Armed Citizens Save Lives

                The liberty principle for this Freedom Friday is the simple fact that law-abiding and armed citizens save lives.  The vast majority of current, former, and retired law enforcement officers who responded to a survey at PoliceOne.com believe that armed citizens are an effective deterrent to gun violence.  In a survey question about an active shooter situation, those surveyed believe that casualties could be decreased with nearby armed citizens.

                According to the PoliceOne.com survey and a growing number of sheriffs, police chiefs and rank-and-file offices across the nation, many of our front-line responders disapprove of more restrictions on gun ownership.  They believe that armed citizens are assets in curbing violent crime.

                Detroit City police work in a city that is plagued by many woes, including joblessness, poverty, gangs, illiteracy, and crime.  Detroit City declared bankruptcy and twenty-five percent of the citizens moved away.  The city cut the 2012-2013 budget for the police department by $75 million; this forced a reduction in the number of officers.  The latest estimate lists about 3,000 sworn officers to protect 700,000 residents.

                Residents of Detroit understood that they had no choice if they wanted to survive.  They decided to fight back by obtaining concealed carry permit applications and protecting themselves.  James Craig, the new chief of police, encouraged citizens to arm themselves.  “We’re not advocating violence.  We’re advocates of not being victims.  We’re advocates of self-protection.  We want people to be safe” (America’s 1^st Freedom, p. 35).  He sounded both amazed and grateful that large numbers of Detroit residents have armed and empowered themselves.

                If law enforcement officers encourage residents to arm themselves and believe that armed citizens are assets to the police, why do politicians continue to push ineffective gun laws.  Why don’t they enact legislation to get the crazy people off the streets and prevent them from having guns instead of going after the law-abiding citizens’ Second Amendment rights?  Why do politicians refuse to listen to those we pay to combat gun violence?  Why do the mainstream media continue to slant the news about gun violence?  We can only assume that they have ulterior motives in their efforts to disarm law-abiding citizens?