Why Gun Experts Say ‘Concealed Carry’ Is Bad

With every mass shooting that takes place, the amount of concealed weapon permits takes another large spike. Local reports say we have even seen large spikes in weapon sales and concealed permits since the last shooting in California. Gun experts warn against this because the data has shown that "concealed carry" civilians missing adequate training cause more harm then good when shootings happen.

The NRA recently was quoted saying that "The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.” If they are talking about trained police or military personnel with the right equipment and training then we agree. If he is talking about a civilian with even a little training, the experts say they are dead wrong. The statistics from a 1998 study in the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery that found that “every time a gun in the home was used in a self-defense or legally justifiable shooting, there were four unintentional shootings, seven criminal assaults or homicides, and 11 attempted or completed suicides.” Add that up a second, for every ONE used in self defense, TWENTY TWO are used for other reasons.

Training is the big part of this equation that people do not think about. When shootings happen, people's emotions take over and they can not make clear decisions and act in a way that is safe for them or the people around them. A study, commissioned by the National Gun Victims Action Council, from researchers at Mount St Mary’s University in Maryland, has investigated how people responded to a deadly situation with and without training. They found that people without the proper training failed to protect themselves, take adequate cover, or issue commands. They either shot too quickly, injuring bystanders, or too slowly and were themselves shot at before responding.