Jeffrey R. Snyder

In recent years many states have liberalized laws allowing people to legally carry concealed weapons. Between 1986 and 1996 the number of states in which it is legal to carry such weapons grew from nine to thirty-one. In the following viewpoint, Jeffrey R. Snyder argues that while many gun control proponents who opposed these reforms predicted disastrous increases in violence, these laws instead have saved lives and prevented murders, rapes, and other crimes. They give law-abiding citizens the means to assert their right of self-defense, while creating a deterrent effect for potential criminals. Licensing systems which objectively screen potential permit holders are the most effective form of gun control yet devised, he concludes. Snyder is a New York attorney.

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1. How are the new gun licensing laws...