If you actually gave a damn about more than a 'cause' you would be advocating for mandatory minimum sentencing laws for anyone using a firearm in the commission of a crime and criminal possession of firearms rather than targeting the Constitutional rights of law abiding citizens. But then...we already know what you actually care about.
I think if you look at the rate of successful completion of suicides in both Australia and Japan, you would not think the first comment to be so easily guaranteed. As to the 'homicides...cool...we are both on board. And as criminals get illegal weapons as easily as they get illegal drugs we also agree targeting law abiding citizens is an idiotic ploy used by people only interested in the 'cause' of banning guns. So with that we are in agreement that the true answer is to target criminals and do so by draconian sentencing of violent criminals and increased use of the death penalties for murderers using any manner of weapon. See...I KNEW we were just around the corner form "common ground". Reason always wins over 'cause' and ideology.
The "epidemic of violence" as you call it has been around and discussed for many decades. It generally reappears every election as politicians promise to reduce crime. If you want to discuss that subject you're more than welcome to start a new thread. I'm sure you'll get plenty of replies.
I'm sure that's not common. Why would you generally try to hide that fact that you're carrying?
Tons of reasons. The first main one is for a courtesy to people who are squeamish around weapons, the second main one is tactical in case a person is not legally concealing and looking for a window of opportunity(such as an ambush during an armed robbery, I don't want to draw their eye and be the first target, I would rather they don't know I'm armed and focus on the money so that I can find my own window of opportunity to draw and defend).
