Guns:ToolsorWeapons?

MartinHernandez

NavigatinganArgument
SonjaLinman
April23,2016

Sincethebeginningoftimemankindhasbeenknowntouseresourcesthattheyhave
discoveredaroundthemtocompletewhatevertasktheyneededtocomplete,weatheritwas
hunting,warfare,criminalactivity,andlawenforcement.CivilisationsasoldastheSumerians
wereknowntomakeobjectsthattheycouldusefortaskssuchasforwarandtogoouthunting
tofeedtheirfamiliesbecausethosearethemostcriticalthingsthatpeopleneedtosurvive,eat
andprotectyourlife/property.Therehasalwaysbeenaneedformantobeabletoprotecthis
ownbackwithanobjectthatcancausemajordamagetowhateverisseenasathreattohim,
couldbeacarnivorousanimalthathehasrunintowhilelookingforfoodoranothertribethathas
cometotakeawayhisproperty.Evenastimepassesmanstillhastheneedtowatchhisback
fromthedangersthatarestillpresent,butnowthereismoreneedtowatchoutforotherman
thanforwildlifeasthepopulationandcrimehasincreasedrapidlyovertheyears.Thereforeman
hasalsohadthenecessitytomakelawstoprotecthimselfagainsthisneighborandhis
governmentifheabsolutelyhastheneedto.FromtheearlybeginningoftheUnitedStatesthe
peopleofthelandestablishedasetofrulesthateveryonewhooccupiedthelandhadtolivebyto
ensurethateveryonewasfreetodoastheywishaswellaskeepsomebodyfromhavingtoo
muchpowereventheirowngovernment.InthissetofRules(TheAmendments)therewasa
certainonethatkepttherightofthepeopletoownfirearmsforpersonalprotection,thisisthe
SecondAmendment:Awellregulatedmilitia,beingnecessarytothesecurityofafreestate,
therightofthepeopletokeepandbeararms,shallnotbeinfringed.(UnitedStates
Constitution).
Ithasalwaysbeenapparenttomanthatitisandalwayswillbehisdutytowatchhisown
backfromwhateverhehastoencounter.Nomatterhowsophisticatedournationgetsandhow

strictthelawenforcementgets,therewillalwaysbeareasontoprotectyourselffromothers
wrongfulintentionsbecausetherewillbetimeswhensomeonewhoshouldbetheretoserveand
protect,willnotbeabletoassistintime.Thereforetherightoflawabidingcitizenstobeableto
protectthemselvesandpossiblyothersintimesoftragedies,crime,orterroristactivityshould
remaintherefortheprotectionofallourcitizens.
TheSecondAmendmentwasbasedontherighttokeepandbeararmsinEnglish
CommonlawandwasinfluencedbytheEnglishBillOfRightsof1689.AnEnglishJudge
statedthatthiswasanauxiliaryright,supportingthenaturalrightsofselfdefence,resistanceto
oppression,andthecivicdutytoactinconcertindefenceofthestate(SirWilliamBlackstone).
ThesecondAmendmentwasadoptedonDecember15th,1791anditwasruledbytheSupreme
Courtthattherightbelongstotheindividualcitizens(NPR).Overtheyearstherehavebeen
manyrestrictionsandchangestothisamendmenttopreventoverkill,tokeepcitizensfrom
obtainingweaponsthatcouldbeusedforamassmurder(armorpiercingammunition/fully
automaticrifles,ext).ThereasonwhytherehavebeensomanyrestrictionstothisAmendmentis
becausetheSupremeCourtalsoruledthattherightisnotunlimitedanddoesnotprohibitof
eatherfirearmsorsimilardevices(SupremeCourtofTheUnitedStates),meaningthatanygun
thatisbelievednottohaveareasonablerelationshiptothepreservationorefficiencyofawell
regulatedmilitia(UnitedStatesv.Miller)canbebannedunderthelawforbeingconsidered
dangeroustothepublic.
Thefirstgunrestrictionsstartedbackaround1934whenCongresspassedthe
National
FirearmsAct.
Thereasonthattheactwaspassedwasduetothegangsterculturethatwasaround
atthetimeofprohibition.Theactimplementedataxonthemakingandtransferofautomatic

