No comfort in aid from muskets
Walt Zlotow's April 25 Fence Post regarding ending the debate about the right to bear arms is quite humorous, unintentionally. He notes that the Second Amendment was ratified in 1791. That was the same time that the entire Bill of Rights was ratified, including the First Amendment. Should we throw them all out because they're old?
He cites a "statistic" of unknown origin regarding deaths "by firearm" since 9/11. Conveniently, there is no mention of the approximately 2 million times per year that Americans use firearms to protect their lives, loved ones and homes (Gary Kleck, University of Florida researcher). No mention of research showing that states in which licensed law-abiding citizens may carry concealed firearms, have experienced reductions in violent crime, including robbery and homicide (John Lott, University of Maryland researcher). No mention of research showing that firearms are the most effective means to stop a violent criminal attack. No mention of research showing that armed citizens deter violent predatory criminals.
As is the fashion, he talks about dying "by firearms" as if they are malicious beings, rather than inanimate objects. No mention of the fact that motor vehicles "kill" many times more people.
Who benefits most from access to legal firearms? Women, the elderly, the weak, the disabled, anyone who would be the target of violent predatory criminals. Perhaps Mr. Zlotow has not been the victim of a violent crime. If he were, I doubt very much whether he would be comforted by neighbors, citizens or police responding with black-powder muskets to assist him.
Ernie Knight
Plainfield