And Why You Should, Too by Brad Edmonds Empirical research has established that gun ownership by law-abiding people reduces crime. The connection is so reliable and well known that finally, leftist congressmen have chosen not to call for new gun laws even in the wake of recent school shootings. There are other good reasons to own guns that have not been a big part of recent public debate. Guns are protection from the government.
Guns are safe.
That means 72 terrible tragedies, but it also means that when we adjust statistically for the number of guns against the number of everything else, guns are safer for children than wading pools, bathtubs, bicycles, and cars. And guns don t go off by themselves. I can find many cases where an armed robbery or murder was committed without a gun. Guns make people less violent. The first time I bought a gun, I knew I had a dangerous weapon and should act accordingly.