Armed in America, Safer in America by Mike Corthell

Mike Corthell, Editor & Publisher

''It has been shown that 'shall issue laws', which allow citizens in America to carry concealed weapons, steadily decrease violent crime ratres. This result makes sense because criminals are deterred by the risk of attacking an armed victim. As more citizens arm themselves, the danger to criminals increases.'' - Mike Corthell

Today, the streets of many American cities are becoming so dangerous that even a peace loving pastor might consider strapping on a pistol as they go forth to minister to their flock.  Street crime, mass shootings, and terrorist attacks have become a real and present danger to the average citizen.  Lacking the level of protection afforded to chaplains serving with troops in the field, the citizen is left to fend for themselves.  Police offer little or no protection, usually arriving at crime scenes long after damage has been done.  Understanding that danger would always exist in the form of criminals and wild animals (and some say the government itself), our founding fathers included the Second Amendment in the Constitution so that every citizen would have the right to protect themselves and their families.

A lesson learned from the Ft. Hood terrorist attack is that the presence of a trained person with a firearm can significantly reduce or eliminate the damage done by a terrorist or criminal.  Cities and states that make it possible for eligible citizens to carry concealed weapons have lower violent crime rates than those that do not.  The correlation is both easy to understand and impossible to deny.

It is said that for evil to triumph all it requires is for good men to do nothing.  Good men legally carrying firearms, who are willing to stand up to criminals and terrorists wherever they are encountered, are the most effective deterrent to and protection from violent crime.  An increase in the number of eligible citizens who carry concealed weapons does nothing to make the streets appear more violent, while providing a means for the citizen to protect himself, his family and his neighbors.