They claim that other countries, with less crime because of strict regulations, are examples the U.S. could follow (Gun Control: Update). This is highly unreasonable because expanding upon gun ownership, in the U.S., has actually decreased violent crime. A 2010 article published by the NRA and the ILA notes, "Forty states have Right-to-Carry, and 48 states prohibit cities from imposing gun laws more restrictive than state law. And, since 1991, the total violent crime rate has declined over 40% to a 35-year low, and the murder rate has declined by half to a 45-year low” (Gun Control Reform) Therefore, the evidence proves that many of the states that allow citizens to carry concealed weapons have lower crime rates than those that do not. One example of broadening gun ownership would be the concealed carry law. In 1987, Florida enacted a concealed carry law. Before the law, Florida’s homicide rate was 11.7 per 100,000. By 1991, it dropped 20% to 9.4 per 100,000. Since adopting a concealed carry law, Florida’s total violent crime rate has dropped 32% and its homicide rate has dropped 58% (Stearns). Besides Criminals, Floridians are safer due to this law and Florida isn’t the only one. Texas’ violent crime rate has dropped 20% and homicide rate has dropped 31%, since enactment of its 1996 carry law (Stearns). A report by John Lott, Jr. and David Mustard of the University of Chicago released in 1996…
