I understand that the crime rate in places like Las Vegas isn't higher than
other
places, despite there being lots of money around, is because of the law that
allows Nevada residents to be licensed to openly carry a weapon. Crash, is this
true or is it a Texas myth?
RBHouston@aol.com wrote:
> In a message dated 07/12/2000 8:42:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
> type79@ix.netcom.com writes:
>
> << questions that always go through my mind when the
> "defense of person and property" argument is raised.
>
> What is the occurrence rate of residential break-ins in which the intruders
> are
> armed?
>
> Of those break-ins, what is the rate of injuries, minor or fatal, to
> occupants
> of those homes?
>
> Of those break-ins, what is the rate of successful defenses by armed home
> owners?
>
> Personally, I don't buy these "wild west" arguments. I would feel as
> violated as
> the next person if my home were burglarized, but I don't think the intruder
> should be put to death for breaking and entering. >>
>
> Jay,
>
> All I can say to your side of the argument is that if I am the one whose
> house is broken into the very last things I will want to contemplate is the
> odds against it happening, or the odds that I may go through it unharmed.
>
> The odd are I will never flip my midget. How often does that happen in the
> US, but I do wear my seat belt and I am shopping for a roll bar.
>
> I want to control as much as possible about the circumstances that may take
> my life. The seat belts, the roll bar, the possible break in. I do not want
> to leave it up to the grace of God, or the grace of some punk that breaks
> into my house, as to whether I may or may not die.
>
> As for the successful defense of a home, the percentage of those that did it
> successfully are the ones living to tell about it. The mistaken shootings of
> friends or family point more to a need for training (or safer neighborhoods
> where no one need worry), rather than the removal of guns from the home.
>
> Having said that, I personally do not keep a loaded gun in the house, or even
> have quick access to a gun from my bedroom, but I do firmly believe in
> anyone's right to do so.
>
> And no, that does not extend to the right of of doper to keep a loaded stolen
> gun within reach of a kid in a crack house.
>
> Always good arguing with you Jay. Thanks,
>
> R. Houston
>
> PS..no I do not think an intruder should be put to death for breaking and
> entering, but I would like every burgler or potential burgler in America to
> worry that breaking into my house could cost him his life. Perhaps that is
> why crime has shown a decrease in the 27 or so states with a "concealed
> carry" law on the books. The old west virtue of an armed society is a polite
> society.
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