The great debate concerning gun control is whether carrying is safer or more dangerous for communities. Some people believe that having guns all around them could lead to more violence because there is a gun to solve disagreements and commit crimes. Other people feel as those who carry guns actually keep criminals from committing crimes because they are afraid of being shot themselves. When we look at this debate, it’s difficult to know which side has the most pull. Gallup, a company that specializes in surveying Americans to shed light on important topics, has asked if more concealed weapons would make the U.S. safer.
Would More Concealed Weapons Make the U.S. Safer?
According to the Gallup survey, 56% of the respondents reported that yes, more concealed weapons would make the U.S. safer. There are some stipulations with this, though. It would only make the U.S. safer if the people carrying the guns have a thorough background check and training course.
The question on the survey was written this way:
Suppose more Americans were allowed to carry concealed weapons if they passed a criminal background check and training course. If more Americans carried concealed weapons, would the United States be safer or less safe?
While 56% said the country would be safer, 4% said it would be less safe, and 3% had no opinion. This poll was taken after there were mass shootings at schools and other public places. Many of them believed if there were people carrying at those times, many victims could have been saved.
The people who responded that the country would be safer identified themselves as Republican and were younger than 30 years of age. Those that responded that the country would be less safe were mostly Democrats and over the age of 30 years old.
This may show that the next generation of Americans will be much more open to concealed weapons. Since they have grown up with the mass shootings and have experienced the emotions that go along with them, they may find that concealed weapons are much more beneficial in saving lives rather than taking them. Political affiliation will likely not change, as Republicans have always historically been for gun rights, while Democrats are notorious for pushing gun control.
The number of people who are carrying concealed weapons is increasing, and that has to do with what we are all seeing out in the world today. As more people see what gun owners can do when they are carrying, there will be a tipping of the scales more towards feeling concealed weapons make the country safer.