fireguns,shotguns,andrifleswhilealsoregulatinggunsthatwerethenconsideredasgangster
weapons,suchasautomaticmachineguns,sawedoffshotguns,andsoundsuppressors.Four
yearslatertherewasanotheractthatwaspassed(TheFederalFirearmsAct).TheFFAwouldgo
aheadandrequireallmanufacturesthatmake,ship,orreceivefirearmsandammunitioninside
thestatesandinforeigncommercetohavealicencetosell.Theactwouldalsoprohibitthem
fromtransferringanyweaponsandmostammunitiontoanypersoninthestatesunlesscertain
requirementsweremet.
AcoupleyearsaftertheassassinationofformerpresidentJohnF.KennedyCongress
wouldpassthe
GunControlAct
.Thisactwouldnowcomedownharderontheregulationsfor
interstatetraffickingofgunsoneofthereasonsforcongresscallingforbettercontrolofthegun
traffickingisbecauseLeeHarveyOswald,themanwhoassassinatedJohnFKennedyuseda
riflethatheorderedthroughthemailtocarryouttheassassinationoftheformerpresident.In
1976thecitycouncilofD.Cwouldnotallowitscitizenstoownanytypeofhandgunduetothe
factthattheyaresoeasytoconcealandsimpletousethecity'sbanonhandgunswouldbelifted
yearslater.Tenyearslatertwoactsthatwouldbepassedthatwouldfurtherenforcethesafetyof
ourcitizens.
TheFirearmOwnersProtectionAct
,whichwouldnotallowanypersonthatisa
felontopurchaseandownafirearmorammunition.Alongwiththisact,
TheLawEnforcement
OfficersProtectionAct
wouldalsobepassedbanninganymanufacturertomake,sell,orimport
anytypeofammunitionthathastheabilitytopenetrateabulletproofvest.In1993Congress
wouldfurthertightentheaccesstofirearmsbypassing
TheBradyHandgunViolenceAct
.This
actwouldestablishtheNationalInstantCriminalBackgroundCheckSystemthateverygun
dealerhastousebeforeanypersonattemptstopurchaseanytypeoffirearm,theactisnamed

afterJamesBradywhowasaformerWhiteHousepresssecretary,whowasshotinthehead
duringtheassassinationattemptofpresidentRonaldReaganin1981(NPR).
Themoretimepassed,thestricterthelawsgotaroundfirearms.Forexample,in1994a
newlawwaspassed,
TheViolentCrimeControlandLawEnforcementAct,
thatwouldbanupto
19differentmakesandmodelsofassaultweapons,someofthemwereknownforbeing
frequentlyusedduringcrimeactivityincludingak47sandUzis.Oneofthemotivesthatcould
haveinspiredthisacttotakeactionwastheSanYsidroMcDonald'smassacrein1984,where
JamesHubertycarriedoutamassmurder.Aftertaking21livesandinjuring19othersHuberty
wasfatallyshotbyaSWATteamsniperoneoftheweaponsthatheusedtocarryoutthisattack
wasa9mmUziwhichwouldlaterbebannedbythe
ViolentCrimeControlandLaw
EnforcementAct
.Thisbanlaterexpiredin2004.By2008,theSupremeCourtwouldtakeaction
onthecityofDC'sbanonhandgunsfrom1976.TheSupremeCourtupholdsthelowercourt
ruling,strikingdownD.Chandgunbanasunconstitutional(NPR).Thecity'sbanonhandguns
wasstruckdownbecauseitwasgoingagainstitscitizensnaturalandconstitutionalrightsby
prohibitingtheirlibertytopurchaseafirearmthattheycouldutilizetopreservetheirlifeand
property.
Waybeforeallofthecurrentandpreviousrestrictions/bansongunstherewasagroupof
peoplewhocametogetherandestablishedanassociation.Thisgroupofpeoplewereallgun
ownerswhowantedtoimprovetheirexperiencewiththeirriflesandstandupfortheir
constitutionalrightstobeabletoprotectthemselvesandtheirfamilybybeingabletobeararms.
ThisgroupofarmedcitizensbecametheNRA(theNationalRifleAssociation).TheNRAwas
establishedin1871byWilliamC.ChurchandGen.GeorgeWoodWingatewhousedtobe

