Thursday’s question: Do guns make us safer?

• YES: Dave Kopel, written testimony on Congressional panel on gun violence, 1.30.13 [NOT the whole thing—just read pp. 24-27];  Gary Kleck, Guns and Self-Defense, Gun Defense Clock, 1997
• NO: Steve Rendell, The Self-Defense Self-Delusion, FAIR, 3.1.13; Dave Gilson, 10 Pro-Gun Myths, Mother Jones, 1.31.13
• WELL. . . : Jeffrey Goldberg, The Case for More Guns (and More Gun Control), Atlantic, Dec 2012

I’ve put up three sets of arguments in an effort to deal with the fact the there are already a lotta guns in the hands of US citizens (the “WELL. . .” bit), so whether or not they make us safer, we have to deal with the fact that we like guns.

And while these are not required, you might want to read this pair of yes/no pieces from The Week:

• Sam Harris, Why I own guns, 1.26.13
• Sean Faircloth, Why more guns won’t make us safer, 2.2.13