The simple fact that we are awash in guns and ammo and when you look at violent crime patterns they are basically tightly contained in certain regions of crime on crime.

What I am saying is the American Gun owner is generally a testimate to self restraint and upstanding citizenry.

Do we have a lot of violent crime? Yes, but that crime is hugely skewed to certain regions within certain regions.

Hell once folks realize that maybe we can start making actual progress as far as violent crime goes.

Anyway here is to all the safe and responsible Gun nuts. We are the norm, never forget that.

I have seen some estimates as high as 4 million firearms reside with civilians here in the US.

that seems like a low number to me

Edited. I screwed that one up.
Let me look for the numbers.

Minimum 300 million firearms in civilian hands.
I have seen estimates as high as 400 million.

quick google search yields:

"A minority of Americans own guns, but just how many is unclear. More than a third of Americans say they or someone in their household owns a gun. There are by various estimates anywhere from 270 million to 310 million guns in the United States — close to one firearm for every man, woman and child."

When you consider the numbers of firearms, the citizenry is quite well behaved and responsible with their guns.

Not that any anti would agree with that.

If we were the problem, they would know it.

quote:

Originally posted by cslinger:
Do we have a lot of violent crime? Yes, but that crime is hugely skewed to certain regions within certain regions.

The MAJOR amount of gun crimes are isolated to one or two ethnic groups. The ones that like to form gangs and sell drugs.

quote:

Hell once folks realize that maybe we can start making actual progress as far as violent crime goes.

Good luck with that.

Agreed that the HUGE MAJORITY of firearm owners are law abiding, decent citizens and hats off to them. (us)

If you compare a map of the areas of the country that voted democratic with the areas of highest gun violence,they are almost identical.

Guns don't kill people democrats kill people. Maybe we shouldn't let the dimocrats buy guns.

"There is a rifle behind every blade of grass".
This statement is attributed to WWII Japanese Admiral Yamamoto (the planner of the Pearl Harbor attack) when he was asked if an invasion of the US mainland was feasible.
Even if he did not say it, I cant help but wonder if our armed citizens are and have been a deterrent to those who would invade us.

quote:

Originally posted by lbj:
Edited. I screwed that one up.
Let me look for the numbers.

Minimum 300 million firearms in civilian hands.
I have seen estimates as high as 400 million.

Well, I done my best to keep those numbers high.

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:
quick google search yields:

"A minority of Americans own guns . . ."

Huh? With a few exceptions, nearly everyone I know owns a firearm. Perhaps this is characteristic of the area in which I live or simply indicative of the folks with whom I regularly associate. To me, the notion of a household not owning at least one firearm is nearly as unusual as not owning an automobile or a computer.

There was a great article about a year back that made this very point. So called “gun violence” is not an American problem. It is a DEMOCRAT problem.

I tend to believe that violent crime is, to a degree, suppressed by the bad guy knowing that the good guy might be armed. With more women having, using and carrying, there would likely be further suppression of the same. Our friend Darwin would play into the equation for those that don’t believe more and more people are stepping up to defend themselves. Additionally, it would appear that more and more small business owners are defending their businesses, their selves and their employees in the “higher risk” neighborhoods.

When the bad guy knows the victims aren’t armed, then the real trouble spikes. IE, mass shootings in “gun safe zones”.

What I would like to see is businesses recognizing that the permitted ccw is an asset and that they are safer when one is in the business. He/she would or could be another gun shooting in the right direction. Businesses that support ccw might have a small sign near the entrance. Something as simple as “CCE” meaning concealed carry encouraged, would let those that know about it, do it.

Two gunmen robbed a hotel one exit south of me on 81 this week. Wish there’d been an armed employee or patron in the lobby. Suspects are 2 white males. My money says they’re junkies.

quote:

Originally posted by YooperSigs:
"There is a rifle behind every blade of grass".

They must all be camo. I keep looking but no joy.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by YooperSigs:
"There is a rifle behind every blade of grass".
QUOTE]

I grew up in Southern Michigan farm country during the 40's and 50s.

Every farmer that I knew had firearms and their kids were trained in how to use them.

The only people that I knew who didn't have any firearms all lived in town.

This is probably pretty much still true today.

^^^^ Pretty much this. On Saturday and Sunday around my place it sounds like Raqqa. Everyone is shooting for miles around.

I honestly only know one person who I KNOW does not have a gun in the house. Everyone else is armed to some extent, and I shoot with a bunch of them.

quote:

Originally posted by creslin:
quick google search yields:

"A minority of Americans own guns, but just how many is unclear. More than a third of Americans say they or someone in their household owns a gun. ..."

I can't believe that statement. Could be some people just don't advertise what they have. And we all know how reliable polls are.

The "antis" I know around here are anti-handgun and / or anti-"assault weapon". But in their houses they have a shotgun, .22, muzzle-loader, or the like.

It has almost nothing to with guns IMO. Sure, I will admit it's part of the equation, but I wrote the following back in June 2016 concerning violent, abhorrent behavior - with or without the use of firearms...

quote:

This is a gang problem. This is a mental health problem. This is a “life is cheap” problem. This is a political correctness problem. This is a “give them another chance society” problem. This is a culture problem.

And yes, this is a radical islamic terrorism problem.