UnionArmyveterans.TheyfirststartedthisassociationinthestateofNewYork,thefirstperson
tobeselectedasthepresidentoftheassociationwasAmbroseBurnsidewhowasalsoaformer
veteranwhoservedandwasaGeneralintheCivilWar.TheNationalRifleAssociation's
primarygoalwhenitwasfirstestablishedbackin1871wastopromoteandencouragerifle
shootingonascientificbasis(NRA).Thereasonwhyitonlystatedrifleshootingwasbecause
backthenthosewerethebeginningyearsoftherifleastheyoriginatedfromthemusketa
muzzleloaded,smoothborefirearm.Throughouttheyearsoftheregulationsandbanson
weaponstheNRAwouldparticipateandsupportanumberofthecourtrulingsonmanyactsthat
werepassed:
1934:TheNRAsupportstheNationalFirearmsAct.Thisactwould
regulatefirearmsconsideredgangsterweapons(machineguns,
shortbarrelshotguns,andsoundsuppressors).HowevertheNRA
wouldlaterchangetheirpositiononsoundsuppressors.
1938:TheNRAsupportedtheFFA(FederalFirearmsAct).Thisact
requiredallgundealersandmanufacturerswhoimportorexport
firearmsinternationallyorinforeignexchangetohavealicence,
anditalsoprohibitedthemfromshippinganyfirearmor
ammunitiontoanyoneinterstateunlessasetofrequirementswere
met.
1968:(GCA)TheGunControlActwouldplacedestructivedevices
suchasexplosives,ammunitiongreaterthan50caliber,and

revolvingcylindershotguns.TheCGAwouldalsoprohibitthe
importationoffullyautomaticfirearmsforprivateuses.
AlthoughtheNationalRifleAssociationwasoriginallyestablishedtoadvancethe
marksmanshipofthearmedcitizens.ThemoderndayNRAstillcontinuestoteachfirearm
competencyandsafetytotheirmembers.Theorganisationalsooffersmanyfirearmprogramsfor
theyouth,citizens,andlawenforcement.Tothepresentday,theNationalRifleAssociationhas
welloverfivemillionactivemembers.TheassociationwillkeepaimingtoprotecttheSecond
Amendmentforallcitizenswhilealsoinstructingthelessexperienceduntiltheyareproficient
andcomfortablewiththefirearmthattheyuse.Whenanarmedcitizenencounterssomethingor
someonethatcouldbeapotentialdanger,theywillneedtoutilizethatfirearmfortheirown
safety,however,ifthatcitizendoesnotknowhowhisweaponorsightsworkthanhe/shewillbe
ahigherrisktothemselves.ThisiswhytheNRAsprimaryfocuswastomakeitsmembers
proficientwiththeirfirearmsincetheassociationbegan.Theneedforthisproficiencycameafter
recordsfrombackintheCivilWardemonstratedthatnoteverysoldierwhowasarmedwitha
musketknewhowtoproperlyusethesights,Unionarmyrecordsforthecivilwarindicatethat
itstroopsfiredabout1,000rifleshotsforeachconfederatesoldierhit(Wikimedia).
NRAmemberornot,apersonthatdecidestobuyafirearmshouldonlybepurchasingit
foralimitednumberofreasons.Firstreasonbeing,ofcourse,forpersonalhuntingand
competencies.Secondbeingthattheyfeeltheneedtohaveafirearmtoprotectthemselvesor
otherfamilymembersfromthreatssuchaswildlife,crime,andothercitizens.Thirdandfinal
beingthatnoonethesedayscanbeonehundredpercentsurethattheywillgoonthroughout
theirdaywithoutbecomingvictimtoacrime,sowhenthenextthreatcomesknockingonyour

