My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those people slain in Manchester. It might have been different if some of the employees had permits to carry weapons.

FBI crime statistics show that states that allow more open-carry permits or concealed-carry permits have lower crime statistics. Statistics for 2007 show that such states have a 24 percent lower overall violent crime rate. The rate of murder is 28 percent lower and rate for robbery is 50 percent lower. Even in 2009, when economy was in recession, violent crime was down in states with more lenient gun laws.

Open-permit or concealed-permit carriers should be required to pass a stringent background check and each year demonstrate to local or state police that they can hit a target the size of a dinner plate at 50 feet.

Had some of the warehouse workers, office workers or the union representative been carrying a gun, there would most likely have not been eight innocent people killed.

More guns equal less crime. Statistics prove it.