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To the Editor: In his Editorial Dr Cole addresses the synergistic effects of various strategies to reduce firearm injury.¹ He mentions that some evidence suggests that defensive gun use may deter violence and that laws permitting law-abiding citizens to legally carry guns may reduce the incidence of violent crime. There is considerable evidence, however, to support this suggestion.^2-4

Of course, gun carrying by dangerous individuals can have the opposite effect. But to the extent that evidence suggests the benefits of defensive gun use, synergies and complementary actions in all directions must be considered. Cole uses the analogy of automobiles and seat belts. To extend this analogy, if the risk/benefit analysis tilts in favor of allowing law-abiding citizens to carry guns, then preventing them to do so is tantamount to preventing people from wearing seat belts.

A strategy to prevent use of seat belts by increasing their cost would mostly affect . . . [Full Text of this Article]

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RELATED ARTICLE

Complementary Strategies to Prevent Firearm Injury
Thomas B. Cole
JAMA. 2001;285(8):1071-1072.
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