Catholic bishop rips cowboys

Using cowboy mentality as it typically is used – as a grave insult – the bishop of Dallas has enthusiastically supported Obama’s actions, and hopes for more.  Other Catholics are likewise decrying the recent attempts to loosen gun restrictions and open up more legal possession of guns.  According to the article, Pope Francis and the US Catholic Bishops wish the US could follow other countries and their laws that have reduced gun violence.

I guess my somewhat uninformed question is this: do open carry laws lead to more gun violence?  In his speech, President Obama said that Kansas recently loosened gun restrictions and has seen an uptick in gun violence.  Is this the case?  Gun violence seems to have gone down nationwide.  Murders, too.  I don’t know.

My suspicion is that there isn’t a direct link between loosening gun ownership restrictions and violent crime.  For no other reason than the media doesn’t plaster stats and graphs all over the place proving it.  As for the other countries?  I have a feeling more is involved than merely gun regulations.  But again, not owning a gun myself, I’m rather uninformed.

I do know that I have a profound distrust for the movement most associated with calling for more gun control, based on actions and attitudes I witness in other areas.  But, I seem to be a minority in that one.  At least I’m a minority in the Catholic witness.  Perhaps the Christian one.