There will be some who say: Zero.

Of course, that is not a realistic answer.

There always will be some amount of crime, some amount of violent individuals, and some amount of people who die every year from gun violence. Even countries and states with very strict gun controls have gun violence. While it’s hard to argue in favor of more gun violence and more death, we have to accept a certain level that is consistent with our society’s values. Some people are going to die from gun violence. It’s sad, and quite troubling, but it’s a realistic part of society.

Nobody wants to see children gunned down. But accepting a certain amount of carnage may be required to protect our rights and liberties as a free people. A politically unpopular position, but the reality is our civil liberties rights have consequences — and if we as a society believe that every individual should has a constitutional right to own a firearm, then a certain amount of carnage must be acceptable.

Before we debate gun control, we should first all put forward what appropriate number of carnage is every year. 

We must all realize that freedom is not free.