Do Guns Make Society Safer or More Violent?

Question

To advocates of strict gun control, many people believe that restricting access to guns would make society safer. The opposing argument is that gun control only takes guns out of the hands of law abiding citizens and does nothing to prevent criminals from obtaining them illegally. The two sides manage to find all kinds of studies and statistics to support their respective arguments, but still the debate rages on. Violent incidents today are often used as excuses for people to add fuel to the flames of this ongoing debate.

ChrisMaster69 · Accepted Answer

Guns work on pretty much the same principle as those 200 years ago.

Its people that have changed and the value of life etc.

The UK had two events that changed the view on weapons

Hungerford 1987 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hungerford_massacre
This resulted in restrictions on semi automatic firearms - Under the Firearms Act 1988, semi-automatic and pump-action rifles and shotguns were banned, except those chambered for.22 ammunition.

we then had Dunblane in 1996 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunblane_massacre

The thing is before hungerford you could pretty much own anything, however shootings were still rare, even gun ownership was seen as not really something that was needed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_massacres_in_Great_Britain

Oh and it is legal to won a fair number of firearms in the UK, I know I do.

https://www.ukpreppersguide.co.uk/uk-weapons-and-firearms-law-2018/

Do Guns Make Society Safer or More Violent?

yes they are controls in place but you can still apply and own. I am debating on an Accuracy International https://www.sportingservices.co.uk/products/accuracy-international-ax50

You also have other countries where owning firearms is not a major problem.

Teaching respect for firearms is step one.
a bloody good training regime, mandatory is step two
as no one should own a weapon if they are unable to safely handle it, can recognise if it’s unserviceable or damaged, ditto with ammunition.

as for mental health check ups… you would likely need to take weapons from a large number of servicing and ex members of law enforcement and military, as shit loads will have PTSD / depression to various levels, after Covid add frontline health care.

for me, restricting to reasons is a reasonable start.

A farmer, land owner in Texas has a need for certain firearms, whereas a guy in a flat in the middle of a city does not, he just really needs something for carrying in street and home protection.

just because you can legally own something does not mean you should.

Also those saying it’s for protection from the government, has that been required ever in the US? It’s a democratic society, a fucking big one, if a party gets elected they likely had millions people voting for them.

example

Biden won 81,283,098 votes

Trump won 74,222,958 votes

now add in firearms ownership, that’s say 50 million each side, even cut it right back to 10 million people each side.

2,100,000 Number of Northerners mobilized to fight for the Union army
880,000 Number of Southerners mobilized to fight for the Confederacy

its just ridiculous to say it’s defending against the government.

Society over there on how it views firearms needs to change, how it mandates training, safety awareness of weapons, respect for weapons and lives.

You will never get rid of the firearms in use or those that will be purchased in the future, you need to change society, stop accidental shootings being a common thing, even look at Sub armouries (I use one) as having a load of stuff at home is a pain. mandate training, awareness and responsibility before you can own.

Lliam · Accepted Answer

Guns unquestionably make honest people in society safer.

First, there isn't much gun violence in the first place. The number of firearm-related homicides in the U. S. hovered around 15-16,000 for years. I understand that it increased to around 20,000 in 2020. One doesn't have to wonder why.

But lets say there are 20,000 out of over 100 million honest gun owners, 330 million citizens, and around 450 million people in the country at any one time. The FBI estimates that 80% of firearm homicides are gang related. So that leaves around 4,000 non-gang related homicides. And how many of those are perpetrated by criminals who are not affiliated with gangs, as opposed to honest gun owners?

Does 4,000 still seem like a lot? Lets compare that to other causes of death. 10x more people die from accidental falls. 40,000 people die and 500 children a day are treated for accidental poisonings. Close to 40,000 people die in highway accidents. 250,000 die from preventable hospital errors. Not to mention things like drug overdoses and deaths from diseases caused by lifestyle choices.

Estimates on the frequency of defensive gun use (DGU) vary. The lowest credible estimate is around 150,000. 150,000 cases of deterrence compared to 4,000 or even 20,000 unjustifiable homicides? The DOJ estimates around 1.5 million annual DGU incidents. And other estimates go as high as 3.5 million. DGU doesn't mean that anyone was necessarily killed or even shot. In fact, that's rare. Most often, simply brandishing a firearm is enough to deter a threat.

How many of those DGU cases deterred rape, robbery, mugging, trauma, injury or murder?

