If everyone had guns there would be fewer shootings.

[Mossy500]

the title says it all, i believe if everyone had a gun there would be fewer shootings. think about it, do you think anyone would rob a bank if they knew that the 20 people in that bank were all armed.
mainly just wanted to see what you all think.

[ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ]

I agree 100%
I have never heard of a mass shooting at a gun range or deer camp.

[Edward429451]

Especially if everyone had shotguns!

[Coverbuster]

If everyone had guns there would be

Less ammo for me .

I have never heard of a mass shooting at a gun range

Plenty of suicides at the ranges ..................

[rc]

I'll repeat something that is common knowledge. An armed society is a polite society. God created man, Colt made all men equal. I saw on the local news that Sacramento County Sherif was going to issue more permits this year because of a reduction in the police services available. Maybe that guy should be Govornor! He's getting a lot of criticism from the antis for allowing more people to carry guns as if there will be a sudden rash of violence because he is going to give out more permits. It's funny how there is always a gut level emotional response from the antis when more people are allowed to carry guns for protection. You know, the same kind of reaction a deer has when there is a nearby hunter in the forest. Now if the deer had rifles do you really think they would run away? Would there be as much venisen in peoples trucks? People hunt deer because they can..... you know the same reason antisocial predators take advantage of people they presume are weaker. That guy Colt shure knew a thing or two about human nature

[USMCGrunt]

When I was a young Marine in the late 80s stationed in Naples, we used to put on dog-and-pony shows for the Swiss guard and in return they got us in to see the Pope. I wasn't Catholic but got to be good friends with a few of the guards. I went on leave to Switzerland once with one of them back to his home and things were very interesting. Switzerland has no large standing army like us or the Soviets but instead rely on an armed populace for national defense. Every house I was invited to, every male between 18 and I think their 40s had a full automatic rifle with ammo (I want to say something like 1,000 rounds or so) in the event they were called up to defend Switzerland from an invasion. The national pastime was shooting matches and I forget what road it was on but the road cut through a valley with the firing line on one side and the butts on the other where they would shoot over the passing traffic below. Now if guns cause crime and violence, you would think that the entire nation would have resembled Beirut. However, I had no problems with walking around Zurich and Bern late at night. I was never mugged, assaulted, and obviously never killed in this nation of gun owners and had a great time.
Now let's contrast this to "any large city", USA, be it New York, DC, LA, Chicago, etc. where gun control laws are very strict to the point your chances of getting a CCW permit or simply being allowed to own a firearm at all are about on par with walking on water without being Mr. Jesus Christ himself. Care to take a stroll around Central Park or downtown LA late at night? Yeah, I didn't think you would want to. And these are the areas with the strict gun control that is touted to prevent violent criminals from getting the guns and committing acts of violence against the law-abiding citizen. So, how's that all working out for you there DC, LA, New York, Chicago, etc. with your utopia of an unarmed society?

[SCREAMIII2006]

There would have to be some kind of restrictions though,like bars for one.
Been a barkeep for awhile now and have seen some pretty stupid things said and done after a few shots.
I imagine this is the reason the old west was such a dangerous place,especially the saloons.

[Zilmo]

Not everyone should have a gun. Some morons simply don't have the brains to do so.

[Mossy500]

i was thinking the same thing a little wile ago.. it would be tough to regulate when necessary, but im sure we could find a way.. maybe in a few hundred years it will happen..lol

[hogdogs]

seen some pretty stupid things said and done after a few shots.

You mean like... "wow awesome grouping honey" (from a wife/husband) or "now where did I put that box of ammo?"...

OHHHHH.... You mean the liquid "shots"..... I agree as I have learned to not shoot after drinking much at all. Nothin says NO MORE SHOOTING!!! like a few shots of unaged corn liquor!
Brent

[BillCA]

An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.
--Robert A. Heinlein

Read his Beyond This Horizon for the context.

In Heinlein's book, there were 3 classes of people. Those who wore guns, those who didn't, and the police. Those who did not wear guns were required to wear a brassard that noted their "peaceful" status. (Police wore both guns and brassards).

Those wearing brassards could find themselves cut off in a line by someone armed or have a taxi they hailed "hijacked" by a late arriving armed man.

Shooting an unarmed man requried good armed citizens to shoot you down like a mad dog. Bullying, beating or intimidating an unarmed man usually ended up with the thug looking down a barrel or dead.

If you offended, damaged or angered an armed man, words were your first resort. Offer for compensation the second. But you may have to back up your maners with your life.

[riggins_83]

Not everyone should have a gun. Some morons simply don't have the brains to do so.

+1 for that. I'd rather people with severe Alzheimers, potheads who like to play with guns while high and people who like to play with firearms while drunk don't have them.

Along with criminals, of course..

[Dragon55]

Kudos to the Swiss.... but 'everyone' is very broad. No if 'everyone' had a gun 24/7 there would be more shootings.

'Everyone' should NOT be allowed to have a gun .... yeah I know 2A but also 'everyone' should not be allowed to drive, hang around children, and many other actions that they have demonstrated through their past actions that they cannot be trusted to do.

