Right to carry would make us safer
Are the citizens of Illinois fed up by daily gun-related crime? Our state legislature has failed citizens on gun control. However, it seems that Illinois gun control benefits only the criminals who disregard them as they target those who are forced to follow them.
Do statistics speak louder than the emotional opinions of an Illinois/Chicago-area gun owner? According to federal data reported from 2005 or earlier, gun sales have increased 27.7 percent since 1998. According to data reported from 2005 or earlier from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, firearm crimes have decreased 7 percent since 1998.
Chicago violent crime rates for 2010 show that 91 percent of U.S. cities are safer than Chicago. Milwaukee violent crime rates show that 91 percent of U.S. cities are safer than Milwaukee.
Finally, according to the National Rifle Association, there are only two states that do not have some form of law to protect the right to carry firearms — Illinois and Wisconsin.
Based on the above, I think I have less of a chance of being attacked on the streets if a punk knows there's a possibility that I am legally carrying a gun to protect myself. The other 48 states appear to have that same opinion.
John K. Nolan
Mount Prospect