Facts Supporting A Citizen's Right to Own, Carry, and Use Firearms

[luzyfuerza]

Facts and logic form a basis for honest discussion, and, over time, change minds. And eventually, change public policy.

While many today do not want to have an honest discussion about guns, I believe that there are lots of open-minded individuals who are interested in knowing the facts.

This thread is about accumulating facts that can be used in these discussions. Please summarize the facts, and provide a link with more information.


Here's an example:

John Lott wrote in the Wall Street Journal recently that permitted guns in the hands of average citizens in Brazil more than doubled under Bolsonaro since 2019, and since then, murders in Brazil have fallen 37%.

More guns DO appear to result in less murders, at least in Brazil.

Here's the link:

https://crimeresearch.org/2022/06/i...rnal-more-legal-guns-reduced-crime-in-brazil/

 

[luzyfuerza]

And here's another:

In Newsweek, John Lott addresses how the facts about those who lawfully carry concealed handguns contrast with the hysteria of New York officials, Justice Stephen Breyer, and big media following the Bruen decision.

Here's the link:

https://crimeresearch.org/2022/06/a...about-scotus-gun-rights-decision-is-baseless/

 

[Hokie_PhD]

And here's another:

In Newsweek, John Lott addresses how the facts about those who lawfully carry concealed handguns contrast with the hysteria of New York officials, Justice Stephen Breyer, and big media following the Bruen decision.

Here's the link:

https://crimeresearch.org/2022/06/a...about-scotus-gun-rights-decision-is-baseless/

The claims being made to argue against sane conceal carry laws in NY are the same bogus ones we heard here in Virginia when Conceal Carry was first approved. In the many years since we've seen that conceal carry didn't do what they're saying in NY and what was said here in VA. Instead crime was reduced.

What's so sick is I had someone tell me that the reasons teachers shouldn't be allowed to carry if they have a conceal carry permit is that they COULD get upset and use their gun against a classroom full of students. They didn't want to hear that NOTHING other than their own set of morals currently stops them. That someone so mentally unstable isn't going to be stopped by "gun free zones". Nor did they want to hear that the TWO campus shootings that I survived were on "gun free" campuses.

Personally, I have mixed feeling about Constitutional Carry and about permits. IMHO training and a basic understanding of gun safety and the laws are good things. But if we have to have laws like what MD, CA, IL and what was struck down in NY I'll error on the side of freedom.

That said, it's very hard to have sane mature conversations with people about issues they THINK they know well. I've also been into cars all my life. But I no longer discuss cars with people that aren't into hotrodding as I find most have no clue. Sadly guns are the same way.

I'm not sure what we do except to keep doing our best. Setting a good example, and slowly encouraging folks to join us at the range. Get folks involved and teach them about real "common sense" gun safety (aka the rules).

 

[WrongHanded]

What's so sick is I had someone tell me that the reasons teachers shouldn't be allowed to carry if they have a conceal carry permit is that they COULD get upset and use their gun against a classroom full of students. They didn't want to hear that NOTHING other than their own set of morals currently stops them.

The idea that a teacher would lose their cool to the point of gunning down a classroom of students simply because that teacher had a gun, is very telling of the secret mentality of those who believe it to be likely. I personally find it somewhat concerning that so many people seem to believe that having access to a deadly weapon and also having a bad day, is all it take to commit mass murder.

 

[bdickens]

Facts and logic mean nothing to the enemies of liberty.

 

[Pistolay]

The idea that a teacher would lose their cool to the point of gunning down a classroom of students simply because that teacher had a gun, is very telling of the secret mentality of those who believe it to be likely. I personally find it somewhat concerning that so many people seem to believe that having access to a deadly weapon and also having a bad day, is all it take to commit mass murder.

If you want to get a good look at this mentality, check out this Washington Post column (open in InPrivate mode to get past paywall). This woman thinks people are going to shoot her everywhere she goes. I seriously doubt that you can reason with people like this.

My rural Kentucky county is awash in guns. Where does that leave me? - The Washington Post

 

[Speedo66]

From a NY Times article, expert denies new permits will increase crime:

"There has been not been a rush of gun permit applications in the city since the Supreme Court ruling, largely because the State Legislature passed a new round of gun safety measures that are likely to blunt the ruling’s impact in New York. It is unclear what the effect of more legal guns within the city borders will be on crime. None, some experts say.

“It won’t have any direct impact, period, on the number of guns in New York City,” Warren Eller, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, said. “Legal firearms have very little do with the problems we have in New York.”

 

[Sarge7402]

The claims being made to argue against sane conceal carry laws in NY are the same bogus ones we heard here in Virginia when Conceal Carry was first approved. In the many years since we've seen that conceal carry didn't do what they're saying in NY and what was said here in VA. Instead crime was reduced.

What's so sick is I had someone tell me that the reasons teachers shouldn't be allowed to carry if they have a conceal carry permit is that they COULD get upset and use their gun against a classroom full of students. They didn't want to hear that NOTHING other than their own set of morals currently stops them. That someone so mentally unstable isn't going to be stopped by "gun free zones". Nor did they want to hear that the TWO campus shootings that I survived were on "gun free" campuses.

Personally, I have mixed feeling about Constitutional Carry and about permits. IMHO training and a basic understanding of gun safety and the laws are good things. But if we have to have laws like what MD, CA, IL and what was struck down in NY I'll error on the side of freedom.

That said, it's very hard to have sane mature conversations with people about issues they THINK they know well. I've also been into cars all my life. But I no longer discuss cars with people that aren't into hotrodding as I find most have no clue. Sadly guns are the same way.

I'm not sure what we do except to keep doing our best. Setting a good example, and slowly encouraging folks to join us at the range. Get folks involved and teach them about real "common sense" gun safety (aka the rules).

In order to have a sane and mature conversation both parties must be sane and mature. Many on the left are neither.