Eh, that last one was a bit long, so I'll add this tidbit here:

Check out this link link that lays out the "right to arms" provisions in all of the state constitutions. It's useful to read because it shows that each state has chosen to define the "right to arms" slightly differently.


Also, Lemur is of course right about declining violent crime rates. Since we're all computer game players here, it's nice to keep that in mind so we can throw the declining crime statistics back in the face of the Liebermans of the world when they start attacking video games.

Incidentally, one of the proposed reasons for the decline in violent crime since the 1990s was the legalization of abortion back in the early 70's. The argument goes that crime rates start declining just at the time that the generation culled by legalized abortion got to the age when they would be commiting crimes. Something to ponder.