A study was conducted in which violent criminals in prison were interviewed. They overwhelmingly said that the thing they feared most was not the police, but the possibility of an armed, random citizen. The criminals never know who is armed.

So I would argue that an armed citizenry poses little threat, while creating a strong deterrence to crime.

Aerissa_Jade · Accepted Answer

There is already a lot of gun control in many of the most violent cities and it seems to have no effect.

Blue cities have a lot of illegal guns already.

Eliminating guns would make people like me unsafe, now only criminals will have guns.

Now IF the government could find a way to remove all guns, then maybe but they cannot even get them out of the hands of criminals who are already breaking the law. That tells us that they will NEVER be able to remove them all from society no matter what.

That and many will continue to flow over the border illegally anyways.

Guns are the great equalizer, they make someone like me be able to stand up virtually any thug. Otherwise I'm just a victim.

doopayo · Accepted Answer

I believe it depends if guns go in the wrong hands it can increase risk of violence. We need to ensure guns are given to the right people, at the same time stricter gun laws have usually been disproportionately effecting minorities with guns so it’s a double edged sword. We want protection but that protection isn’t and has never been enforced equally amongst the people

https://digitalcommons.uri.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1142&context=srhonorsprog

humanearth · Answer

I have one sentence on this

Look what happened to all the countries that lost their rights to have guns from gun control

In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, 13-million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. >From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
list of countries

Oigit · Answer

Society will honestly not be made safer or be 100% safe.

Humanity does have a inherent violent streak. We can say we are not violent all we want. But put in situation where fight or flight kicks in there is very much a 50/50 chance we will react violently. Given that fight or flight is a instinctual response to we don't really know how we are going tell after that button is pressed.

People on both sides of the debate don't seem to get this. Mr my gun makes me safe could quickly drop their gun a run once fight or flight kicks in. Ms I'm not violent just might end up grabbing the first she can get her hands on and beat mr my death to death once fight or flight kicks in.

Also we are already investing billions of dollars every moment in both money and work house to stop the trafficking of drugs and guns. Both are highly regulated and we are only making a slight dent in both issues. That isn't going to change with new regulations. Everyone knows this on some level. But they are unwilling or able to admit it because it would mean in one way or another the government isn't perfect and that also goes for the side of the political isle they support.

ShadezMcgee · Answer

People are what make society violent. A gun is merely a tool that people use. Guns don't make society any more dangerous than bombers, knife attacks, beatings, etc. Those are all things that can be used with someone who has intent and enough drive to carry out their plans to do harm. They cannot hurt anyone without someone using them. A gun cannot sprout legs and pull its own trigger to shoot someone in the face. Just like a knife can't jump off a table and find it's way in someone's chest.

Looking away from physical violence, let's look at society from an ideal standpoint. The media is just as guilty of making society more violent than anything else. When you control narrative, it can easily sway people to see what they perceive to be true. Critical thinking and being able to see different perspectives without being able to be guided by personal bias is very damn hard to find and do. People have become reactionary to what personally triggers them rather than calm and responsive.

In a perfect world people can agree to disagree. In a perfect world we have no deranged psychos or criminals causing trouble. Our lives don't get ruled by people who run a country and decide how we can live and make our own decisions.

Society is a perfect imperfection. It all boils down to individual responsibility and accountability.

ohshee · Answer

I definitely think both if you understand what bands are all about and you have them in a safe they can't even be removed from your house and that safe is locked you have been there for your safety or protection your family's protection hunting I think they're wonderful if they're just laying around in your room where somebody could break into your house and steal them and you should never ever have a gun then there are the people who are just fucking whacked who are mentally not right in the head I have a friend that is a ranger who has pull his gun out on his girlfriend and then his girlfriend is pulled a gun on him one of these days it's going to go wrong it's all going to go wrong and I just hope an innocent person is not standing around them when it does because they're almost as bad as somebody that steals your gun from your home and goes out and robs Banks or threatens people with it so for me I see both sides but for me I'm going to keep my guns I'm going to keep them safe in a safe the other two scenarios to scare the shit out of me because there's just no respect whatsoever and he's an Army Ranger

