Guns are used more frequently in the U.S. by law-abiding citizens to deter crimes than by criminals to commit crimes. Defensive uses of firearms by citizens total 2 to 2.5 million times per year and between 25 to 75 lives are saved by a gun for every life lost to a gun (11/22 New Amer.). Medical costs saved by guns in the hands of law-abiding citizens are 15 times greater than costs incurred by criminal uses of firearms. Knowledge that citizens in public could be armed would deter crimes. ---- From THE CALVARY CONTENDER, December 1, 1999)