Unfortunately, we are a violent culture. That said, I believe every responsible person above the age of 18 should be allowed to open or conceal carry. As we all know, more guns equals less violent crime. I read EVERY day about someone defending their lives. No guns equals more crime...just look around the world.
The stats (including FBI) are out there but the FEEL GOOD liberals think with their hearts rather than their heads. They will never change this gun culture that was determined by our Revolution against tyrannical King George. We are who we are and no amount of wishful peacenik thinking is going to change that.
What the liberals and anti-gunners don't realize is that for decades they have been enjoying herd immunity. As the laws they pass make it more difficult for the average person to defend themselves, the disincentive for common criminals to simply attack and loot people at random will fade.
The liberals (if successful) will (and already have) become the victims of their own laws, without realizing their well-defended neighbors were their first line of defense against miscreants and violent criminals.
Like children, they do not realize the actions of others are for their own good.