An analysis by the Violence Policy Center, an anti-gun group dedicated to the regulation of firearms, says Hawaii has the lowest per capita firearm death rate in the country at 2.2 for every 100,000 residents.

Louisiana led the nation with 19.04 firearm deaths for every 100,000. The VPC analysis used 2005 data from the CDC's National Center for Injury Prevention and Control to show that states with weak gun laws had the highest death rates in the country while states with strict gun laws, like Hawaii, had the fewest.

"Blind allegiance to the Second Amendment comes at a deadly price,” said VPC Legislative Director Kristen Rand. The VPC defined states with "weak" gun laws as those that add little or nothing to federal restrictions and allow civilians to carry concealed handguns. States with "strong" gun laws were defined as those that add significant state regulation in addition to federal law

However gun rights advocates like Art Ong, a gun store owner the past 15 years, believes there is a flip side to the firearm debate that is often overlooked. “Generally I think the media has always been on the side of anti-gun,” said Ong. “However if you really look at hard facts…you'll find that there’s a correlation with a drop in violent crime with the arming of citizens.”

The owner of Magnum Firearms on Queen Street points to a case in Colorado last December where church security guard Jeanne Assam shot and killed a man who was armed with a high powered rifle and 1,000 rounds of ammunition. 24 year old Matthew Murray had already shot and killed four people when Assam confronted the assailant.

“She was able to stop greater violence,” Ong said of the female security guard. “If you look at what good she did with the tool that she used, she couldn't do it any other way. I think when people finally realize that guns don't kill people and that they can actually save and protect and discourage crime they'll take a different look and (have a) different perspective of things.”

Both sides of the gun debate are anxiously awaiting a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding the District of Columbia’s all out ban on firearms. The high court heard oral arguments in the case (D.C. vs Heller) in March and a ruling is expected this summer.

“Many residents in pro-gun states cheer the possibility of a June Supreme Court ruling that could place gun controls across the nation at risk,” said Rand of VPC.

Ong listened to some of the high court’s oral arguments and believes justices could rule in the favor of the Second Amendment.

“It appears that the Supreme Court is leaning towards an individual's right versus a collective right, which is what I believe the authors of the Constitution expected.”

Andrew may be reached at apereira@khon2.com or ph. 591-4263.