“A groundswell of opinion must overcome mass hysteria that what we need are more powerful and plentiful guns. I fear for my children and grandchildren this will never happen.” And so concludes Peter Dorsen’s article Guns, guns and more guns is no solution over at swnewsmedia.com. Given the huge and ongoing gun and concealed carry “groundswell” over the last few years . . .
Mr. Dorsen children and grandchildren are gonna have to deal, at least with the “more guns” part. But does more really equally less, crime-wise?
I know John Lott’s seminal if unreadable book More Gun, Less Crime offered truckloads of data proving that an armed society is a less criminal society. And I bet there are less “hot” home invasions in Texas than there are in disarmed Connecticut (Dr. Petit’s family R.I.P.). Muggings? Not sure about that.
But how does a more-armed society reduce the most dangerous, most lethal crime in America: illegal drug-fueled, gang-related crime?
Don’t get me wrong. Our gun rights do not depend on social utility (or a lack thereof). And government tyranny is the most important crime that our gun rights protect us against.
But I’m curious. Do you think more guns equals less crime? If so, which crimes? Would more open carry have a more salutary effect on crime rates?