Originally Posted by VoodooTiger

Knowing that you enjoy shooting, I would have hoped that you would have gotten your facts straight.

FACT: Guns prevent an estimated 2.5 million crimes a year, or 6,849 per day.
* Gary Kleck, Criminologist, Florida State Univ. Anti-gun Democrat
Often the gun is never fired and no blood (including the criminals) is shed.

FACT: Every day, 550 rapes, 1,100 murders, and 5,200 other violent crimes per day are prevented just by showing a handgun. In less than 0.9% of the time is the gun ever actually ever fired.
* Gary Kleck, Criminologist, Florida State Univ.

FACT: Every year, people in the United States use a gun to defend themselves against criminals an estimated 2,500,000 times- more than 6,500 people a day, or once every 13 seconds.
* Fall 1995, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
This means that, each year, firearms are used 65 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives.

FACT: 92.7% of law enforcement officials believe that citizens should be able to purchase firearms for self-defense and sporting purposes.
* 1999 Police Survey, National Assoc. of Chiefs of Police

FACT: Of the 250,000,000 annual self-defense cases using guns, more than 7.7% are by women defending themselves against sexual abuse.
* U.S. Dept. of Justice, Law Enforcement Assistance Administration,
**** Victimization in 26 American Cities, 1979

Not meant as a personal attack. There are "many, many" more. Guns in responsible, trained, hands can and does save lives.
IF YOU THINK YOU NEED A GUN TO GET THROUGH AN AREA, DO NOT GO!!!!
IT IS YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO HAVE AND CARRY FIREARMS. IF YOU DO NOT EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT THAN YOU STAND A CHANCE TO LOSE IT!!!