When the USA discusses the possibility of stricter gun control, one of the arguments often heard is the comparison to other societies and how they relate to guns relative to the level of violent crime perpetrated with guns in those societies.
One of the societies often looked at is Israel. We in Israel have guns all over the place in plain sight. Whether it is soldiers walking around with their M-16s slung over their shoulders or be it citizens who carry their Glocks or whatever else or be it security guards with their Uzis. There are guns in plain sight all over. And violent crime, especially crime with guns, is very low, even practically non-existent.
Then an incident like yesterdays rampage in a bank happens. While one incident does not really change things, necessarily - the number of violent crimes is still very small - but it should make one rethink the theory. Maybe the low level of violent crime in Israel is not because of the presence of all the guns in plain sight. Maybe the two are entirely unconnected. There are a lot of guns, and there is little violent crime.
But maybe the potential criminals are not dissuaded by the fact that there are so many guns everywhere one looks. Maybe it is an entirely different factor within the society that effects a low level of violent crime. I don't know what factor that might be - it could be anything.
Just thinking.
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