carwindowdemandingyoursafetyorfreedom,youwillbereadytopreventthelossofproperty
ormoreimportantlyyourlife.Someonewhohaspurchasedafirearmforthesolepurposesabove
canhavethepotentialtosavesomebodyelse'slifeinastressfulsituation.Previouseventshave
proventhatutilizingyourfirearminthepropermannerandtimehasdeescalatedoreliminated
criminalactivitythatwasgoingonatthetime.Thefollowingeventspresentedinthe
WashingtonPost,arestoriesofarmedcitizenswhotookituponthemselvestotakeactionina
timeofdistress.
2007,ColoradoSprings,CO:MatthewMurraywasshotmultipletimesbyachurch
memberandvoluntarysecurityofficerafterhehadkilledfourotherpeopleattheYouth
WithAMissionCenterandNewLifechurch.AfterMurraywasstruckandfelltothe
groundhethenproceededtoshoothimselfinthehead.Itisn'tclearwhetherhewould
havekilledmorepeopleifthesecurityofficerhadnotbeenthere.(MatthewMurray
carriedmorethan1,000roundsofrifleandhandgunammunitionwithhimintothe
church.)

1998,Edinboro,PA:AndrewWurstafourteenyearoldstudentkilledateacherand
injuredseveralotherstudentsthatattendedtheschooldance.AsWurstwasleavingthe
dancehallcarryinghisfirearmhewasconfrontedbytheownerofthedancehallwho
happenedtoliveclosebyandalsopossessedashotgun.ThereisnowaytoknowifWurst
wouldhavegoneofftomurdermorepeopleorgetintoashootoutwithpoliceifhehad
notbeenconfrontedbythedancehallowner.

2008,Winnemucca,Nev:AfterafamilyfeudErnestoVillagomezwalkedintoabar
killedtwopeopleandalsowoundedtwootherswhenheopenedfireinabarfilled
withover300people.FortunatelybeforeVillagomezcouldtakeanymoreliveshewas
shotandkilledbyacitizenwhowasarmedandlicencedtoconcealedcarryandwasin
thebaratthemomentErnestoopenedfire.

2009,Atlanta,GA:DuringahousepartyCalvinLavantandJamalHillbrokeintoan
apartmentwheretherewasapartyandforcedeveryonetothefloor.AfterLavantandHill
separatedmenfromwomenandgatheredasmanyvaluableitemsastheycouldLavant
spoketoHillabouthavingsexwiththewomenandhavingthemkilledaftertheywere
done.Meanwhilethemenwerediscussingcondomsandtheamountofammunitionthey
hadfortheirfirearmsaMarinewhowasattendingGeorgiastateandwasatthepartyat
thetime(SeanBarner),managedtoreachhisbookbagandhethenproceededtopullout
hishandgunandfireandscareawayHillintothenextroomwhereLavantwasaboutto
rapeoneofthewomen.Lavantthenfiredtowardsthemarinebutwasstruckbyabullet
onceBarnershotback.Duringtheshootoutoneofthewomenwaswoundedbut
recoveredHoweverafterbeingshotandrunningawayLavantdiedfromhisinjuries.
Hadthesemennotbeenstoppedbytheyoungmarinesomeifnotallofthepartygoers
couldhavepotentiallybeenkilledandraped.

2014,MercyFitzgeraldHospital,PA:RichardPlottswalkedintothehospitalandshothis
psychiatriccaseworkerwhohewassupposedtomet.Hethenproceededtoshootand

woundLeeSilverman(hispersonalpsychiatrist).SilvermanthenshotbackatPlottsand
tookhimdown.AD.AstatedthatIfthedoctordidnothaveafirearm,(and)thedoctor
didnotutilizehedbedeadtodayandIbelievetheotherpeopleinthefacilitywouldalso
bedead(JackWhelan,DelawareCountyD.A).WhilePlottswasbeingarrestedwellover
thirtyroundsofunusedammunitionwasfoundinsidehispockets.

