Is It the Guns?

Every time there’s a tragic incidence of gun violence, I read the claim on social media, “it’s the guns!” implying a causal relationship between the availability of firearms and violent crime. The concomitant corollary is that restrictions on gun ownership would reduce violence and lead to the peaceful society we all want. I don’t believe this is the case, and will explain why.

I concede that the claim “it’s the guns!” has some element of truth in it. A gun is a more effective and lethal means o...