I am an ordinary citizen whose house was nearly broken into. The whole ordeal left me feeling incredibly helpless as I knew that if the intruder had actually managed to enter, I would not have had an effective means to defend myself. This fear and concern have led me to contribute my voice to what I believe to be a fundamental right: the right to self-defense.

Currently, the law prohibiting the purchase, import, and transfer of handguns greatly restricts our ability to protect ourselves. When law-abiding citizens are unable to purchase handguns, it leaves them vulnerable in dangerous situations.

Statistically speaking, in the U.S, according to the National Self Defense Survey conducted by Gary Kleck, Ph.D., a criminologist at Florida State University, law-abiding citizens use guns for self-defense almost four hundred thousand times a year — that's around 1095 times a day. This means that firearms are used more than 80 times more often to protect the lives of honest citizens than to take lives. 

By scrapping the handgun ban that impedes the purchase, import, and transfer of handguns, we will be conceding to ordinary citizens like myself, and many others, the power to protect our own lives and the lives of our loved ones.

In light of these compelling reasons, I urge you to join me and countless others in this push for legal change. Please sign this petition to lift the ban on the purchase, import, and transfer of handguns.