Crime is not caused by bad economy. If only people who were poor engaged in crime, a crime would be a rare thing. Anyone can get a job. Do you think that people rape other people because they're poor? Do you think people rob other people because they need money? Well, come to think of it, maybe they do need money, for hookers and drugs.
[b]"Even eliminating anti-gun laws would not statisticly reduce crime, it will only change WHO is being victimized."[/b]
It seems like what you're saying here is that people who have guns are prone to becoming criminals. I doubt that is what you mean, but I'm not sure how else to take it.
[b]"Some people will always be too poor to arm themsleves and a lot more would be too stupid to protect themselves and will make themselves targets"[/b]
Most people who buy guns know how to use them. I don't think you give citizens enough credit. There are a few stupid people out there, but the reason it seems like everyone is stupid is because the media concentrates on those few stupid individuals.
[b]". . .criminals [will] avoid people like the majority on this board who defend themselves and make no secret of that intent."[/b]
How would a criminal know who has a gun and who doesn't? If guns are made widely available and all these stupid anti-gun laws are done away with, a criminal might think twice before commting a crime, because he'll know that the person he intends to harm is likely to have a gun. And if he does commit the crime, he will likely be shot, therefore making the next criminal think thrice. Of course, you can get in big trouble for shooting a criminal, which brings me back to my point about doing away with stupid anti-gun laws.