almost unheard of Travis_0004 Aug 2015 #2

If you want safety, I propose the Pretty Damn Safe Open Carry system rock Aug 2015 #3

Do let us know when and where we can see *you* demonstrating this... friendly_iconoclast Aug 2015 #4

No problem rock Aug 2015 #5

I was mistaken when you made an incorrect assumption rock Aug 2015 #6

Ok so clffrdjk Aug 2015 #10

You might fiddle with the gun if it's in a holster rock Aug 2015 #11

"belts, tapes, mechanisms". Sounds like bondage! Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #7

I like your style rock Aug 2015 #12

When you are a 2A defender on DU, you rise to the challenge! Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #19

I've always felt the 2A defenders on DU were challenged. SecularMotion Aug 2015 #20

Ba-doom-boom! Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #22

A drum and a cymbal fall down a flight of stairs... beergood Aug 2015 #35

You first, I don't believe in open carry discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2015 #15

Gladly rock Aug 2015 #16

The consequent conjunction of... discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2015 #17

Well, I guess I need to make a few points rock Aug 2015 #18

your points discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2015 #21

Advocating suicide and the functional equivalent rock Aug 2015 #24

Thanks for making my point for me discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2015 #27

Thanks indeed rock Aug 2015 #28

You're very welcome discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2015 #29

Thanks right back rock Aug 2015 #30

My favorite is: DashOneBravo Aug 2015 #31

And it's not the one with your name on it that you need to worry about. discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2015 #39

For the other services sarisataka Aug 2015 #32

No wonder the Air Force has.... discntnt_irny_srcsm Aug 2015 #40

And last but not least, Advice from Gunny Richerdson USMC. oneshooter Aug 2015 #42

Was there something in that opinion piece that you thought was worth discussing? ManiacJoe Aug 2015 #8

Sure. Kang Colby Aug 2015 #9

If guns don't make you safer, why do the police carry them? the band leader Aug 2015 #13

I know! I know! rock Aug 2015 #25

IDK about you... virginia mountainman Aug 2015 #14

Actually, I made myself safer.nt Eleanors38 Aug 2015 #23

When I had a robbery, and ensuing gunfight at my (former) home ghostsinthemachine Aug 2015 #26

How did you have a gunfight if you didn't have a gun? DonP Aug 2015 #34

I refer to it ias a gunfight becasue it was, I just didn't have a gun ghostsinthemachine Aug 2015 #36

So ... Straw Man Aug 2015 #37

No 3 bad guys with guns. ghostsinthemachine Aug 2015 #38

So the bad guys had legal guns? How do you know that? Straw Man Aug 2015 #41

Me, personally? Yes. Lizzie Poppet Aug 2015 #33