Guns for the Inner City

The debate over gun control tends to center around what produces more crime or less crime. Does reducing the number of guns decrease crime, or does having more guns on the street deter crime?

Now personally, I'm not sure we've seen that places with gun control or places with guns have any advantage in this race. I do think that the crimes that occur tend to be more violent. But if guns decrease crime, it seems silly to have them in a suburban Starbucks in the state of Washington, as happened when gun advocates wore their guns to locations in which they could legally carry them.

If having citizens carry guns prevents crime, then the best places to have more guns are those places where crime is higher. And that tends to be the inner city. Those who believe guns are an effective deterrent should have no problem with this argument and it suggests they could support some very effective steps in promoting gun use.

The National Rifle Association could provide marketing assistance for gun shops in the cities. There could be training programs for teaching disadvantaged youth how to more effectively handle firearms. There could be support for school programs, encouraging speakers to visit inner city schools and the organization of after school gun clubs.

What's the point in having all those guns in suburbia? Put them where they are needed.