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Brief Answers for People Who Are Against the 2nd Amendment

Massad Ayoob is an internationally recognized lethal-force expert with more than 40 years of experience as a police officer, author, and firearms and self-defense instructor to law enforcement officers and private citizens. He says the defensive use of a firearm is a direct analog to the use of a fire extinguisher.

In the mid-20th century, fire extinguishers were not prevalent in private homes. Today, fire extinguishers in homes are as common as smoke detectors in homes; fire extinguishers are also even in cars as a precaution. What happened to cause this change?

The public finally became aware of how a fire extinguisher is an invaluable tool to instantly stop a fire emergency and save lives before the fire trucks expend multiple minutes just to arrive on the scene, let alone begin extinguishing the blaze and rescuing people. Similarly the defensive firearm is an emergency safety rescue tool for the citizen who is on site to responsibly use when a deadly danger breaks out. The sooner the individual can stop the threat, the more innocent lives can be saved.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Worldviews and Emotional Assumptions in the Gun Civil Rights Debate ]

In the following video (with time stamps below), Mr. Ayoob offers soundbite answers to frequent broad stroke statements against the 2nd Amendment:

Latest Biblical Archaeology Research

The Bible is a collection of 66 ancient books written over a period of 1,600 years by about 40 different authors from various countries and cultures. The authors included shepherds, fishermen, soldiers, and farmers. One was a Gentile physician and another was a Jewish rabbi. They wrote about controversial subjects, such as the origin of the universe, the purpose of life, the destiny of humanity, and the way of salvation from the judgment of God. With all that diversity, the cohesion and agreement about these subjects are remarkable and life-changing.

[ Read the Bible on Bible Gateway ]

Written centuries ago, the Bible’s message remains relevant today. Its historical veracity is repeatedly proven through archaeological discoveries that corroborate the existence and influence of locations, governments, and people mentioned in Scripture.

[ Read Bible verses that present the Good News of life through faith in Jesus Christ ]

What follows is a collection of the latest biblical archaeology and historical research that confirms the Bible’s credibility.

[ Read Why Biblical Archaeology Is Important for Your Bible Reading: An Interview with Randall Price ]
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The Book & The Spade Radio Program about Biblical Archaeology
⇨ The Book & The Spade
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[ Read SemperVerus articles on Spiritual Fitness ]

Archaeology in the City of David Yields New Treasures (January 2026)
⇨ Christianity Today
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10 Striking Biblical Archaeology Stories of 2025 (December 2025)
⇨ Christianity Today
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Archeological Breakthrough: The Biblical Bethsaida (November 2025)
⇨ CBN News
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‘A Millennium-Long Monopoly’: How Biblical Israel Imported a Steady Flow of African Ivory (November 2025)
⇨ The Times of Israel
⇨ Read about the Queen of Sheba in 1 Kings 10 on Bible Gateway
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Archaeologists Uncover 5,000-Year-Old Winepress, Canaanite Folk Worship Evidence Near Tel Megiddo (November 2025)
⇨ The Jerusalem Post
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Archaeologists Uncover Vast Complex of Ancient Tombs in Biblical City Tied to St Paul’s Letter to the Colossians (October 2025)
⇨ Fox News
⇨ CBN News
⇨ Read the Book of Colossians on Bible Gateway
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Biblical Tax Notice: 1st-Ever Assyrian Inscription Found Near Jerusalem’s Temple Mount (October 2025)
⇨ The Times of Israel
⇨ CBN News
⇨ Read 2 Kings 18:13-14 on Bible Gateway
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Mind-Blowing Archeological Discoveries That Confirm the Bible (September 2025)
⇨ The Stream
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Earliest Known Extrabiblical Reference to King David on Display at Museum of the Bible (September 2025)
⇨ Baptist Press
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Archaeologists Make ‘Significant’ Discovery Near Biblical Pool Where Jesus Healed a Blind Man (September 2025)
⇨ Fox News
⇨ Read about the Pool of Siloam in John 9 on Bible Gateway
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Divers Find Lost Metropolis With Stunning Bible Link (August 2025)
⇨ Daily Mail
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Lost Birthplace of Jesus’ Apostles Discovered in Israel Aligns With Biblical Accounts (August 2025)
⇨ Daily Mail
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22 Million USA Adults Are Licensed to Concealed Carry Handguns

The number of concealed handgun permits continues to increase, according to the Concealed Carry Permit Holders Across the United States: 2022 report from the Crime Prevention Research Center. The figure now stands at 22.01 million—8.5% of the adult population and a 2.3% increase over last year. Over the last two decades, during the exponential growth in permits, a general linear decline has occurred in murder and violent crime rates.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Concealed Carry Daily Prayer ]

Map by the Crime Prevention Research Center showing the types of concealed carry states as of August 2022

Unlike gun ownership surveys that may be affected by people’s unwillingness to answer personal questions, concealed handgun permit data is the only really “hard data” available. This increase occurred despite 24 Constitutional Carry states (AK, AR, AZ, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, ME, MO, MS, MT, ND, NH, OH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WV, WY) that no longer provide data on the legal carrying of a concealed handgun because people in those states no longer need a permit to carry. A 25th state, Alabama, has also adopted Constitutional Carry, but its law doesn’t go into effect until January 1, 2023.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 8.3% of USA Adults Are Licensed to Concealed Carry Handguns ]

These numbers are particularly topical given that the US Supreme Court in June 2022 struck down New York’s “May-Issue” Concealed Handgun Law, affirming a constitutional right to bear arms. The decision will have a major impact on concealed carry laws in the 7 states that had “May-Issue” type rules.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Important Judicial Decisions Regarding Self-Defense Law ]

Among the findings of the report:

8.3% of USA Adults Are Licensed to Concealed Carry Handguns

During the Coronavirus pandemic, the number of concealed handgun permits soared to over 21.52 million—a 48% increase since 2016, according to the Concealed Carry Permit Holders Across the United States: 2021 report from the Crime Prevention Research Center. It’s also a 10.5% increase over the number of permits counted a year ago in 2020.

[ Read the SemperVerus article, Concealed Carry Daily Prayer ]

Unlike gun ownership surveys that may be affected by people’s unwillingness to answer personal questions, concealed handgun permit data is the only really “hard data” available. This increase occurred despite 21 Constitutional Carry states (AK, AR, AZ, IA, ID, KS, KY, ME, MO, MS, MT, ND, NH, OK, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, WV, WY) that no longer provide data on all those legally carrying a concealed handgun because people in those states no longer need a permit to carry. All states now allow concealed carry, although permit rules vary widely between states.

Map showing how different states of America regulate concealed carry as of 2021

Read the Concealed Carry Permit Holders Across the United States: 2021 report

[ Read the SemperVerus article, 7.6% of USA Adults Are Licensed to Concealed Carry Handguns ]

Among the findings of the report:

Last year, the number of permit holders grew by a record 2 million. This is more than the previous record increase of 1.8 million in 2017. Part of that is due to many states reopening concealed carry applications after the pause due to COVID-19.

8.3% of American adults have permits. Outside of the restrictive states of California and New York, about 10.0% of adults have a permit.

In 15 states, more than 10% of adults have permits. Since 2019, Arkansas and Oklahoma have fallen below 10%, but they’re now all Constitutional Carry states, meaning people no longer need a permit to carry. Virginia’s concealed carry rate has risen to above 10%.

Alabama has the highest concealed carry rate—32.1%. Indiana is second with 21.6%, and Iowa is third with 16.5%.
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