The deterrent for the government doesn't come in one person's resistance with firearms. They can squash the one person in a heartbeat. The deterrent is when the government tries to quell the entire populace. Then it's much more difficult when they already have millions of guns.
Presenting The Stunning Difference In How Blacks And Whites Are Killed By Guns If one were asked to name the top five issues on America’s collective mind as we head into 2016, gun violence would almost certainly make the list. A string of incidents that culminated in the massacre in San Bernardino earlier this month has put gun control back in the limelight as the nation debates the best way to prevent mass shootings. Some suggest gun violence should be a designated as a public health issue. “Supporters, including doctors and medical associations, say that designating gun violence – which they define to include homicides, suicides and injuries – as a public health issue will save lives,” US News & World Report wrote over the summer. “Doctors already counsel patients about a range of safety issues, including avoiding lead paint, wearing seatbelts, getting vaccinated and dealing with the dangers of backyard pools. If the designation were to change, they could more often ask patients about whether they keep a gun in the home and, if so, how it is secured.” That rather surreal sounding idea is in many ways reflective of how frustrated America has become with the issue. The right to keep and bear arms is not only enshrined in the Constitution, it’s also part of the country’s consciousness and identity - even most gun control advocates would likely be loath to see citizens’ gun rights curtailed wholesale. Even so, the perception that gun violence is on the rise and the nation is powerless to stop it has led some to question whether it may be time to consider taking a more drastic approach when it comes to limiting access to firearms. What gets lost in the debate is the fact that when it comes to gun violence, mass shootings really aren’t the problem. That is, as horrific as they are and as often as they seem to be occurring, “less than 2 percent of more than 33,000 gun deaths in [America] are due to mass shootings,” Trace wrote, earlier this month. "The gun control debate often plays out in monolithic fashion in this country," WaPo writes, adding that "the traditional understanding is that there's one overarching problem — gun violence — that can be addressed by a more or less uniform set of solutions: better background checks, improved technology, etc." However, "one shortcoming of this approach is that it elides over the sometimes drastic differences in how different populations experience gun violence and gun ownership in their lives." WaPo goes on to present the following rather stunning chart from The Brookings Institute. As you can see, there's a marked difference between how African Americans and whites are killed by firearms. More specifically, "among whites, 77 percent of gun deaths are suicides. But among black Americans, 82 percent of gun deaths are homicides." Consider that, then consider the following chart which depicts parents' perceptions of the risks their children face. We present it below and leave the issue for readers to discuss:
Texas gearing up for new law allowing open carry. For the record, I do not agree with open carry. Just concealed. handgun law Published December 28, 2015 DALLAS – The owners of Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen are old hands at confronting the typical challenges of a burgeoning restaurant business—hiring, competition, even developing a “gluten guide.” But recently the Tex-Mex chain has been facing an unusual dilemma: whether to allow customers to openly display their guns while munching fajitas. Come Jan. 1, licensed firearms owners in Texas will be able to openly carry a handgun in most places. A law signed by Republican Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this year will make Texas the most populous state in the U.S. to allow the practice, known as “open carry.” Existing Texas law requires licensed gun owners to conceal their handguns so they aren’t in plain view. The new law will allow them to carry handguns openly, in belt or shoulder holsters. But private businesses and other establishments have the right to ban open carry under the law, and many have been wrestling with how to proceed. “We’re primarily a family environment in terms of our restaurant. And so we decided it’s probably best not to allow open carry,” said Al Flores, counsel for Gringo’s, which has 14 restaurants, mainly in the Houston area and surrounding counties. “We just felt that knowing our customers, allowing someone to walk in openly carrying a weapon, it would make them feel a little uncomfortable.” Flores said the restaurant chain will post signs in English and Spanish, warning customers about the prohibition. A concealed gun would still be permitted at Gringo’s. Others have taken a different tack. First Baptist Church of Arlington, near Dallas, which typically sees some 2,500 worshipers each Sunday, will allow open carry. Senior Pastor Dennis Wiles said the church came to its decision after discussing the matter with its legal team—in addition to congregants, including police officers who already carry concealed guns. “We decided it was best to allow responsible people to do this if they choose,” Mr. Wiles said. “We will probably assess the situation in a couple of months to see how it goes. When it comes to a church, I don’t think we’re going to see that much difference.”
I'm curious as to why you don't like the idea of open carry. Wouldn't you rather want to see who is packing?
First, as an aside, I can almost always tell who is packing when it comes to men. Not always, but almost. Women with their purse are much harder to detect. Apart from that, open carry does something to the person carrying. It's a psychological effect that I've witnessed, and it's not usually a positive. People with guns openly displayed tend to act more brazen, and are less inclined to peaceful resolution. It's showing off, essentially. Remember also that I'm not talking about everyone, just the majority. Open carry is antagonizing. Additionally, it flaunts the idea of a weapon to those that would prefer a weapon not be displayed - people who are not gun advocates, for example. I attribute it somewhat to the effect of talking loud on a cellphone. It disturbs some people, and people have a right to feel at ease - even if it is because they can't see the weapon. Lastly, I prefer bad guys to wonder who will and will not shoot them, so everyone is a potential threat. If everyone open carries, the sheep are instantly distinguishable from the wolves. This isn't fair to the sheep, as they get added protection when they can be confused with wolves - although, again, it is pretty easy to detect if you know what to look for.
Good explanation. Food for thought and we definitely need to be thinking of the best ways to do this.
I am a pretty extreme gun rights supporter, and I agree with TT, above. Just because something is legal, that doesn't make it appropriate or a good idea. Someone walking their dog around a dark neighborhood at night openly carrying a pistol is not going to bother me. Someone going to a restaurant or store like that is going to bother me. I feel the same way about people who go out with large aggressive dogs. They are trying to intimidate people or they are compensating for a poor self-image. Neither is reassuring.
Agree. The people you read about in the news open carrying their rifle or hand gun in places are doing so for attention, or to score political points. They don't realize they're actually hurting the cause of 2nd amendment supporters by projecting an image of cowboy/wild west mentality. Crimes committed by those with concealed licenses are almost unheard of. Open carrying just gives gun ownership a bad name.
3 days till open carry goes into effect - time to accessorize the wardrobe so it matches the rig ================= Must admit I'm having a bit of a dilemma one on the hip.., or..., one on each hip one under the arm..., or..., one under each arm possibly one under each arm..., and...., one on each hip decisions..., decisions..., decisions ================= First amendment gives me the right to bear arms - bet your ass I'm gonna exercise my right in a little over 3 days Many people have died / been wounded defending my rights - I owe them dearly RN