Surtr: Exactly this.
One thing I often wonder; how many shootings and robberies would take place if everyone were armed? Despite what many misanthropes will tell you, the majority of human beings are NOT murderous psychopaths. The average individual, educated on gun safety, responsibility, and ownership and recommended to carry a gun with them wherever they go, is the most potent force for stopping most crime. How many robberies would take place if it was common knowledge that not only was the cashier of the gas station armed, but so was anyone in the store and also who might walk in or walk by? How many murders if everyone knew everyone else was equally armed and not such an easy target? Granted you couldn't stop the suicide-slaughterers from TRYING...but they'd kill a LOT fewer.
On the other hand in the case of so-called suicide-slaughterers, you might also end up with chaos and confusion if this were to happen in, say, a mall. Or so most would have you believe, except that the guy who is indiscriminately shooting at anyone he sees is a pretty obvious target even for stunned, scared individuals. Humanity DOES have a sort of pack-recognition instinct; an introduced threat draws the attention more than the reactionary individuals will from others surrounding him or her.
One thing I often wonder; how many shootings and robberies would take place if everyone were armed? Despite what many misanthropes will tell you, the majority of human beings are NOT murderous psychopaths. The average individual, educated on gun safety, responsibility, and ownership and recommended to carry a gun with them wherever they go, is the most potent force for stopping most crime. How many robberies would take place if it was common knowledge that not only was the cashier of the gas station armed, but so was anyone in the store and also who might walk in or walk by? How many murders if everyone knew everyone else was equally armed and not such an easy target? Granted you couldn't stop the suicide-slaughterers from TRYING...but they'd kill a LOT fewer.
On the other hand in the case of so-called suicide-slaughterers, you might also end up with chaos and confusion if this were to happen in, say, a mall. Or so most would have you believe, except that the guy who is indiscriminately shooting at anyone he sees is a pretty obvious target even for stunned, scared individuals. Humanity DOES have a sort of pack-recognition instinct; an introduced threat draws the attention more than the reactionary individuals will from others surrounding him or her.