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I was struck by Warren Kinsella’s statements over the last week that handguns are meant only to kill. This would certainly be news to many people, including our Olympic shooting team which is competing in London. However, even if we were to grant to Mr. Kinsella that his statement regarding the purpose of handguns is accurate, I would argue that a handgun, used as a tool to efficiently and rapidly inflict grievous injury, is enormously beneficial. What other tool can make an aging grandmother the equal of a 250lb felon? How many rape victims would have been saved their agony if only they could have been trained and armed?
Available data from the U.S. suggests that in 94% of all defensive firearm uses, no shots are even fired; merely the presence of a firearm in the hands of a potential victim is enough to dissuade an attacker. A further 3% of incidents involve the firing of warning shots where no one is injured. This accounts for the severe under-reporting of defensive firearm uses in the United States, and presumably elsewhere.
The Canada Firearms Act actually provides for the issuance of concealed carry permits in Canada, although the RCMP and CFOs virtually never approve them. A handgun is considerably simpler to operate than, for example, a motor vehicle; and training for civilians in the defensive use of handguns is slowly becoming available. Every U.S. State that has taken steps to legalize concealed carry has seen their violent crime rates drop dramatically. Perhaps it’s time that Canada considered this option and allowed responsible citizens to arm themselves.
I was struck by Warren Kinsella’s statements over the last week that handguns are meant only to kill. This would certainly be news to many people, including our Olympic shooting team which is competing in London. However, even if we were to grant to Mr. Kinsella that his statement regarding the purpose of handguns is accurate, I would argue that a handgun, used as a tool to efficiently and rapidly inflict grievous injury, is enormously beneficial. What other tool can make an aging grandmother the equal of a 250lb felon? How many rape victims would have been saved their agony if only they could have been trained and armed?
Available data from the U.S. suggests that in 94% of all defensive firearm uses, no shots are even fired; merely the presence of a firearm in the hands of a potential victim is enough to dissuade an attacker. A further 3% of incidents involve the firing of warning shots where no one is injured. This accounts for the severe under-reporting of defensive firearm uses in the United States, and presumably elsewhere.
The Canada Firearms Act actually provides for the issuance of concealed carry permits in Canada, although the RCMP and CFOs virtually never approve them. A handgun is considerably simpler to operate than, for example, a motor vehicle; and training for civilians in the defensive use of handguns is slowly becoming available. Every U.S. State that has taken steps to legalize concealed carry has seen their violent crime rates drop dramatically. Perhaps it’s time that Canada considered this option and allowed responsible citizens to arm themselves.
