National Assembly adopts MQM’s resolution to deweaponise Pakistan

21 Nov 2012

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, however, criticised MQM’s “deceptive” resolution, saying that law enforcement authorities had failed in providing security to the people and that the common man needs weapons to ensure his own safety.

Law enforcement is a problem, yes. But I haven’t heard any stories of weapons that got people out of tricky situations. And what will weapons keep you safe from? In the spectrum of armed cell phone theft to suicide bombing it’s unclear what weapons (I’m assuming handguns) would do to protect you. The most persuasive argument for gun rights would perhaps lie near the armed robbery end of the spectrum, where carrying a gun may deter a potential cell phone thief for example. But having a gun in such a scenario may make things worse, where either party could panic and fire.

I can’t tell if Maulana Sahab doesn’t have an argument or if Dawn just didn’t report it.