Guns, hate crimes and terrorism
There has been an increase in the cases of gun related crimes such as school or mall shootings and hate crimes, in which hundreds of innocent people lost their lives. Recent statistics show that guns are often used in criminal activities, such as hate crimes against vulnerable groups. In South Carolina, a lone gunman walked into a church during their bible study and opened fire on the congregants leaving nine dead. When he was apprehended, it was discovered that he was a white supremacist who targeted the church made up of mostly black congregants due to historical differences. There have been other reports of extremist shootings targeting soldiers, Christians, Jews and other groups. Hate crimes are not limited to the high profile cases in which multiple deaths have been reported, but also cases in which guns have been used to intimidate and threaten members of marginalized groups, with 43,000 such cases reported between 2010- 2014. Other than hate crimes, guns are also a weapon of choice for terrorists. Statistics show that they were used by 85% of terrorists in 2014, and they are preferred since they are easier to work with than explosives. Terrorists are also targeting people rather than property, making guns adequate for their activities.
Personal safety and protection