By
in
The debate about whether gun control is too controlling, or even unconstitutional, flares up especially after lone gunners kill en masse. In June, 2015, when 21-year-old Dylann Roof open fired with a gun and murdered 11 people at a church in Charleston, South Carolina, gun control again came into question. Much media coverage focused on the circumstances surrounding Roof’s ability to purchase the gun, including the FBI’s approval of said purchase, reportedly due to procedural background check clerical errors.
To be sure, the question about a lone mass murderer is thankfully extreme because it happens rarely, and therefore garners so much media attention. But what about the more common cases? For example, mentally stable people next door who acquire a gun for self-protection, or the convenience store operator who stashes his gun in the drawer underneath the cash register. Do these average citizens effectively use their guns if necessary?
According to studies reported in a recent Washington Post piece, the answer is a resounding no. In the article, Watch what happens when regular people try to use handguns in self-defense, several citations link to one conclusion: The average, untrained Joe does more harm than good by carrying a gun.
They [the untrained citizens] didn’t take cover. They didn’t attempt to issue commands to their assailants. Their trigger fingers were either too itchy — they shot innocent bystanders or unarmed people, or not itchy enough — they didn’t shoot armed assailants until they were already being shot at.
While on the one hand the NRA (National Rifle Association) fully encourages training before gun usage, “Most states don’t require gun owners or purchasers to even be licensed, much less trained,” according to the Washington Post article.
The question about the constitutional right to bear arms, then, is a charged one. At which point does a citizen’s right infringe on others citizens’ safety?
Our purpose is not to engage in political debate. Rather, our instent is to present you the considerations regarding your business or personal security plan: Do you want to rely on your own, unlicensed, or even worse – untrained – employees to protect your business from criminals? Is protection against something like petty theft worth a risk of loss of life of your employee? If you would prefer a firearms-trained private security officer to handle such matters, contact ISSM for a consultation.
