MontyB

But is carrying knives anything new?
As kids we used to carry all sorts of items (knives, screwdrivers etc.) depending on where were were going.

The major problems with arming everybody are:
A) Not everyone is looking for a fight so regardless of how heavily armed they are they will not fire first which puts them at a major disadvantage. Thats the really nifty thing about fights with weapons, the winner is usually the person who uses them first not necessarily the person using them in defense.

B) Arming people will not stop criminals because they understand point A above but what it will do is start an arms race as they work to regain the advantage. (Ask yourself if you are going to rob someone possibly armed with 9mm are you going to take a .22)

C) Take a close look at the people you deal with each day (school, work, in vehicles, on the street) do you seriously want them armed?

There is a lot to be said for shooting as a sport and means of fun and relaxation (I have a collection of firearms and love hunting so I am not anti-gun by any means) but just as you don't wear your footy boots while driving you don't need to be wielding a gun either.

Another thing to consider is that there are huge amounts of research and development going into the production of non-lethal weapons around the world to equip law enforcement why would we be doing this if we thought the answer was to load up the general public with lethal weapons?

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We are more often treacherous through weakness than through calculation. ~Francois De La Rochefoucauld