By Eric Zanzucchi (@ericzanzucchi)

I was beginning to write an article about America’s prison population when I came across a statistic that shocked me. While America’s murder rate is declining, it is still about four times that of most Western nations.

In comparable countries like Canada and England firearms are illegal. Firearms may only be a partial explanation for the murder rate, but it makes sense that it would be the primary reason. Murdering with a firearm is just way easier. We are comparing the ability to sustain a split second of rage with a gun, versus say 5-30 seconds of rage with your bare hands, a blunt object, or a knife.

Moreover, what are the upsides of gun ownership?

America used to be spread out and gun ownership was more necessary to defend one’s property. However, in this day and age most people live within five miles of police station, a station which will respond within minutes of a 911 call.

A younger Eric didn’t like the idea of the government taking away our liberties, such as our right to bear arms. A 27 year old Eric is thinking that, I don’t own a gun. I don’t want to own a gun. I don’t want my neighbors, family, or friends owning guns. I really only want non-corrupt cops and the military to have them. So why hide behind The Constitution? It’s been changed seventeen times. How about we cut this murder rate in half?