Firepower

[Mithrandir]

Here's what I see as the real problem: we supply officers with high powered weapons and ody armor, and the next bank robbery we see on the news features rocket launchers, depleted uranium shells, and nerve gas.

So you're suggesting that if bank robbers could gain access to these things now that they wouldn't use them? Of course they would. If they don't have access to rocket launchers, nerve gas, etc. then there's no problem, now is there?

Oh, but after all, if we didn't have guns, the king of england could march right in here and start pushing you around. Do you want that, do you?!?

Well obviously more officers would have died if that civilian did not have a .357 Magnum in his possession. But honestly, ban guns and you just take them out of the hands of those who are using them for defense and not criminal reasons. Some telling statistics:

* Americans use firearms to defend themselves from criminals about 760,000 times a year. This figure is the lowest among a group of 15 nationwide polls done by organizations including Gallup and the Los Angeles Times. (7)

* Approximately 11% of gun owners and 13% of handgun owners have used their firearms for protection from criminals. (3)

* When citizens use guns for protection from criminals, the criminal is wounded in about 1 out of every 100 instances, and the criminal is killed in about 1 out of every 1000 instances. (3)

* Washington D.C. enacted a virtual ban on handguns in 1976. Between 1976 and 1991, Washington D.C.'s homicide rate rose 200%, while the U.S. rate rose 12%. (1)

* In the early 1990's, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reported that 7% of armed career criminals obtain firearms from licensed gun shops. (3)
- JustFacts.com

Americans use guns to protect themselves 760,000 times a year? D.C. bans handguns and the homice rate raises 200%? Only 7% of criminals get their guns legally through a gun shop? Yep, let's ban em - sounds good.