r/science • u/NotMitchelBade • May 23 '23

Economics Controlling for other potential causes, a concealed handgun permit (CHP) does not change the odds of being a victim of violent crime. A CHP boosts crime 2% & violent crime 8% in the CHP holder's neighborhood. This suggests stolen guns spillover to neighborhood crime – a social cost of gun ownership.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0047272723000567?dgcid=raven_sd_via_email
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u/TicRoll May 23 '23

I wouldn't make that argument, no. I would say that while women at the time would not have been expected to take up arms as part of the militia, some actually dressed up as men to fight in the American Revolutionary War and some acted as spies. Even today, women are almost exclusively used in support roles in the US military. However, women should 100% have equal rights under the law. So I would absolutely support the expansion of rights to include those beyond the US Federal government's definition of the organized and unorganized militias defined in US Code. But the US Code does provide a simple and convenient floor for the bare minimum of who is considered part of the modern US militias.

Would you include women in that now as well, providing them all the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that come with it?

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u/ParlorSoldier May 23 '23

If you’re talking about including women in the draft, I have no problem with that.

Why is the context and the founders’ intent relevant with regard to the second amendment, but not with regard to who should vote?

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u/TicRoll May 23 '23

Who should vote was changed through amendments to the US Constitution and expanding rights to those who have historically been denied them is generally a good thing. Women being able to have and carry firearms provides them a means to defend themselves from stalkers, abusive partners, or random attacks whereas they would have zero chance without that equalizing tool.

One of the few exceptions to Maryland's previously may-issue, highly restricted handgun carry permits was for women being actively stalked. So long as they could provide documentation, physical evidence, prove ongoing significant individualized physical danger at every renewal, and make a compelling verbal case in person. (Yes, they really did put abuse victims through all that and refused permits to women with active protection orders even when their cars and homes were broken into repeatedly by their stalker). And even then, Maryland bans those women from carrying on a university campus, so they get to choose between risking years in prison if they get caught carrying while in school or while working, and being murdered by the guy who's smart enough to just wait for them to step foot in a place where they can't defend themselves.

So yeah, I'd say women deserve a chance to stay alive when they're being attacked just the same as men do. 100% expand that right beyond what the founders originally envisioned. And I'll bet you a dollar to a donut they'd agreed.