I thought I had an opinion about this until a few days ago, then I got to see the issue from an entirely different perspective.
I know you are wondering what the issue is right? WOULD GUNS IN THE HANDS OF LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS REDUCE CRIME RATE OR NOT? That’s the issue ooo my dear people! I used to think and believe that any laws that put guns in the hands of people other than law enforcement or the military was insane. I have even published several articles on the subject. How would you make guns available to civilians and not expect them to use these guns, and expect that crime rates will not double or even triple?
But I came across a perspective that challenged my views on this issue. If law-abiding civilians are allowed (by law) to own guns, it would discourage criminal elements from attacking people indiscriminately, because they know that you have what they have - guns!
This argument leaves several questions unanswered still, which is why I don’t completely concur with it. For instance; how do you deal with a husband or brother or sister pulling a gun on their sibling or parent because they are upset or disappointed? What if one is careless and a child finds the gun and uses it to hurt themselves? What if criminal elements decide to increase their fire power and attack anyway? (like we see most times in Nigeria where Police is hiding from thief because they have more firepower). All these are equally important issues too, and more. On the other hand, one reason why the US has not again used nuclear weapon since 1945 is because 8 other states have nuclear weapons and some others are still secretly building theirs. This has created what Strategic studies experts call “Deterrence”; fear that attack could provoke equal or superior counterattack, so every country just respects itself and refrain from attack. Plus,
I guess my point is; this is a conversation we ought to have, especially in the light of increasing proliferation and trafficking in arms and ammunition, especially in Nigeria. What do y’all think?
#myrandomweeklythoughts
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I think guns should stay in the hands of law enforcement agents. We can find other ways to fight criminals, I am particularly concerned with the fourth paragraph dealing with having guns at home.. Not a good idea.
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