Phil W. Johnston

Phil W. Johnston asserts in the following viewpoint that gun owners who live in a free society should voluntarily take steps to lessen the risks associated with private gun ownership instead of being forced to do so by the government. He contends that safety features such as trigger locks can make guns less effective for self-defense purposes and endanger the lives of gun owners. Moreover, Johnston argues that guns are not as dangerous as many people think they are—for example, more children drown in pools than die in firearms accidents. Phil W. Johnston writes for Gun News Digest.

As you read, consider the following questions:

1. According to Johnston, how many people died in snowmobile accidents in Minnesota in 1997?
2. How many Americans lost their lives in firearms accidents in 1993, as reported by...