Originally posted by: SleepWalkerX
Originally posted by: DealMonkey
Is there any actual evidence that demonstrates campuses would be SAFER with more concealed weapons? Or is it yet another excuse for random yahoos to be packin' heat wherever/whenever they feel like it?
There are dozens upon dozens of links citing a correlation from the drop in violent crimes (especially rape and murder) with the right to carry a concealed weapon.
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs...icle?AID=2008801060602
http://findarticles.com/p/arti.../is_n4_v12/ai_17864715
Hell, here are some testimonials. Actual victims that were able to avert crime.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgNUqtkXTQ8
I obviously can't give you evidence towards lower crime rate in campuses because there has 1) been almost no violent crimes in the first place and 2) its always been against the law to carry concealed weapons on campuses 3) its not like one would want to rob a school so any shootings would only be done by demented people. When you logically think about it if there is ever a demented person who begins to shoot up a school the probability of someone stopping him is higher if its legal for people with CCW's to keep a gun with them and use it.
So we have no idea what the effect will be. I mean, just look at that first link you provided:
"The incidence of violent crime in Michigan in the six years since the law went into effect has been, on average, below the rate of the previous six years. The overall incidence of death from firearms, including suicide and accidents, also has declined."
So the rate of violent crime in Michigan has decreased, but there's no correlation between CCW increases and this drop in crime. In fact, it could simply be coincidence. Of course, because it's freep.com, the implied message is that CCW permit increases are somehow responsible for the drop, even though there's no evidence cited that this is the case.
The second link is even more hilarious. It cites a study by the NRA ... clearly an impartial 3rd party in this issue. Here's a snippet of their "scientific" research:
"Using FBI data, the NRA compared per-capita crime rates in states that have right-to-carry laws with those that don't. It found that the overall violent crime rate was 22 percent lower in right-to-carry states and the rate of violent crimes involving firearms was 29 percent lower. The overall homicide rate in right-to-carry states was about a third lower and firearm homicide rate and handgun homicide rates were 38 and 41 percent lower, respectively."
So the lower crime rates are attributable to increased CCW permits? Or something else? Who knows?!? It could be coincidence. There's even competing research that claims that the violent crime rate goes UP when CCW permits are increased:
"A study conducted by McDowall compares numbers of homicides, with and without firearms, that occurred in five cities before and after right-to-carry laws went into effect. "Homicides without guns were stable in all five cities," McDowall says. "But homicides with guns went up strongly in three of the cities [Tampa, Jacksonville, Fla., and Jackson, Miss.] and slightly in a fourth [Miami]" after the laws were passed. Only in Portland, Ore., was there a decline in homicides by firearms after passage of a right-to-carry law, and it was not a big drop."
Of course the NRA calls this report "bogus" ... because, get this, "the research was paid for by federal tax dollars."
Wow, just wow.
