I don't think the majority of people who carry guns in the US are paranoid either. They were given a right and they make use of it.
But if you wish to talk about common sense; common sense to me says that if you drastically reduce the amount of guns you will drastically reduce the amount of gun deaths/injuries whether it be murder, suicide or accident.
Have a look at nations with strict gun control; less people have guns and that includes your average "
". Therefore there is less a need for a law abiding citizen to believe they need to "protect themselves"
Have a look at other civilized nations, Switzerland for example, who have an extremely high gun ownership rate. They also have an extremely high suicide rate.
More guns = more needless death. Period.
Here in Canada, the idea of carrying a loaded gun with you as you shop with your children at Walmart is so foreign to us that it is just plain silly. But I understand how it might feel different to someone who grew up in that environment.
Now in a country like the USofA who grants everyone the right to own and bear arms I don't know what the answer is. There are 300 MILLION guns in the country. With that many guns I would say it is common sense that you will be safer if you yourself own one or two or three of those 300 million.
I have come to the conclusion that as a nation it is MUCH safer for your citizens if you have strict gun control. BUT if you have written into your constitution a right to own and bear arms it is safer for an individual to own guns.
IMO, America shot itself in the foot (pun intended) when they granted the right to own and bear arms and that DID create a "gun culture". But that ship has sailed, with 300 million guns there is no going back on having citizens relinquish their right.
