Never mind that everyone has different circumstances. Never mind that when shots ring out in the night, you'll quickly learn just how long it takes to open that gun safe you're legally required to keep your guns in. It may well be the last thing you ever learn.

But, as I'm someone who thinks the so-called benefits of gun control must be compared to the benefits of gun rights, we should at least consider if these laws actually work.

And that's kind of tricky. The truth of the matter is that any in-depth study will be virtually impossible to do in a neutral, unbiased way, and not just because the only people who seem to conduct gun research are anti-gun jihadists. There are legitimate challenges that aren't easy to overcome.

Over at The Truth About Guns, Darwin Nercesian took a look at the impact of Michigan's new mandatory storage law and makes some interesting points.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, a Democrat, says that it is difficult to judge the law’s impact as charges are typically only filed after an accident, but also claims the law makes people more aware than they have been in previous years.

“I think the passing of the law is one of the reasons that people are more aware than they were maybe four years ago,” said McDonald

How could you know what people are more aware of or even paying attention to? Let’s look at something more concrete, like numbers that don’t lie. Of the 36 cases being prosecuted across Michigan, 25 are concentrated in just six counties. You might think six counties sounds like a lot of space to cover, but let’s put things into perspective. Michigan contains 83 counties, meaning 70% of these cases happen in about 7% of the state’s counties. I hear the argument already. But these counties add up to much of the state’s population: Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Genesee, Kent, and Newaygo. So naturally, this is where more incidents must take place. It’s only partially true. These six counties account for approximately 49.3% of the state’s population, so a disparity remains, but that disparity isn’t where I hang my hat. 

Let’s turn our attention to the most dangerous cities in Michigan and notice that these six counties exist in two clusters that either contain or are adjacent to these cities, where you better double-check your locks at night and stay indoors after dark. So what’s my point? Look at a Michigan election results map when you have a moment. 

He also points out how these don't seem to be an issue in the rural parts of the state, where guns tend to be plentiful and kids are taught to respect guns from an early age.

Imagine that. Who would have thunk it?

I'd also argue that 36 cases in a state with over 10 million people isn't a lot of cases, which suggests that much of this isn't as much of a problem as anti-gunners would like for us to believe. 

In the cases where it does happen, though, most of them are in the urban areas where people generally aren't raised shooting guns, learning to respect them, and embracing their outdoor heritage that helps foster that respect. Yes, there are exceptions. I grew up just like that and while I don't exactly live in a city like Detroit, I grew up in the city, so yeah, exceptions exist.

Still, those who are the exceptions aren't likely to be among the 36 cases.

Nercesian goes on to point out that it's morally wrong to leave a well-trained youth unable to defend themselves, just as morally wrong not to secure your firearm around untrained or untrustworthy young people. He's very right on that one, which we've seen play out in multiple instances. Young people use guns just as adults do.

But anti-gunners would rather have dead kids than live ones, apparently, all while claiming they're trying to save children's lives.