Why Concealed Carry Weapons Should be Legal

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When it comes to carrying a concealed weapon, debates about the pros and cons rage. Practically everyone is extremely for—or against. On this issue no one seems undecided. I frequently have to defend my pro-gun position to those who are vehemently opposed. This has caused me to prepare a list of reasons why I believe concealed carry should be legal everywhere in North America.

• Female Safety

Women need a way to protect themselves. Statistically, one in five American women will be the victim in a homicide. Canadian women are over ten times more likely to be the victim of a sexual assault. Isn’t it time that women had a way to equalize their chances of avoiding such crimes? While women can make good use of self-defense strategies, they are clearly no match for the sheer size of a male attacker. Possession and efficient use of a handgun will level the playing field. A handgun offers women a means of protection against violence.

• Concealed Carry is a Deterrent

When a burglar knows your home or your vehicle has an alarm system and/or a noisy dog, you are a lot less likely to suffer home robberies. Thieves don’t want the extra time and greater detection afforded by these deterrents. Arming citizens means muggers, rapists, attackers of both sexes will avoid coming into contact with a concealed carry weapon and often the crime will not occur. Concealed carry is an insurance policy against crime. Like a neighborhood watch program arming responsible citizens has proven to decrease crime. Where citizens were allowed to concealed carry murder rates dropped almost ten percent. Sexual assaults dropped by over five percent and aggravated assaults dropped eight percent. States with restrictive gun laws had ten percent higher crime rate.

• Most Criminals do not have Weapons that are Legally Concealed Carry

One of the arguments used by anti-gun groups is that incidents of mass shooting and domestic violence are on the rise. However, most crimes are premeditated and a large percentage of the weapons used in the commission of a crime are not legally obtained and they do not have a concealed carry permit. Criminals will always find the easiest, cheapest way to get a gun whether it is legal or not!

On the other hand, if guns are regulated, their use can be controlled. Legalizing them allows the government to keep track of who owns concealed carry weapons and how these guns are stored, used, and maintained.

• Firearms Increase the Likelihood of Your Survival during an Incident.

It’s a myth  that you are more likely to get shot by your own gun than you are to protect yourself with it. Responsible gun owners learn how to use, clean, and store their weapons. They practice wearing, drawing, and holstering their weapon until it become second nature.

In fact, possessing a firearm has been proven to increase your chances of survival if you are involved in a violent crime. 

• It’s Your Right

The second amendment gives all American citizens who qualify for a concealed carry permit the right to bear arms. It’s in the constitution. Just because the proposed Concealed Carry Reciprocity act may well soon become legislation, it doesn’t mean there will be a huge increase in the number of concealed carry permits. Nor does it mean local municipalities and states won’t have the last word about how and where concealed weapons may be carried. It simply means that if you have a concealed carry permit in Kentucky, it must be recognized in Washington DC.

The panic about sharp increases in concealed carry weapons is just that: panic over legislation people have not clearly read.