2015,Chicago,IL:AcitizenworkingforUber(asmartphoneapplicationusedtorequest
transportation)wasdrivingaroundLogansquareinchicagowhenhewitnessedaman
openfireuponacrowdofpeople.Thecitizenwhosawthisunfoldthenproceededtopull
outhishandgunandfiresixshotsatthegunman(EverardoCustodio),whowasstruck
multipletimesandlaterarrested.(EugeneVolokh)

Inalloftheseeventstherewasatragicincidentthattookplaceinpublicatatimewhere
lawenforcementofficerswerenotabletorespondintime,butluckilytherewasaresponsible
andquickactingarmedcitizenwhowasabletodetainordeescalatethesituationusinghis/her
firearm.
Alongwithfirearmsbeingpotentiallyusedasaveryeffectivetoolinstressfulsituations
whereyourlifecouldbeindanger,afirearmcouldalsoescalatethesamesituation.Thiscould
happeninlocationswheredisputesaremorelikelytooccurbars,traffic,andsportingevents.
ForexampleinaFloridamovietheatreintheyear2014,afathersentatextmessagetohis
daughterwhichcausedadisputeinsidethetheatreandasthesituationheatedupevenmore,
CurtisReeve,aretiredpoliceofficerwithwhomthefatherwasarguing,pulledouthishandgun

andshotChadOulsonandhiswife.Chadlaterdiedfromthecriticalbulletwound,hiswifeonly
receivedaninjuryonherhandassheattemptedtoprotectherhusband.Anotherreasonfirearms
canbeconsidereddangerousinpubliciswheresomebodyhastoactquickly,andtheymaynot
havetimetoreflect.Anexampleofthathappenedin2011duringashootinginTucsonArizona.
AfterJaredLeeLoughnerkilledsixpeopleandinjuredfourteenothersacitizenmanagedto
wrestleawaythefirearmfromLoughnerbutwasalmostshothimselfbyanothercitizenwhohad
aconcealedcarrylicenceandwasonhiswaytoaidinthesituationbutconfusedthepersonalso
helpingoutforthegunman.
AccordingtoanarticlefromtheNationalBureauofEconomicResearch,inplaceswhere
firearmsareallowed,therateofcrimesactuallyincreased,themurderrateincreasedtwopercent.
Rape,aggravatedassault,autotheft,robbery,burglary,andlarcenyalsoincreasedbynine
percentfromtheyear1977to2011(NBER).AnotherstatementfromtheLawCentertoPrevent
GunViolencesaysthatmembersofthepublicwhocarrygunsriskescalatingeveryday
disagreementsintopublicshootouts,especiallyinplaceswheredisputesfrequentlyoccur(Law
CentertoPreventGunViolence).Inthesamewayafirearmcouldbeusedtoprotect,itcould
actuallyputyourselfinthewayofharm.Thisinformationcomesfromasurveyofincarcerated
felonsbytheInterUniversityConsortiumforPoliticalandSocialResearch.Inthissurvey
seventyfivepercentofthefelonssaidtheycarriedafirearmwhilecommittingacrimeduetothe
factthattheirvictimcouldpotentiallybecarryingafirearmaswell.Ironically,thestateallows
themtoarmandattempttoprotectthemselves.Thefactthatevencarryingafirearmtoassure
yourownsafetymakesyoumorelikelytobehurtbyacriminalmakessomepeoplefeeltheneed
tokeepcommunitiesgunfree.

Regardless,thereisanalmostuniversalagreementthatavariousnumberofpublicspaces
shouldalwaysstaygunfreeforthesafetyofeverybody.Apeerreviewedstudypublishedbythe
JournalofAmericanCollegeHealthsaidthatofcollegestudentsfromfifteendifferentcolleges,
seventyninepercentofthemwouldnotfeelsafeifvisitors,professors,orstudentswereallowed
tocarryconcealedfirearmsontheschoolcampus(1,649studentsweresurveyed).Apartfrom
thistherewasalsoanothernationwidepollbackin2010whereaccordingtothepollninety
percentofAmericansopposelawsthatwouldallowconcealedfirearmsinpublicspaceslike
hospitals,stadiums,schoolcampuses,etc.Thereasonbehindthisfearhastodowithpoor
backgroundchecksoncitizensthathaveattemptedtogetaconcealedcarrypermit.Itisscaryfor
peopletothinkthatadangerouscriminalsuchasaburglarorarapistcouldbecarryinga
concealedfirearmwiththem,becausethereisnowahigherchancethattheywillnotbeableto
getawayfromthethreatwithoutbeinghurt,sadlythishasbeenaprobleminthepast.
ForexampleananalysisfromtheLosAngelesTimesonTexasresidentsthathada
ConcealedCarrylicencestatedthatbetweentheyearsof1995and2000fourhundredcriminals
(someofthembeingrapistsandarmedrobbers)hadaConcealedCarrylicencebythepermitting
lawofthestate.Intheyear2007anotherstudyinFlorida,bytheSouthFloridaSunSentinel
lookedoveralistofcitizenswhoheldaconcealedcarrylicence.Whentheyreviewedthislist
theyfoundoutthat1,400hadpleadedguiltyornocontesttoafelony,216hadoutstanding
warrants,and128hadactivedomesticinjunctions(SouthFloridaSunSentinel).Thisisthe
outcomeofstatesnothavingthoroughbackgroundchecksorenoughrestrictionsinstates
concealedcarrylicenceregulations.

