Using Concealed Carry Permits to Reduce Violent Crime

Subject sentence:  Violent crime can be reduced by issuing law abiding citizens a permit to carry a concealed handgun.

Introduction:  Violent crime is one of the biggest problems facing America today.  The national crime clock tells us we have a violent crime every 22 seconds, a property crime every 3 seconds, and a rape every 5 seconds.  The threat of violent crime hovers over every community in our nation like an ominous dark cloud.

Body:

I.  Violent crime is one of the worst problems facing America today.
       A.  In 1980 there were 1,344,520 violent crimes committed including 23,040
            murders, 82,990 rapes, and 565,840 robberies.
       B.  In 1990 there were 1,820,130 violent crimes committed including 23,440
            murders, 102,560 rapes, and 639,270 robberies.
       C.  Between 1980 and 1990, violent crime was on the rise in every state.

II.  One of the main causes of violent crime is the lack of fear.
A.  Criminals are not afraid to victimize people.
     1.  Citizens are defenseless against armed criminals.
       B.  Short of a police officer being present during a crime, the best the police can
            do is try to track down the criminal after the crime is committed.
             1.  The police are there to enforce the law, not protect every single person.
                  a.  Warren v. D.C. states “police services assume a duty only to the public
                  at large and not to individual members of the community."

III.The solution is to issue concealed carry permits to law abiding citizens.
A.  A concealed carry permit allows law abiding citizens to carry a handgun
                 hidden on their person after completing an instructional course.
B.  Since the early 1990s, states have slowly begun issuing CCWs leading to a
                 decrease in violent crime.
                 1.  Murder, rape, and robbery has fallen.
                 2.  Guns have been used 2.5 million times a year for self defense.
                      a.  Less than 8% of the time, a citizen will kill or wound his/her attacker.
                      b.  As many as 200,000 women use a gun every year to defend themselves
                           against sexual abuse.
      C.  Justice Department study proves violent criminals fear armed victims.
                 1.  3/5 of felons polled agreed that "a criminal is not going to mess around
                     with a victim he knows is armed with a gun."
                 2.  74% of felons polled agreed that "one reason burglars avoid houses when
                     people are at home is that they fear being shot during the crime."
                 3.  57% of felons polled agreed that "criminals are more worried about
                      meeting an armed victim than they are about running into the police."
         4.  An ABC interview of felons  showed that a criminal’s worst fear was an
                      armed victim.
      D.  Banning guns will not work.
                 1.  Washington DC, which has the strictest gun laws with a ban on handguns,
                     has the highest crime rate in the country.
                     a.  Recently, Washington DC has lifted it’s gun ban in hopes of reducing
                          crime.
                 2.  In 1982, Kennesaw, GA passed a law requiring heads of households to
                      keep at least one firearm in the house.
              a.  The residential burglary rate subsequently dropped 89%.
              b.  Kennesaw is the safest town of its size in the US.

Conclusion:  By giving the law abiding citizens of the United States a means to defend themselves, violent criminals will think again before pursuing their chosen profession.  Although it might sound a little sketchy at first, concealed carry permits will restore peace to our society and give fear back to the criminals.

Bibliography:

Burnett, H. (2002, June 30). Concealed Handgun Laws Help Fight Crime. Human Events.
       This article proves that CCWs have reduced crime in Texas.
Kopel, D. (1996, July). The Untold Triumph of Concealed-Carry Permits, Policy Review.
This article shows how the CCW arose and its effects.
House Votes to Repeal DC Gun Ban. (2004, September 29). Congress Daily.
This article informs of Washington DC’s repealing of the handgun ban.
Guns Off DC Streets. (2004, October 6). Christian Science Monitor.
       This article gives more detail on the Washington DC gun ban.
Stange, M. (2004, February). No More Raping. Women’s Review of Books.
This article tells of women defending themselves against attackers.
LaPierre, W. (2004, Septemer 8). Let the Gun Lie Die.  USA Today.
This article tells of failed gun control laws that did not reduce crime.
Hamilton, J. (Online), 2004, October 30. Gun Ownership-It’s the Law in Kennasaw.
Marietta Daily Journal. www.mdjonline.com
This site tells of a town in Georgia that requires gun ownership.
Gun Control Fact Sheet. (Online), October 30. Gun Owners. www.gunowners.org
This site provided CCW statistics.
Disaster Center. (Online), October 30. www.disastercenter.com
This site provides violent crime statistics.