Hulk30 · Answer

to me it depends on whose using the guns i know a lot about fightin and the basic defense when the skill level is very high is always your own body as weapons take more time and energy to use than your own body and as a bonus for ya own protection here's some womens fitness and self protection youtube channels for ya maa'm passion4profession Tara Stiles pop sugar fitness yoga with Adiene tone it up body rock xhit daily be fit Sarah fit bikini model fitness cross fit zuzka light Rebakah Borucki-Bex life Jessica Smith tv blogilates Thomas Delauer thehealthsite. com beauty iq Vicky Justiz get fit by ivana Massy Arias Daisy Keech Kenicherie Janaye Penn Tiffanie Ray Annabelle Hayes Renee Mowatt Jane Kate fitness the bk booty fitness roberta's gym Hana Milly bright side Sonja Lauren womens workout channel every day bright Nicolettaxo ways and how Cindy Flores Lumowell Maryam Hampton Glamrs Rebecca-Louise the ummah fight camp brick city combatives 52 blocks info precision striking shark karate fight tips uscca peace and blessins

007920 · Answer

There are truths to both sides on this one, yes a law will only be obeyed by someone with good intent, just as you can break a lock to force entry in a house or business if you plan on robbing it, a criminal will get the gun just like he gets drugs or anything else illegal, more then likely, however there are also cases where the gun was purchased legally and the person just slipped thur the cracks. On the other side the right to protect yourself is in our constitution and deeply rooted in our culture, its one of the things that makes America vastly different then most countries, god forbid we where invaded or something horrible where to happen id rather have the choice to try to keep myself alive personally, but I don't go out shooting creatures of the forest for sport, and its a thing I kinda hide and revere using in a lot of ways, but a necessary evil to protect my wife and family if one of these evil people that both sides of the coin acknowledge exist where to come my way. the keyword here is intention and it is very hard to judge intentions on a background check only crime history, I think there are some answers here on reducing violence but my ideas are nothing I've heard debated in a serious sense.

BCA6010 · Answer

Guns are just objects. The US will never produce positive results in public safety until it starts recognizing that it has a mental health and cultural crisis at its roots. It can ban all the guns it wants, and people will just move on to homemade bombs, blades, road rage... You name it. Mass shootings and really just mass killings in general are a fairly recent addition to the US that were an extreme fringe rarity until long after gun control laws started manifesting. You can't litigate psychos into normalcy.

Of course the real push for gun control in the US has absolutely nothing to do with public safety or saving lives, or else it wouldn't be attempting to hang people for clearcut self-defense while making idiotic arguments like insinuating that you can't use a weapon to defend yourself against someone with a less scary weapon.

wankiam · Answer

you will never take americans guns away. thats the point here. its about the people and how violence permiates everyday life... i used to think it was about the guns but i spend a lot of time in bulgaria now and they have mass gun ownership... they have them for hunting or for protection from wild boar etc and they have the lowest murder rate in the western world. the upshot of this is i no longer believe its the guns but the people themselves that choose whether their society is based on violence or not

WhiteSteve · Answer

I feel like violence will always occur at the same general rate, regardless. We just raise the stakes of it by using guns for it. Life will always be dangerous, and there’s just no way around that, that kind of needs to be accepted. It’s crazy how people are scared of getting their nose bloodied in the fistfights that nature intends for us to have, but so many people are so ready to get into a shootout…. although I think those people are often delusional and only envision themselves doing the shooting, they think the guy will make them safer, when is wager it increases your likelihood of being shot. If I’m carrying a gun and you challenge me, I’m passing my gun off to a friend or something, and we can knuckle up like men. If you produce a gun, I’m just going to try to gun you down before you gun me down….. you got yourself shot when you were only scheduled for a few punches. That seems pretty dumb to me.

AviatorTom · Answer

Difficult question to answer. If no one (or very few people) had guns, society would be safer. The UK is an example of that, where gun ownership is restricted.

However, there are so many guns in the hands of all sorts of people in the US that, no matter what gun control laws were established, there would still be many guns and society would be no safer, possibly even less safe because criminals would have guns and good citizens would not.

The best thing to do, in my opinion, is to put limits on the type and amount of ammunition a person can have. Technically, that would not violate the second amendment (people would still have "the right to bear arms"), and it would reduce the likelihood of mass shootings and possibly accidental shooting deaths.

Nick473 · Answer

Its safer with guns. Say china drops an EMP and our electric grid goes out And they invade our country. We will still have millions of homeowners ready to defend our land. On the later we lose everything.
Situation number two
Our own government sells us out and and ceases control over our rights to food, water, work, and all the essentials because of covid bs. If millions of people have guns its gonna be pretty stupid for them to do that while they sit in there ivory towers with no where to go but the courthouse.
Situation number 3
Your own personal self defense for you and your family. Say someone breaks into your home and trys to rape your 3 year old daughter. Or someone goes house to house burning down the neighborhood. Thats a lawful and righteous time to defend yourself and the innocent from destruction, death, rape and trama and trust me it only has to happen once for you to wish that you had a gun to protect yourself and the people you care about

TonyMetal___86 · Answer

No one should be able to carry a lethal weapon unless they have a lisence and for some important reasons...

