# Can we put the myth of a "good guy with a gun" as an argument to allow more permissive gun laws to rest? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 31, 2022, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-put-the-myth-of-a-good-guy-with-a-gun-as-an-argument-to-allow-more-permissive-gun-laws-to-rest/965395 "2022-05-31T00:40:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-put-the-myth-of-a-good-guy-with-a-gun-as-an-argument-to-allow-more-permissive-gun-laws-to-rest/965395/1 "2022-05-31T00:40:26Z")
The recent mass murder at the school in Uvalde is the prompt for this post. - AIUI the school in Uvalde had an armed guard on duty. - Numerous law enforcement officers responded but did nothing for an hour. - Texas has become more permissive in their gun laws for the past few years. They have no shortage of “good guys with guns”. We have been told by gun enthusiasts that banning guns only lets criminals have guns and leaves us poor, unarmed people the sheep surrounded by wolves. Is there any evidence, beyond a few anecdotes, that the best route to public safety are more guns? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-put-the-myth-of-a-good-guy-with-a-gun-as-an-argument-to-allow-more-permissive-gun-laws-to-rest/965395/2 "2022-05-31T00:45:27Z")
They’ll just revise it to we need 20 good guys with a gun, in Texas they only had 19. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-put-the-myth-of-a-good-guy-with-a-gun-as-an-argument-to-allow-more-permissive-gun-laws-to-rest/965395/3 "2022-05-31T00:49:56Z")
Didn’t work out too well for this guy. > **[No charges for officer who killed 'hero' who stopped mass shooting,...](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/no-charges-colorado-officer-who-killed-hero-who-stopped-mass-n1283532)** > > The officer had “objectively reasonable grounds” to believe he and others faced imminent danger when he fatally shot bystander John Hurley. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-put-the-myth-of-a-good-guy-with-a-gun-as-an-argument-to-allow-more-permissive-gun-laws-to-rest/965395/4 "2022-05-31T00:51:07Z")
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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2022, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-put-the-myth-of-a-good-guy-with-a-gun-as-an-argument-to-allow-more-permissive-gun-laws-to-rest/965395/5 "2022-05-31T00:51:56Z")
I think this could be covered in the shooting political thread. This thread is closed.