I'm not sure I am. If it's illegal to carry firearms outside of the home, then a burglar taking a firearm to a burglary is still in a world of **** legally. I suppose the question is, would a burglar be more likely to take a gun with them if they had access to one? I don't know the answer to that, but I'd probably think they would.
That said, if people can own firearms for home defence, then that increases the danger to the burglar to the extent that the must question whether it's actually worth it.
As I am a strong believer in the legal possession of firearms for home defence, I do not understand why anyone in their right mind wouldn't want one. But then I served 14 years in the Army, so my view is perhaps not typical.
But, does that not also increase the element of fear for the burgler that they may indeed be shot, and thus more likely to turn violent themselves as a pre-emptive?
Handguns arent banned in Northern Ireland and yet very few people seem to own them. I can't recall every hearing of a legally held handgun being used in a crime either. Well apart from when a police officer went a bit nutty at her bit on the side.
Because, as I mentioned: it's a cultural thing. We now unfortunately have a borrowed culture of gang-immitation which think violence, etc. is glamorous. Bring back guns, and you will be arming these people. They are going to commit crime one way or the other. The question is, do you want guns involved? You can always run away from someone carrying a knife. Someone with a gun can still shoot you in the back.
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