Our society allows its citizens to possess firearms. Therefore, citizens should be provided adequate training to ensure safe, ethical, and responsible use of firearms.
Having and using firearms does not lead to violence. Violence is a symptom of larger societal issues. The Commission for the Prevention of Youth Violence listed the following risk factors in it's report: alcohol and other drugs, child maltreatment (physical and emotional), gang involvement, gun availability, media violence, violence among intimates and peers. Youth and Violence, Medicine, Nursing and Public Health: Connecting the dots to prevent violence: (American Medical Association, December, 2000).
