I’ve read several times that handguns perpetuate violence. Perpetuation is a continuance of something.

First off, guns themselves do not perpetuate anything because they do not think or act on their own. Second guns in the hands of criminals, those who respect no laws, no signs, and no people, can be used as a tool in crime performed by men or women who THEMSELVES perpetuate a cycle of violence. The weapon that stops them ends the cycle.

For example a man buys a pistol performs a string of robberies. One day he runs into a man who has a pistol which he perhaps uses now and then who shoots first and kills the robber. The robbery spree ends. Let us say that the robber’s gun eventually lands in the hands of some regular Joe who shoots once a month or so for fun. In what way does any firearm have the power to perpetuate or continue anything? If the robber’s gun is destroyed it simply never shoots again. In Joes hand it shoots now and then.

However the second guy ends the cycle.

Guns do not perpetuate violence, they can be employed by humans who do. Humans can end the perpetuation. Humans perpetuate stupidity.