My research about gun-free zones and gun violence is actually frustrating. The studies I’ve read are skewed by a manipulation of data. So, the conclusions are biased. This goes both pro and anti-gun. I’ve thrown in portions of studies I’ve felt are most credible.
“Alternatively, if the presence or potential presence of armed civilians deters violence, gun-free zones could serve as more-attractive targets to violent criminals or mass shooters because perpetrators will be less likely to encounter armed resistance in these areas. There is debate over the extent to which perpetrators target gun-free zones. One analysis of 133 mass shooting events between 2009 and 2016 found that 10 percent of incidents occurred in designated gun-free zones (Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, 2017b). However, another analysis focused on mass public shootings between 1998 and 2018 and reported that 97.8 percent of incidents took place in gun-free zones (Crime Prevention Research Center, 2018a). While the discrepancy in these estimates is partially due to differences in how mass shootings are defined—the latter study restricts analysis to mass public shootings—there also appears to be some disagreement about how gun-free zones are classified.”
www.rand.org/research/gun-policy/analysis/gun-free-zones
“California has strict firearms laws but also has the highest number of school shooting-related incidents. On the contrary, Texas has a similar population size, relaxed firearms laws, and nearly as many school shooting incidents.
Despite mounting gun control laws on the Federal and state level, school-related shootings continue to rise (2023 being the highest year yet, with 388 school shootings in only six months). Regardless of political affiliation or thoughts on well-regulated militias and the right to bear arms, one thing is clear; what we’ve been doing for the past forty years isn’t working.
- There have been 2,646 school shooting incidents in the U.S. since 1966. Of those, 2,205 (94%) occurred after the 1990 School Zone Safety Act (Amended in 1995). (Source)
- There are 1,325 total State Gun Laws per this 2022 report. (Source)
- The Federal government has been enacting Federal Firearm regulations since 1934.
- The correlation between population density and school shootings is more profound in population density than in firearm legislation.
- There is no standard “School shooting” definition in the U.S. The Secret Service defines targeted attacks, while most data includes incidents when a firearm is brandished, fired, or a bullet hits school property.
- There were 238 school shooting incidents during the National Assault Weapons ban, 293 in the decade before, and 347 in the decade after.
- 62% of school shootings (as defined) occurred during non-school hours (1970-2022).
- Firearms were used in 61% of targeted school attacks, and 39% used knives between 2008 & 2017.”
www.legalreader.com/gun-free-school-zones-shootings-statistics-2024
“The purpose of this study was to explore citizens’ perceptions about gun control policies, specifically about using gun-free zones, who resided in the five states with the highest rates of gun violence per capita¾in descending order, these included Virginia, Florida, Texas, Nevada, and Connecticut. Moreover, these five states were the locations of the top five deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history to date. The researcher also discovered how residents felt about pro-gun areas, where responsible citizens could legally carry firearms, as well as determine whether gun-free zones influenced their likelihood of visiting a prescribed location. Finally, the study sought to understand residents’ perceptions regarding using gun-free zones pertaining to their impact on reducing incidents of mass shootings. The researcher filled the gap in the literature regarding knowledge pertaining to citizens’ perceptions about using specific gun control measures, such as gun-free zones, and the influence that the historical evidence had on their perceptions.
The answer to RQ1 (do residents associate using gun-free zones with feelings of safety or feelings of concern?) was that participants were twice as likely to associate using gun-free zones with feelings of concern rather than feelings of safety. The answer to the first part of RQ2 (whether participants believed that gun-free zones reduced gun-related violence) was no, based on a 2-to-1 ratio. Responses to the impact of gun control measures on reducing gun violence were closely matched to perceptions of the role of gun-free zones in reducing gun violence. The answer to the second part of RQ2 (do residents believe that gun-free zones lower the occurrences of mass shooting incidents?) was no, again based on a 2-to-1 ratio. The answer to the third and final part of RQ2 (whether participants’ perceptions correlated to the historical/empirical evidence of the location of mass shootings as primarily inside of or outside of gun-free zones) was yes for participants from Florida, Texas, Nevada, and Connecticut and no for participants from Virginia.”
nsuworks.nova.edu/cahss_jhs_etd/13/
I did research trying to see if there is any advantage to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints prohibiting lethal weapons on their property. First my problem with the vague and arbitrary words “lethal weapons”. Thousands of people die from vehicles every year, is that a lethal weapon? I played Church sponsored softball for years, were the bats lethal weapons? Every kitchen in the Church has butcher knives, are those lethal weapons? I find it hard to believe this passed the Church legal departments scrutiny, but there it is sitting in the Church handbook like a gym sock on a shower rod.
I don’t expect the Church to embrace violence, but I do not think that if someone walks into a Sacrament meeting somewhere and starts shooting that “Run, Hide, Fight” will save anyone. And while I’m complaining “Fight” with what? Throw a Hymn book at the threat? These are rhetorical questions at best.
Anyway, I was just trying to see if the Church’s choice to be a “gun free” zone is really making me safer or not. From most of what I have read, bad guys, or in particular mass killers, have made it a point to pick gun free zones. It has shown up in their writing. The biggest beef I have with that thinking is it flies in the face of my training and experience. I also don’t care for the assumption that law enforcement are the only ones who can defend with a weapon. I know many who can, but I’ve also trained some who could barely not shoot themselves! Be that as it may, I’m charged with protecting my family from scripture. Then my Church says I can’t have anything in the building that I could protect my family with.
I’d like to think that someone in the Church office building could have given the Brethren good, competent, council on making Church a gun free zone. I’d like to think that they would have listened. But I know that there are several liberal thinking people that work for the Church. I’m not saying they are bad but misguided.
I know at one time Church Security was aware of this blog. So if there is Church Security reading this, I plead with you. If you have any influence on this misguided policy, please use this influence to get a change. I will be the first to confess that I ignore this policy every Sunday why should I care? It’s for those good people that would never dream of ignoring policy. These are the responsible people that should have the tools to defend themselves.
In the meantime, Run!
Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn
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