A safe community is where no one holds a weapon cause they have a strong law enforcement and if someone hurts the other just like that, than they will be punished and taught a lesson that will make them think a lot before committing a stupid act again!

The most effective weapon for safety are love, faith and family...

When you have love than you will spread the positivity and when you have faith, it will be a law inside your head that hurting someone is a sin that god will judge you on it and a family is the place where you will have all your problems solved and being listened too...

unusuak · Answer

Everyown where i live at least owns a 12 guage for home protection... I've been here 14 years and its a known thing not even knock on a door too late... One of these country ass poeple will blow ur ass away, but I've yet to hear of any violence happening during or after a break in, which is my point. If everyone had the right to be armed and all the criminals knew it... Bye violent crimes. Though i think buying a firearm should taken seriously and with serious measures for those qualified to even buy one. I bought my smith & wesson 4c and i carry it on me evrywhere i go without a permit because u dont need that here. But i bought from a friend & i typed a bill of sale. I could have been a crazy fuck ready to shoot some mother of 3 outsife the market so i could take her money for some dope. Unless she was carrying to shoot my ass in self defense so its a trick question of sorts

KrisPW · Answer

I see guns as making people more equal. It gives a smaller slight girl like myself the ability to defend herself against those wishing to do harm.

The violence is a result of all the divisions between us.

Celtero · Answer

Only god knows. Maybe we take guns away and people just switch to knives? Maybe we take knifes away and people fashion clubs?

Statistics would generally indicate that yes, the homicide rate in the US is a result of gun ownership. Though, there are plenty of countries that have gun freedoms and their people handle it fine.

And you know what? I enjoy having the power to defend myself.

DaveJord · Answer

Not pro or anti gun... but two wrongs don't make a right. With that said I don't have the answers, but some good guys with guns make me as nervous as bad guys with guns. Actually with a bad guy you know what they are about, good guys are only good until they turn bad.

When I was growing up only bad guys wore masks and carried guns, now anyone can carry a gun and we all wear masks. What a topsy-turvy world we live in.

jshm2 · Answer

The issue isn't guns, but their licencing and use.

Most "pro" advocates are stupid as shit, and do not understand this fact. There are countries with even higher gun ownership numbers than America - but have a fraction of the crime.

Also, 99.5% of American gun problems are down to Americans not knowing or not storing guns properly. Most of these "illegal" guns are stolen merch from government authorities.

bean2k21 · Answer

Look, as the Founding Fathers in their wisdom knew, someone has to shoot the British the next time they decide to get a little too cozy with us. Yes, it's an unfortunate consequence that mentally ill people shoot other Americans. But, you take the good with the bad. Would you rather have some snaggle tooth eating all your food?

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Both. People with rotten hearts and bad intentions will always make society less safe wheather guns are available or not as they are other means to seriously hurt people if you are hell bent to doing so.

Now, you owning a gun can certainly help you be safe in case you need one in a emergency situation.

MountAverage · Answer

I would say neither. But American mentality is completely fucked up. This is a country that fetishizes guns and normalizes and finds excuses for rampant gun violence. A country with such a mentality should be the last place on Earth where many people should have easy access to guns.

johnathane · Answer

Guns if everyone had them would make society safer and here why. If when only a select few have guns they can do what they want by threatening the people that don’t have guns therefore the power is in the people with the guns hands. But if everyone had a gun then nobody would try to pull something on anyone because they would be able to defend themselves with their own gun bringing balance to power.

Twalli · Answer

Stricter gun laws will make fewer people have guns. In Japan the Yakuza (organized crime) won't allow their members to carry guns. The laws are such that carrying a sword in public will be a less severe sentence than committing a crime and owning a gun. Gun laws will not prevent all criminals from owning guns, but will reduce the number of those who do.

Pummel · Answer

Guns make no difference at all... If tomorrow guns were outlawed and confiscated people with evil intentions would stab their intended target with a fork... or beat them with a NERF football..

MORALITY CANNOT BE LEGISLATED

exitseven · Answer

Guns make society safer; Even states that have laws against having an unregistered firearm hardly enforce it because it is always gang members that get arrested for it so the democrats say it is racist to put them in prison, so people die.

