TexasCHLforum.com

The article discusses the rise in the number of people who have guns for protection, versus the decline in overall crime across the country. The article snippet says that the effectiveness of gun use for self-defense is debateable. Tell that to those who have used a gun to defend themselves or a loved one.

Today, more gun owners than ever — 48 percent according to a March poll by the Pew Research Center — cite self-protection as their primary reason for having a firearm. That has nearly doubled since 1999, and now far surpasses the declining number of gun owners who say they own a firearm primarily for hunting.

I thought this quote was interesting:

"Americans don't know that the crime rate has been going down," said Warr, noting that public perception is shaped by television crime dramas and news reports focusing on the most violent offenses. "What happens is that people watch this dangerous image of the world and they buy into the idea that the world is a really, really dangerous place."

The overall crime rate may have gone down, but I still see plenty of local and national stories of crimes that make me glad I carry.

Story: http://news.yahoo.com/gun-debate-revive ... 00833.html