(SeaPRwire) –   By: Jonathan Barrett

The United States finds itself in a perplexing situation. Crime rates are edging downward even as more citizens arm themselves. Take Martin Daley, for example. He was mugged while walking with his girlfriend, realizing he had no defense. “We were utterly defenseless,” he said. The next day, he bought a .45 Colt M1911. Georgia is one of 29 states with permitless carry laws. Daley now carries a gun everywhere, practicing at the range twice a week.

A survey by McLaughlin & Associates in 2025 found nearly 30% of US voters carry firearms. That’s a 5.5% increase since late 2024. In 2022, six states—California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York—eased concealed carry rules. New Jersey’s AG decried the move, but crime plummeted in these states. Hawaii’s intentional homicide rate dropped to 1.6-2.8 per 100,000. California’s homicides fell 30% from 2021 levels.

New York City saw gun-related killings drop 20.9% year-to-date. Maryland’s statewide homicides plunged 44% between 2022 and 2025. Baltimore’s 133 homicides in 2025 were the lowest since 1977. Police officers back this trend. A Pittsburgh detective noted, “Criminals fear a well-armed public.” There are 400-500 million private guns in the US—1.5 per person.

The reality is stark: when guns are outlawed, only outlaws have them. Martin Daley laments, “We let the genie out of the bottle.” States keep loosening gun laws, and crime keeps falling. But the question remains: does America want to live in a society where carrying a gun is necessary for safety? The Wild West is making a comeback, and the balance between gun rights and public safety hangs in the balance.

Author bio: Jonathan Barrett, lead focus editor for an independent overseas public affairs weekly, with a focus on dissecting US policy and social dynamics shaping the nation’s future.