I appreciate that. I would love to see a world without violence. Often when guns is the topic or there is some violent act the weapon becomes the focus. Yet, there is another side to this. When guns are banned those that are smaller, weaker, or older made more vulnerable to the evil and strong. Firearms are an equalizer. We all have a right to defend ourselves from violence. There is no nation that has zero arms. No nation is free of violence. If good people can't defend themselves they will become victims of the more violent in society. This includes the state.

The invention of the firearm is often overlooked as a key factor in the leveling of the playing field of politics. Knights in Europe were very difficult to fight. The invention of the firearm had a dramatic effect on the balance of power. Suddenly the powerful were forced to take more consideration of the plebs.

It bothers me on a deep level when I hear people decry the right of people to defend themselves and their families. Most people in the US that I encounter who are opposed to the right of self defense seem to support the government and police using arms to commit violence. They aren't opposed to war. Laws do not prevent criminals from obtaining arms. They prevent good people from being able to defend themselves.

All that said, we have deep cultural problems that have led to the violence on our streets. Removing the right of people to defend themselves will not solve this problem.