Posted by
Aaron McLucas on Tuesday, March 27, 2007 10:02:53 PM
The
Salt Lake Tribune had this article shortly after the shootings in Trolley Square shopping mall. I always get perturbed when someone from the other side of the debate blames homicides and suicides on guns. The logic behind their argument isn't comparing apples to apples.
"I'm not comfortable arming our entire country for protection - that's a paranoid notion," said Gary Sackett, a Gun Violence Prevention Center board member.
"You can't protect against every madman with a firearm or a hand grenade. That sort of thing is going to happen from time to time."
Homicide and suicide rates in countries where gun ownership is restricted - like Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom - are a fraction of the U.S. rate, Sackett said.
So, by this logic if you can't get a gun you are less likely to kill yourself? Suicide has long been a problem for many societies. If someone really wants to end their life, they will find whatever means necessary to get it done. Murderers, are just that...murderers. The gun may make it easier, but it surely doesn't make them do it. And, as most of those countries found out, crime did not go away because the guns did.
No, I would be willing to bet that persons values, up-bringing and a myriad of other circumstances bring those people to do those horrible things. And as a citizen of this country, I want the ability to defend myself against those who want to end my life. (Being on the same playing field helps)