Safety with Guns

Thirty-one states have now passed laws permitting the carrying of concealed weapons. Other states have not done so on a state-wide basis, but counties in those states have done the same. These states and counties do so on the basis that law-abiding citizens who have passed a background check to make sure that they are not criminals or mentally defective, and who have completed a course of instruction covering safety and the law, will be issued a concealed weapon permit without having to justify it.
Many people have been surprised to discover that violent crime has gone down as a result. I say "as a result", because the best studies we have made have shown that this is a cause of the reduction in violent crime. It even makes sense logically. Suppose you were a criminal who preyed on innocent victims. If you discovered that your community now has a law allowing concealed carry of weapons, you will have just discovered a new hazard in your line of work. Many criminals will either move to some community which does not allow the potential victim to defend themselves, or you will find some other line of work. My own county experienced this; a new sheriff got elected by promising that he would issue permits to law-abiding citizens. He kept his promise, issuing about 4,000 permits in an area with a population of about 400,000. Even though this was only about 1% of the population, there was a pronounced reduction in violent crime, with no other known causes to account for it. The sheriff was convinced. Also, after 5 years, not one of those permits had to be revoked for any cause involving firearms. Some had predicted gunfights at the intersections. Why did that not happen? Because an armed society is a more civil society.
The best estimates range from 1.5 million to 2 million times a year that guns are used to prevent crime. It is hard to estimate, as I can illustrate:
Suppose someone decides that they are not willing to be a victim of crime. They think through the process; they decide that if all else failed, they would be willing to use deadly force to protect themselves and/or their family. They purchase a handgun. They take a safety course, and get a concealed weapon permit. They practice with that weapon until they are confortable with using it. Already, they have achieved a result which can help avoid being a victim: They no longer have to act like a victim. They have more self confidence. It is well known among nations and individuals, that if you avoid acting weak and defenseless, you are less likely to be attacked. People that go around cowering and acting like a potential victim tend to become victims. The predator can detect fear, and this fear can even encourage aggression.
If someone who is armed is still approached in a threatening manner, the simple act of opening a jacket enough to show a weapon in a holster, or putting a hand into a purse which contains a gun is often enough to stop the approach. If that does not work, holding the gun pointed into the air should stop the aggressive approach. If not, a shot into the air should discourage anyone.
Only if all else fails would someone actually shoot the aggressor.
Some of the actions above can get you taken into court; in all cities, it is against the law to discharge a firearm. But if I have a choice of going to a court hearing or going to my own funeral, I will take the court hearing every time.
Some of the actions that can be taken above would be included in the studies that show how often crimes are prevented, but many of them are not. If you discourage a predator by just your demeanor, you may not even be aware of preventing an attack, and as a result it would not be included in a study.
Author & Webmaster:don_erickson@pcisys.net. Copyright 1999