If everyone carried a gun...

[Target Practice]

Personally, I think they would go down. I think the really question is that should the governmet take away the ability for everyone to own a gun. The answer to this questions is a big, resounding NO! It goes way beyond protecting yourself. Being able to own and carry a weapon is a matter of protecting society. I hope these aren't too off topic, but here are just some quotes to think about...

"When only cops have guns, it's called a 'police state'."--Robert Heinlein

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government"--Thomas Jefferson

"The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that's good"--George Washington

"Men trained in arms from their infancy, and animated by the love of liberty, will afford neither a cheap or easy conquest."--From the Declaration of Indepencence

"Taking my gun away because I might shoot someone is like cutting my tongue out because I might yell `Fire!' in a crowded theater."-- Peter Venetoklis

""...quemadmodum gladius neminem occidit, occidentis telum est." [...a sword never kills anybody; it's a tool in the killer's hand.]-- (Lucius Annaeus) Seneca "the Younger" (ca. 4 BC-65 AD)

"The great object is, that every man be armed. [...] Every one who is able may have a gun."--Patrick Henry

And my personal favorite:

"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the act of depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest."-- Mahatma Gandhi

for the rest of them, go to this site.

[Army]

In every U.S. state that allows concealed carry, overall crime has declined noticably, if not dramatically. In every country that allows the free and open ownership of firearms, crime is very low compared to the more authoritarian ruled. Isreal indeed has very little street crime, despite being under a state of war. Switzerland requires all able bodied to keep their issue battle rifle at home,with ammo, and practice constantly on one of the hundreds of state and canton operated shooting ranges throughout the country. Little wonder why no one messes with the Swiss Army (and it ain't because everyone there has a cool pocket-knife!)

Ever hear of any really horrible crimes out of Vermont? They have basically one gun law. It says if you carry, it must remain concealed. No license, no fee, no permit. Just common sense and trust.

Compare that to Massachusettes, home of many firearm manufacturers, which holds a draconian approach to crime...blame the law abiding citizen, and restrict them from owning/using deadly personal protection. Little question why Boston and most of the state are usually #1,2, or 3 on the most murders list every year.

Honest, un-biased, studies and research have proven over and over that an armed society is safer and more polite. Estimates of LEGAL usage of firearms to thwart a crimme, is in the 2-4 MILLION times a year range. Compare that with the few hundred thousand times of criminal misuse, and you can see that legal ownership and usage of firearms would soon put the vast majority of criminals out of business.

Besides...shooting is HELLA fun!

[virus]

well.. army... i couldnt have said it any better myself.... in my 1st post i started to use the swiss example... but i stoped to think and forgot to start again :o go figure... and as someone that lives in MA... what you said hits it right on the head of that nail....

[trains are bad]

See the link in my sig

[mcveighr]

Keep in mind you're asking on a little bit of a biased forum.

I'm not sure myself.

[Sir_Brass]

Would crime rates go up or down?

Down. People would be less likely to mess with other people, and thus you'd have less crime b/c the crimminals would be far more warry of getting blasted by the people they were trying to steal from, rape, murder, vandalize, mug, you name it.

[Brak]

Down. People would be less likely to mess with other people, and thus you'd have less crime b/c the crimminals would be far more warry of getting blasted by the people they were trying to steal from, rape, murder, vandalize, mug, you name it.

Up. The criminals themselves would simply stop hesitating because the other person has a gun. Owning a gun is one thing, being one to shoot it is a whole different story. And the people who would be the ones getting raped, murdered, vandalized, mugged would then go out and commit crimes themselves, becuase now they have a gun and since the people committing the crimes in the first place had guns they also have a liscence to kill

[Fred]

"A well armed society is a polite society" ---P.J. O'Rourke

nuff said.

[Sir_Brass]

"A well armed society is a polite society" ---P.J. O'Rourke

nuff said.

And as a society, we're pretty rude . I think everyone carrying a .40 compact with hydroshock or JHP rounds would make us MUCH more polite .

[logamus]

i fully support the citizens right to carry a firearm. i just kinda wish it didnt have to be conceled.

[Sir_Brass]

i fully support the citizens right to carry a firearm. i just kinda wish it didnt have to be conceled.

COncealed or no, I support the right to carry . Actually, in a situation where the assaulter would be likely to grab for YOUR gun, a concealed gun might be better b/c he won't necessarilly KNOW you have a gun till you draw it on HIM instead of him going for it when he tries to jump you and then use YOUR weapon on YOU .

There are different pros and cons to both carrying openly and carrying concealed. But it still remains (as the majority of us seem to think) that society would be alot safer if everyone carried.

[Jeffy-CanCon]

Keep in mind you're asking on a little bit of a biased forum.

I'm not sure myself.

[dwab3000]

crime would go up...

people like me just have an erge to kill
then we have the kids who think its cool to shoot people
then we have the people who are mentally unstable
next we have the the ones who see human life cheap
we have the intoxicated ones who cannot think straight

itd be a harzard
since EVERYONE would have a gun...even cryer...which of course is a bad idea

[Halliday]

"A well armed society is a polite society" ---P.J. O'Rourke

nuff said.

Ahh.... one of my favorite quotes.

I'm sure crime would go down.

[SlipknotX556]

I believe it would go down, because no one would mess with anyone with a gun, unless they had a bigger gun