It is an interesting philosophical puzzle. However, I don't think it is necessarily a matter of putting trust in anyone. Effective societies operate with complex systems of checks and balances that involve both positive and negative feedback loops.
Moreover, to the extent that 'trust' (as opposed to a confidence in the effectiveness of social order's myriad mechanisms) is involved in advocating for gun ownership by the citizenry, comparable if not greater 'trust' is placed in our fellow citizens day after day in thousands of ways, big and small.
When you get a haircut, you trust that the barber will not suddenly lapse into psychosis and lop your head off with that straight razor. When you drive you trust that other drivers who share the road with you are not impaired and paying due diligence to properly operating their vehicle. When you receive professional services such as a checkup, a blood test, optometric examination, X-rays, etc. you trust these individuals to perform their job safely and efficiently and without compromising your health, rights or confidentiality. Collectively, these various social issues where negligence or malice can (and does) cause tremendous suffering receive virtually none of the "ban them!" attention that firearms receive.
Every year on North American roadways there are ~40,000 fatalities in automobile accidents and at least 100,000, if not more injuries. Many of those injuries are life changing. Even at peak levels in the mid 1990s, homicide rates in the U.S. (about 25,000 per annum at peak) have never come close to the rate of fatalities on the roadways. Suicides account for something like 15 times as many deaths as all forms of violence and accidents combined. Yet instead of silly rhetoric about vehicle control and suicide prevention, we constantly hear of hairbrain-feel-good plans to solve the gun homicide problem with more restrictions.
ADDIT: that said, I think if we want to delve into this deeper we probably ought to take it to a different thread.
Moreover, to the extent that 'trust' (as opposed to a confidence in the effectiveness of social order's myriad mechanisms) is involved in advocating for gun ownership by the citizenry, comparable if not greater 'trust' is placed in our fellow citizens day after day in thousands of ways, big and small.
When you get a haircut, you trust that the barber will not suddenly lapse into psychosis and lop your head off with that straight razor. When you drive you trust that other drivers who share the road with you are not impaired and paying due diligence to properly operating their vehicle. When you receive professional services such as a checkup, a blood test, optometric examination, X-rays, etc. you trust these individuals to perform their job safely and efficiently and without compromising your health, rights or confidentiality. Collectively, these various social issues where negligence or malice can (and does) cause tremendous suffering receive virtually none of the "ban them!" attention that firearms receive.
Every year on North American roadways there are ~40,000 fatalities in automobile accidents and at least 100,000, if not more injuries. Many of those injuries are life changing. Even at peak levels in the mid 1990s, homicide rates in the U.S. (about 25,000 per annum at peak) have never come close to the rate of fatalities on the roadways. Suicides account for something like 15 times as many deaths as all forms of violence and accidents combined. Yet instead of silly rhetoric about vehicle control and suicide prevention, we constantly hear of hairbrain-feel-good plans to solve the gun homicide problem with more restrictions.
ADDIT: that said, I think if we want to delve into this deeper we probably ought to take it to a different thread.