Ryfyle · Answer

@subarugirl Hey Sunshine, a dude in Great Britain just bombed a hospital for denying his asylum Claim. Wanna fuck up a bunch folks all at once? Build a bomb. Easiest shit in the world. It's not the guns, it's people.

lightbulb27 · Answer

neither.  parents and good discipline, values... make society safer.

FunkyMonkee · Answer

If you wanted to rob some guy's house and you had the choice of one that had no weapons in it or one that had guns and the people living there weren't afraid to use them on you, which one would you chose to rob?

FakeName123 · Answer

Neither. There are countries with strict gun laws which are super violent and countries with loose gun laws that are very safe.

Other factors play a way bigger role. Especially factors related to mental health.

t-8900 · Answer

No I think you would see similar homicide rates but with knives and bludgeoning objects instead.

andreasderjuengere · Answer

Violence begins with unfit parents, incompetent teachers and a sick society in general. Guns are only a minor detail in this scenario.

Albino010 · Answer

Guns are a good sign of how free a society is (which is why I'm massively pro gun) but guns by itself don't make a society more safe.

Juxtapose · Answer

Just look at what happened to Australia one year after they gave up their guns. It is truly chilling.

Morgador · Answer

It's very simple guns don't create violence humans do. If we didn't have guns we would find the next best thing to creat violence with. The more populated the earth gets the more violence we will see

uncutfun · Answer

With out guns, how our we,,,, going to protect our freedom, God ferbid... any happens... how u going to protect your wife and kids... when the bad guy has a gun,,,, what you gonna use your karate... lol

Sargentcaptain · Answer

If there wasn't for a gun, Kyle Rittenhouse would be dead now.

Agape93 · Answer

Honestly neither. Violence will always be there, it just changes how the violence is performed.

Leggoddess · Answer

It depends on the situation.  Way to long to explain in here.

Soleil8000 · Answer

That is a very difficult question to answer. What you have can be used against you. At least in Europe, it is not necessary, certainly not to carry and mostly not to own either

loveslongnails · Answer

Intelligence makes society safer, not guns. My problem with not having one is there are a lot of stupid people out there I need to protect myself from.

DCooper · Answer

A weapon and the balls to use it are the difference between Regenald Denny and Kyle Rittenhouse.

Andres77 · Answer

Chicago? Baltimore? NYC? LA? Washington DC? There's your answer.

dolemite89 · Answer

limiting guns to legal gun owners does not stop criminals from getting them. gun control is like OSHA for burglars.

Neilbud · Answer

I don't think so, I think it's more of a mental problem. The tool will just change. It wasn't t that long ago a person killed 15 people with her Buick.

joeldalton · Answer

Safer, for sure. There’s not a lot of violent crime at gun shows.

BarryLiverstone · Answer

Violence in society starts with our minds. Guns and knives and clubs are merely objects. So no, guns don’t add to violence

jasco · Answer

People make society more dangerous. Stupid choices is what causes bad things like mass shootings and people dying for no reason

AydenHazor · Answer

Look at countries with strict gun control and countries with relatively easier access to guns and compare violent incidents, it's quite telling.

robocop666 · Answer

criminals get them illegally legal gun carrying people have saved mass shootings and the media bury it

WowwGirl · Answer

Better if people are actual taught about them. With 0 exposure probably more dangerous.

Linkk · Answer

Offcourse, Voilent Since, now you have a lethal option open for u at the times of stressful moments..

888theGreat · Answer

Saved Kyle's life and many more as Democrats encourage violence against anyone that disagree with socialist policies.

Lunatic1 · Answer

Guns aren't the key issue, it is societal development of people. But cracking down on the black market sales is the best way to reduce risks.

WhiteBoyChill · Answer

Why the fuck is this even a topic for debate. People can own guns if they want to.

notwoke · Answer

crime goes down as legal gun ownership goes up. After the end of the clinton assault weapon ban, violent crime declined for nearly a decade

najekim · Answer

"An armed society is a polite society." - Lazarus Long

Huldusonur · Answer

Have a look at the world outside the U. S. you might find the answer

Pterodon · Answer

Safer. Look at Australia. It also make the government fear the people

Snakeyes7 · Answer

It will make it easier to stop those who misuse guns.1

dragoblack · Answer

It's about 50/50. Statistically you are more likely to be stabbed than shot

OddBeMe · Answer

What would a mathematician say looking at the statistics?

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