To the Editor:
I just wanted thank Ms. Baldwin (Dec. 1, “Of rifles and rat
poison”) for her logical and unbiased perspective on the gun issue
that I feel does it justice. A study by Dr. Gary Kleck of Florida
State University (see www.guncite.org/gcdgklec.html) found that
there are approximately 2.2 million defensive gun uses by civilians
annually, with over 400,000 lives saved by citizens with guns, not
counting police.
This would mean that a gun in the hands of a citizen is about
14,000 percent more likely to save a life than to take one (400,000
saved versus 28,663 firearm related fatalities in 2000, including
suicides). A 1982 survey of incarcerated criminals (cited in
Kleck’s study) found that 82 percent of them agree with the
statement: “Gun laws only affect law-abiding citizens; criminals
will always be able to get guns.”
Like Ms. Baldwin said, flight isn’t illegal; drunk drivers kill
17,000 annually (www.madd.org), but cars and alcohol aren’t
illegal. Defensive gun uses save lives. As for me, I’d rather have
my shotgun if my life were at stake, not a “can of seasoning”.
Tim Bessler
Sophomore, business & German
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