Yep, criminals and gang members are going to rush to the nearest gun redemption facility to surrender their weapons. Violent crime will drop to zero.
These school shootings are tragic. I hope it doesnt happen to my family. But taking away guns wont resolve the problem. As mentioned, there's no way to completely eliminate guns from every single person, nor do we want to.
I'm not a gun owner currently. But as I get older, as my income decreases and I'm forced to move into a dicier neighborhood, maybe I will. Or even as I go hiking alone. Lets say, just for ***** and giggles, criminal x accosts me on a trail and for some odd reason, wasn't able to buy a gun on the black market. You dont think he'd just use a hunting knife? If so, I want to have a gun to defend myself.
And for every shooting, let's also post crimes that were stopped or prevented by a bystander having a gun.
I think we really need to address the reason behind a lot of shootings: mental illness. Maybe it's time to reopen institutions. Maybe it's time for something to be done to better identify and help or commit the individuals who are showing signs of becoming violent.
Reducing guns would have a significant impact on suicide and is a much larger factor in gun deaths than anything else as you mentioned.
I agree we arent going to get rid of guns in the US anytime soon. But the idea it wouldnt have an impact and people would just use something else I do not believe to be correct. Yes, other violence and other weapons would be used but incidences would be reduced. Criminals would use guns less often if they were harder to buy on the black market and more importantly if being caught with one increased jail time and was an easy conviction. They would stop taking the risk of carrying one. You can rob someone with a knife but its not as successful. I am far less afraid of a knife being pulled on me than a gun.
I dont think anyone thinks if we got rid of guns there would be no murders and crime, just that it would lower it. Saving some lifes seems worth it.
But I am also a gun owner and have no intention of giving up my gun unless there is massive changes in society.