Restrictionscanoftenhelp,butmanystatesstillrequirelittleifanytraining.Inthestates
ofGeorgiaandMarylandyouarenotrequiredtocompleteanytypeoftrainingbeforeyoucan
receiveaconcealedcarrypermitthereareevenstatesinwhichyoudonotneedtohaveapermit
tocarryaconcealedfirearmwithyou,thesestatesareAlaska,Vermont,Wyoming,andArizona.
Thecarelessnessofthestate'srestrictionshassadlyresultedinthelossofmultiplelivesofboth
lawenforcementandcitizens.BetweenMay2007andMarch2011fourteenpoliceofficersand
sixhundredandtwentytwoothercitizenswerekilledbyindividualswhowerelegallyallowedto
carryaconcealedhandgunbutdidnotactinselfdefense(LawCentertoPreventGunViolence).
Owningandpossessingafirearmisnotaright,itisaprivilegealiketodriving.The
responsibilityisallonthepersonpossessingthelicencebecausetheyaretheoneswhodecide
whethertheyareallowedtousethisprivilegeoriflawenforcementhasreasonablemotivesto
restrictthemforthesafetyofothercitizens.Boththeprivilegeofoperatingavehicleand
possessingafirearmarehugeresponsibilitiesthataretobetakenveryseriouslybecauseinmere
secondsitisveryeasytoendangeroreventakesomebodyslife,maybeevenyourown.
Thishugeresponsibilityofcarryingafirearmforyourownsafetycanalsorequireyouto
protectthesafetyofothercitizenswhoneeditinamomentofcriminalactivity.Citizenshelping
othercitizensintimesofdistressistheperfectwayforacommunitytoreducethecriminal
activitythattakesplacewhenlawenforcementcannotactfastenough.Accordingtoananalysis
intheyear2000oftheFederalBureauofInvestigationscrimedatabyJohnR.LottJr,an
economistandapoliticalcommentatorshowedthatwithinstatesthatpassedlawswhichallow
thepublictoconcealandcarryafirearmtherewasaneightandahalfpercentdecreaseinmurder
casesafifteenpercentdecreaseinrapes,aggravatedassaults,androbbery,comparedtothe

