The vast numbers of guns available throughout society probably inc:rrease-s
the number of violent crimes and undoubtedly increases the number of
accic:lental shootings by children, although opinions range widely conceming
the former. For example, in Cartersville, Georgia, a town ordinance requires
every family to own a gun and keep it ready to stop intruders; those without
guns are heavily fined. Burglaries'in Cartersville have dropped to near-zero.
The pro-gun lobby, led by the National Rifle Association (NRA), continues
to use snappy slogans such as‘‘Guns don't kill people; people kill peoplel"
and "If guns were outlawed, only outlaws would have guns!" to lobby for
individual, not government, responsibility.