[Recoiljunkie44]

Has any country ever tried to invade Switerzland? No Leading by example is what I call it! Maybe We could just elimante all the stupid people in this country and deport them to somewhere else and then all good law abiding citizens without a felony or any other crime could legal have a good goverment supplied fully auto with 1,000 round sitting in there house just waiting for some stupid idiot to try and invade America! Althought I personally hate the idea of the goverment moving all the detainiees from the war to a facility in KS like Leavenworth! I Personally also think Hey what better place then a very heavily armed state with alot of very Talented shooters who can take care of the problem very easily! Maybe we can build a fence around 50 square mile and issue permit for terriost! It might just be enough money to balance the stupid budget for at least a day or two!

[BillCA]

If "everyone" had a gun - like in Heinlein's Beyond This Horizon there would be a period of 1-2 years where shootings increased markedly. Then the trend would be downward (especially if we used Heinlein's rules!). Why? Because people would find out that the gun solves only a limited subset of problems. Today's mouthy gangbangers and wanna-bes would learn to keep their mouths shut. Starting violence with armed men around means you're likely to be out gunned by someone who takes his skill seriously.

[zip22]

what does this have to do with shotguns?

[hogdogs]

zip, If everyone had a shotgun beside the bed, then every possible thug thief or faker would be more hesitant to enter a remotely possibly occupied dwelling.
Brent

[oneounceload]

If everyone had guns there would be fewer shootings.

And if NO ONE had any guns, there would be NO shootings.....watch how you phrase things, because the antis would take that last stance.

Personally, I believe you're thinking more along the lines of: If everyone had guns, there would be fewer crimes.........

[Tucker 1371]

Been thinking the same thing the whole time I've been reading this thread Zip... but w/e I'm sure itll be swapped over to General or L&CR soon.

In the meantime...

You're absolutely right OP. In fact, here's some criminal testimony to prove it (@ about 2:32 in the video)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_YTM...om=PL&index=51

[greyson97]

arent we sorta preaching to the choir here?

i will (jokingly)offer a counter solution:

if everyone was bullet proof, not only would we be a polite society, we'd be a more fun society, since we could just shoot each other and not have any consequeces. you know, unload 5 rounds from your long gun, and then new york reload with your handgun, empty that as well into center mass, and when your out of ammo, everyone could have a hearty laugh, and then drink beer. which we would also be impervious to the effects of alcohol.

[inSight-NEO]

I agree...too bad many in the political arena are more inclined to disagree (or simply choose to ignore this idea).

An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life.

True enough as being armed also demands a greater sense of responsibility, tact and forethought.

[ADB]

If everyone had guns there would be fewer shootings.

Define "everyone." Every single human being? Even the mentally ill, criminals, children?

All people who could legally pass the NICS background check? A large number of those people still would either not know or not care how to be responsible gun owners. Do we go house to house and train them?

Looking at the history of violent crime in this country, there's no real provable link between the crime rate and gun ownership--and most of the shootings that take place do so between people who already have guns, and have them illegally. So while I'd love it if somebody handed me a pistol for my collection, I don't think the scientific evidence is there to support issuing 1911s along with birth certificates.

[Singlesix1954]

This issue has been beat like a dead dog as long as people have had wepons.
Gun control doesn't work. Education is ubstructed by people of power. Morality is crushed by greed. In todays world media tends to leave out truths that give accurate mesure to stories that are sentive to the subject.
I think that the best thing we can do is take youth and non gunowners to ranges, hunting, plinking, and even gunshows. Educate them to the noncombative use of guns and they will come to know of their own accord the selfdefence side. Shooting sports are the future anchors of gun ownership. None of us should ever take that for granit. Sitting here talking about antis like vermin won't help our cause. Keeping up your NRA membership and bringing in new blood to shooting sports will. Only voters count to politcle pros.

[Willie Lowman]

If there were fewer PEOPLE there would be fewer shootings.

Cut back the population of the planet by 1/3. Instant job openings! The price of property just dropped! Less congestion in the cities! Fewer reasons to shoot someone!

[inSight-NEO]

Looking at the history of violent crime in this country, there's no real provable link between the crime rate and gun ownership

Well, maybe not here, but do a bit of research on how well the lack of civilian gun ownership (via an aggressive gun ban) served, for instance, Australia. Crime rates went up by a considerable rate; ironically, gun related crimes as well.

Criminals, for the most part, are individuals of opportunity. Essentially, they thrive on preying on the weak/defenseless/vulnerable. An armed citizen, either inside or outside the home, can go a long way in countering such issues, IMHO.

I do honestly believe that (and word does get around...even within the criminal arena) when more law-abiding individuals are allowed to keep and/or carry guns, the end result just might be less criminal activity. After all, Im betting that even criminals are no more anxious to meet death than the rest of us.

Now sure, we have our local PD for such matters. But, after all is said and done, they are more reactive than proactive (no offense to LE). Far too often they arrive after the fact. Given the rampant violence present in todays America, this is simply unacceptable by my standards.