Comparing legal gun ownership and gun crime in the US is comparing apples to oranges and is a tactic often used by gun control proponents. The majority of gun crimes are committed with illegally acquired firearms.
If you look at the number of gun crimes committed by people who legally own the firearms used compared to the total number of gun crimes, guess what. It is NOT the legal gun owner that presents much danger.
Does the occasional knucklehead exist? Sure. But if gun ownership and carry was ENCOURAGED, the occasional crazy would have a self-preservation interest to keep from going of "half cocked". The tragedy in Colorado is a perfect example - 12 dead and 58 injured. Had even 2 or 3 people been armed in theatre 9, it would still be a tragedy - but you might have had 3 victims dead and one perpetrator pushing up daises. It would still have been a tragedy, but not nearly so bad of one.
If you don't think self preservation is a strong motivator for even crazies, remember that the accused shooter in Colorado invested in and wore a protective vest......
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Good Hunting!
Captain Haplo
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