Expressing an opinion is one thing: Expressing an opinion while only presenting half the facts is either ignorant or manipulative. First of all, the United States might rank third in percentage of homicides that involve a firearm, but in homicides per capita, the U.S. ranks 24th. Both Colombia (No. 1) and Mexico (No. 6) surpass the U.S. many times over. Most Western European countries have a lower per capita homicide rate than the United States. However, most Eastern European countries have a higher rate.
Does this tell us that tighter restrictions on guns will lower the murder rate? Using one example (Germany) certainly does not. I believe the difference is to be found in the society and culture of other countries, not their gun laws. Tighter gun laws certainly have not lowered murder rates in Mexico.
There is arguably no best way to combat violence. However, statistics all around the country show that with an increased presence of civilians allowed to carry concealed handguns, crime rates go down. This is the hard truth of the situation.
Additionally, carrying a concealed weapon versus an exposed weapon has many advantages. Among these advantages is that in a situation where an attacker has a weapon, carrying an exposed handgun visibly strapped to the hip makes them the preferred first target, seeing as they are the greatest threat to the attacker’s goals. In such a situation, one may be stabbed or shot before there ever was a situation because the attacker wisely decided to neutralize them first.
Lastly, the situation of half the people in Blocker carrying when a gunshot goes off would not produce the extraneous results suggested by The Battalion’s columnist.
People who undergo the training necessary to carry concealed handguns understand that guns are not drawn until a discernable threat has been validated. A more likely scenario would be a large percentage of people running for the exits in order to avoid harm while a small percentage of armed students risk their lives to ascertain the location of the gunman and plan their defense.