Here are eight stubborn facts to keep in mind about gun violence in America: Violent crime is down and has been on the decline for decades.

The principal public safety concerns with respect to guns are suicides and illegally owned handguns, not mass shootings.

A small number of factors significantly increase the likelihood that a person will be a victim of a gun-related homicide.

Gun-related murders are carried out by a predictable pool of people.

Higher rates of gun ownership are not associated with higher rates of violent crime.

There is no clear relationship between strict gun control legislation and homicide or violent crime rates.

Legally owned firearms are used for lawful purposes much more often than they are used to commit crimes or suicide.

Concealed carry permit holders are not the problem, but they may be part of the solution.

(Heritage Foundation)

Firearms are second only to the Constitution in importance: they are the peoples' liberty's teeth. George Washington

“A free people ought not only to be armed, but disciplined; to which end a uniform and well-digested plan is requisite; and their safety and interest require that they should promote such manufactories as tend to render them independent of others for essential, particularly military, supplies.” —            George Washington

No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms. Thomas Jefferson

After a gun rights rally drew hundreds of advocates Downtown Monday, rally organizers urged the same crowd to attend an upcoming Pittsburgh City Council public hearing on legislation that would ban certain weapons. Despite state law prohibiting municipalities from passing their own gun regulations, supporters of the legislation remained steadfast Monday.
Pittsburg Post-Gazette 1-8-2019