previouslybroughtuptwoandninepercentincreasesfromthesamecrimes(FBIcrimedata).
Thedecreasesinthesecrimescamefromcitizenswhopreferredtoensuretheirownsafety
insteadofbecominganeasyvictimsomethingthathastobekeptinmindisthatapersonthatis
readytocarryoutaviolentcrimewillalwayscarryafirearmtoensurethattheirtaskis
completedaseasyandasquickaspossible.
Timeswhenapersonismostvulnerabletobecomingavictimtothesecrimesiswhenan
individualgoesoutatnightthisalsofitsinthesituationofwomenbeingoutatnightorhome
aloneespeciallysinceamajorityofcriminalsperceivefemalesasaneasytargetfromthenatural
sizeandstrengthdifferencebetweenmaleandfemale.Atthesevulnerabletimesitisverycritical
thatthepersoniscapableofprotectingthemselvesfromharmbecausetheremightnotbeanyone
abletoreachoutandhelpintimebeforethesituationturnsfortheworst.InFlorida,thenumber
ofwomenwhohaveaconcealedcarrypermitsrosefromfifteenpercentin2004totwentythree
percentintheyear2014,afemalecitizenwhopossessedaconcealedcarrypermitstatedthatI
thinkanybodyneedstobeabletotakecareofthemselves.Theyneedtobeabletodefendtheir
homeanddefendthemselvesiftheygoout.It'sjustasafetyissue(ShelleyLevan).
Additionally,thereisalsoapprovalofconcealedcarrypermitsforindividualcitizens
fromthelawenforcementcommunity.Intheyear2013therewasasurveybyPoliceone.com(A
trustedwebsiteforlawenforcementinformation)thatstated,fromfifteenthousandpolice
officers(retiredandcurrent)surveyed,91.3percentofthemsupportedcitizenstocarrya
concealledfirearm.Thenextpiecesofevidencefortherightofthecitizenstopreservetheirown
safetycomefromthestudyofCriminology.ThefirstpieceofevidencecomesfromtheJournal
ofCriminalLawandCriminologyinapeerreviewedstudyitisshownthatwhenanindividual

drawsaconcealedfirearmintheactofselfdefence,theactivecriminalwillretreat55.5percent
ofthetime(JournalofCriminalLawandCriminology).Thenextevidencecomesfromanactual
Criminologistwhostatesrobberyandassaultvictimswhousedaguntoresistwerelesslikely
tobeattackedortosufferaninjurythanthosewhousedanyothermethodsof
selfdefence(GaryKleck).Themostimportantfactorforcitizenstobeabletotakeactionand
preservetheirownorthesafetyofothersisthattheaveragetimeforpoliceorotheremergency
responseservicestorespondtoacallisatleastapproximatelyelevenminutes,withsomelarge
cityregionstakingmuchlonger.Forexample,theaverageresponsetimeforemergencyservices
inthecityofDetroit,Michiganisfiftyeightminutes(WallStreetJournal).Whenasituationof
distressoccurs,timeisaverycriticalfactorbecauseintheelevenminutesthatittakesforlaw
enforcementtoreachoutthesituation,manymorelivescanbetakenandmultiplemorecould
alsobeinjuredittakesnomorethanacouplesecondsforacriminaltoaimandpullthetrigger.
Aneffectivewayofkeepingtheseverypowerfulfirearmsfromthehandsofcriminalsis
tolimittheaccesstotheseweaponswithinthehousehold.Apotentiallydangerousfirearm
shouldnotbeleftunattendedespeciallyinaspotwhereitiseasyforanyotherpersontoaccessit
ormoreimportantlywhereyouthcouldreachit,asyouthdonothavethesameunderstanding
andawarenessoffirearmsastheindividualwhoownstheweaponshouldhave.Thelifeofa
childcouldeasilybeplacedatriskwhensomebodyaccidentallyleavesaloadedandunsecured
firearminthesameroomasyoungchildren.DatacomingfromtheCentersforDiseaseControl
showsthatbetweentheyearsof2007and2011anaverageof62childrenfromtheagesof
fourteenandyoungerdiedeveryyearfrombeingaccidentallyshot,butthefederaldatais
believedtoundercountthesetragicdeaths(CDC).Anexampleofthiscarelessnesshappenedin

