Weekly Spotlight 12/11/24 – 12/18/24
New Study: Safety Concerns Among Motivators Behind Choice to Carry a Firearm
One-Third of Chicago Residents Carry Concealed Firearms by Age 40
A recent study published by the University of Cambridge revealed that nearly one third (32%) of Chicago residents carry a handgun on city streets before turning 40. The study, conducted over a 25-year period, tracked over 3,400 Chicago residents from 1994 to 2021.
One of the key findings demonstrated there were different motivators for carrying a firearm among age groups. Those who begin carrying as teenagers often choose to do so in response to a personal experience involving gun violence. “Among adolescents, we found a strong association between either witnessing a shooting or being shot, and beginning to carry soon after,” noted Dr. Charles Lanfear, the study’s primary author. Adult carriers showed different motivations for carrying. The choice to carry tended to be fueled by general safety concerns, rather than specific violent experiences.
Across the country, Americans of all ages and walks of life are increasingly choosing to exercise their Second Amendment rights as a way to protect themselves. Whether spurred by soaring crime rates throughout major cities or delayed police response times due to manpower shortages, millions of Americans feel compelled to purchase a firearm and be more proactive stakeholders in their own defense.
As this trend continues to grow, it becomes increasingly important to emphasize responsible gun ownership. Regardless of the catalysts behind purchasing a firearm, as more Americans choose to exercise their Second Amendment rights, it’s essential to emphasize that education and training is a cornerstone of gun ownership.
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OTHER NEWS YOU MAY HAVE MISSED
FOX News: John Rich: Let’s strengthen the Second Amendment and make America safe again
December 12, 2024
John Rich
On election night, it was clear that the American people sided with Trump’s pro-Second Amendment agenda, but turning those promises into reality requires action by many of the men and women who shared the ballot with the president-elect on November 5th. While President Trump can appoint Pro-Second Amendment judges, limit federal overreach via executive action and use his bully pulpit to oppose gun control legislation, the bulk of his campaign promises require swift action from the 119th Congress.
Washington Examiner: Move To A Pro-Second Amendment State
December 11, 2024
Brady Leonard
In the moments before Luigi Mangione allegedly killed UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the suspect’s pistol jammed. In the time it took for the suspected killer to clear his chamber and put a round downrange, an armed would-be victim could have returned fire and ended the threat to his or her life. Unfortunately for Thompson, he was in New York City, which has some of the most stringent and unconstitutional gun laws in the country.
AL.com: Alabama Congressman Moves To Abolish ATF For ‘Unconstitutional Overreach,’ Violating Gun Rights
December 10, 2024
Heather Gann
U.S. Rep. Barry Moore, R-Ala., has joined fellow Rep. Eric Burlison, R-Mo. in his mission to abolish the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). “I am proud to stand with my friend Eric Burlison as a co-sponsor of H.R. 374, the ‘Abolish the ATF Act,’” Moore wrote in a post to X on Tuesday. “The ATF has repeatedly violated Americans’ Second Amendment rights, and it’s time to put an end to this unconstitutional overreach.”
December 5, 2024
Awr Hawkins
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) introduced legislation Thursday designed to prohibit the Biden administration from using Medicaid funds for “gun violence prevention” projects. Clyde’s bill is titled the Medicaid Funds Integrity Act. “In September, the Biden-Harris Administration announced new executive orders directing federal agencies to advance its anti-gun agenda,” Rep. Clyde’s office noted in correspondence with Breitbart News. “Among other measures, the Administration stated the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will allow states to use Medicaid to pay for counseling on ‘firearm safety.’”
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