FayetteCounty,PennsylvaniawheretwoyearoldOwenHarrisreachedintohermother'spurse
whileshewasasleepandmanagedtopullouthisstepfathershandgunandaccidentallyshot
himselfintheface.AfterOwen'smotherandstepfatherrushedinfromtheneighboringroom
theythenracedtoUniontownHospitalandwerethenflownouttotheChildren'sHospitalof
Pittsburghwherehewasreceivedinacriticalbutstablecondition.Miraculously,Owenmanaged
tosurvivethistragicaccident(Everytown.org).
Amorepubliclyknownincidentthathasoccurredinthepastinvolvedayoung,possibly
mentallyillmanwhomanagedtogainaccesstohismother'sunsecuredfirearmsandtook
multiplelivesofbothfacultyandyoungstudentsatSandyHookElementarySchool,Newtown
Connecticut,December,14,2012.EarlyinthemorningtwentyyearoldAdamLanzagained
accesstowherehismotherkeptherfirearmsandmurderedhismotherwithherownriflepriorto
drivingtotheelementaryschool.Meanwhiletheschoolwashavingtheirmorning
announcements,shotswereheardthroughtheintercomsasLanzashotthroughthefrontglass
panelnexttotheschoolslockeddoors.Fromthetwoclassroomsneartheentrancewheremostof
theshootingtookplace,Lanzamanagedtotakethelivesoftwentysixpeople,sixofthembeing
femalefacultymembersalongwithtwentyotherelementarystudents(eightboysandtwelve
girls).Atabout9:40thelastshotwasheardwhichwasLanzashootinghimselfintheheadwhen
tookhisownlife.
WhenpoliceofficersgottotheroominwhichLanzaslifelessbodywaslying,they
founda.223caliberBushmasterXM15E2Srifle,a10mmGlock20SFhandgun,anda9mm
SIGSauerP226handgun,alongwithanothertwelvegaugeshotgunthatwasinthevehicleLanza
hadusedtodrivetotheschool.TheshootingatSandyHookElementarySchooltooknolonger

thansevenminutes.ItliterallytooklesstimeforLanzatotakethelivesoftwentysixwomenand
childrenthenittookfortheLawenforcementauthoritiestoarriveonthescene.Thishorrible
tragedywasthedeadliestmassshootingatagradeschoolinthehistoryoftheUnitedStates
alongwithbeingtheseconddeadliestmassshootingcarriedoutbyasinglepersoninthehistory
oftheU.S.ThedeadliestshootingatVirginiaTech(orTheVirginiaTechMassacre)intheyear
2007whereanothermentallyillmanintwoseparateattackstookthelivesofthirtytwopeople
andinjuredseventeenothersalongwithanothersixpeoplewhoreceivedinjuriesfromescaping
byclassroomwindows.AdirectorfromthetraumacenteratCarilionRoanokeMemorial
Hospitalstatedthat,Choschoiceof9mmhollowpointammunitionincreasedtheseverityofthe
injuries.Allofthevictimswereshotatleastthreetimeseach(SydneyJ.Vail).Duringapolice
investigationtheyfoundtwohundredandthreeliveroundsatthesceneHewaswellprepared
tocontinueon(WilliamFlaherty)thestatepolicesuperintendentclaimed.
Thepointofpresentingalloftheprevioustragicincidents,istoreinforcejusthow
quicklyamistakecouldcostsomebody'slifeorhowanunsecuredfirearmcanendupinthe
handsofthewrongpersonandcostthelivesofmultipleinnocentpeople.Therewillneverbea
wayforanybodytoknowwhenthenextunstableindividualcanmaketheimpulsivedecisionto
harmothers,sotheonlywaytokeepourselvesandotherssafeistoalwaysbepreparedtodefend
againsttheworst.Intheaforementionedschoolshootings,thecriminalsdidnothavetheslightest
doubtthattherewouldnotbeanybodyabletoshootbackattheminthesepublicspacesthat
weresupposedtobegunfree.Wehavetobeabletofightfirewithfiretopreservethesafety
ofourcitizens,wehavetohaveanassurancethattherewillbeawaytoprotectourstudentsand
getthembackhome.Thereisalreadyatleastthirtythreestatesthataretakingthefirststeps

towardsthiscertainsafetyofourstudentsandfacultybyworkingtowardspassingmorethan
eightybillsrelatingtoarmingourteachersandstaffthebillsvarymeasuresfromstatetostate.
Thereshouldalwaysbeameasuretotakeintimesofdistresstoprotectthesafetyofour
citizensandstudents,becausetheonlywaytobeabletostoptheseattacksagainstthepublicis
toprotecteachotherandtakeituponourselvestopreservethesafetyofeverybodyinevents
whenouremergencyservicesarenotabletoreachthesceneintime.Gunswillneverbethe
problem,thecarelessnessandimpulsivenessofthosewhopossessthemwillalwaysbethe
reasonbehindthetriggerbeingpulled.

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