I know, I know; it's absolutely crazy isn't it.

I know my position was somewhat different before being ambushed with a cobblestone brick thrown out of the darkness by a local gang that hung around my home....and subsequently having to fend off a knife attack by two of their members...or other confrontations with evil men with evil intent.

Of course perhaps you think this will never happen to you.

If you happen to hike or camp in my park of the country, where there are mountain lions, wolves, cougars, bobcats, and bears it strikes many as common sense to give some thought to your protection. (Not to mention, as already mentioned, that man is the worst predator of all.)

The thought too, t...

I know, I know; it's absolutely crazy isn't it.

I know my position was somewhat different before being ambushed with a cobblestone brick thrown out of the darkness by a local gang that hung around my home....and subsequently having to fend off a knife attack by two of their members...or other confrontations with evil men with evil intent.

Of course perhaps you think this will never happen to you.

If you happen to hike or camp in my park of the country, where there are mountain lions, wolves, cougars, bobcats, and bears it strikes many as common sense to give some thought to your protection. (Not to mention, as already mentioned, that man is the worst predator of all.)

The thought too, that every person on the face of the earth is part of a nation that has had to fight and use weapons to defend itself at one time or another. And every day of peace in civil society is backed up by men (and woman) who know they may need to use force to enforce law and order.

Even if you don't have guns, you are dependent upon a military and police who does.

Even if you don't 'believe' in guns, in the USA you are surrounded by over a hundred million people who do.

Even if you think it "should" be different -- it is not.

Even if you have moral or religious values of people being nice, not everyone believes the same.

In this context I'd recommend being strong - and being trained. And obeying the law.

The only political or social change that appears possible at this time is to punish criminals and maybe increase the punishment if weapons are involved.

Perhaps reducing the violence on TV is another obtainable goal.

That might be better than simply saying: "Tsk. Tsk."

But right now, lawmaking is dominated by large corporations, war profiteers, zionist extremist and the National Rife Association and past efforts to curtail them have failed.

Part of this failure is to try and make guns the issue, which puts blame on people who are not criminals but fear crime. Tsk.

Oh...well, I'm glad if any of my ideas are useful to people.

One correction: I see the law says you CAN NOT drink booze if carrying a gun, which is good.

The political spectrum of "liberal" to "conservative," probably does us all a disservice. I'm very much against starting wars with deliberate lies, for example. That strikes me as core values although most often opposition to war is painted as a "liberal" position.

I also think people should have personal freedom, but is that a "liberal" position? I think of it as one of my country's secular core values, similar to freedom to think, freedom to speak, freedom to believe what you want (although not allowed to promote violence against other...

Oh...well, I'm glad if any of my ideas are useful to people.

One correction: I see the law says you CAN NOT drink booze if carrying a gun, which is good.

The political spectrum of "liberal" to "conservative," probably does us all a disservice. I'm very much against starting wars with deliberate lies, for example. That strikes me as core values although most often opposition to war is painted as a "liberal" position.

I also think people should have personal freedom, but is that a "liberal" position? I think of it as one of my country's secular core values, similar to freedom to think, freedom to speak, freedom to believe what you want (although not allowed to promote violence against others...)

I know the gun issue freaks many people out....maybe they should "confront," their fear and just put up the $120.00 USD and go to a firearms training program for a weapons permit.

It's not like the people in these classes -- who must be NON-CRIMINALS want to get a permit and register a firearm so they can go out and shot someone...that would be a rather odd idea...what they want is Not to Be Shot. (or they like hunting or target shooting, etc.).

NON-CRIMINALS who don't want to be victims of violence are not the problem....that's sort of what I learned myself here talking about this issue for the first time...what really is the evil?

I've lived several years in countries that didn't allow guns and that was, indeed, comfortable. But that is not how it is here.

Plus, too, in those countries folks still had hunting rifles and shotguns. I met one guy, too, in Europe who was some sort of "militia neighborhood captain," and he showed me his closet of automatic weapons and explosives...I was impressed...and, so, it's not like this reality of weapons doesn't exist; it exist everywhere, and handled with more - or less - maturity.

Plus, darn criminals somehow manage to get weapons when they want. And if some folks weren't "gun nuts," I'd guess they be "crossbow nuts." !?

I'm not too sure of the logic -- nor the hypotheticals - of the post, above.

Tim McVeigh was arrested because he was in violation of the gun laws. He was carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

And therefore the gun laws are wrong?

I would suggest, btw, if you're expecting a police officer to be "sympathetic" to the illegal carrying of weapons, uh...that might be very inaccurate.

Anyhow...today some old man -- with a criminal record -- parked his car in front of the Holocaust Museum in D.C., walked in with a rifle and started shooting, killing one of the guards.

Besides parking illegally, he was also not obeying the gun laws. (Not to mention murder).

I simply jumped on this threa...

I'm not too sure of the logic -- nor the hypotheticals - of the post, above.

Tim McVeigh was arrested because he was in violation of the gun laws. He was carrying a concealed weapon without a permit.

And therefore the gun laws are wrong?

I would suggest, btw, if you're expecting a police officer to be "sympathetic" to the illegal carrying of weapons, uh...that might be very inaccurate.

Anyhow...today some old man -- with a criminal record -- parked his car in front of the Holocaust Museum in D.C., walked in with a rifle and started shooting, killing one of the guards.

Besides parking illegally, he was also not obeying the gun laws. (Not to mention murder).

I simply jumped on this thread to suggest that CRIMINALS not obeying the gun laws are the core problem of NONCRIMINALS who comply with the gun laws.

See the difference?

I think perhaps attempts at reasonable maturity with guns consistently fail is not seeing this difference.

Re:@kkcapricorn -- well, the bartender wouldn't know. In general, I think, a lot of the law is not that it's going to Stop things from happening -- but how much trouble folks will get into IF trouble happens.

So, IF you're drinking in a bar with a firearm, you are breaking the law -- if that drinker pulls his gun, well, he's in trouble even if he felt he was pulling his gun in self defense.

In reality, btw, You WILL get hassled, permit or none, if use a gun, right or wrong.

Here's a terrible example of what this law might be about. a guy in my state complained because he went into a restaurant wearing his firearm and was refused service because the restaurant also served booze.

In m...

Re:@kkcapricorn -- well, the bartender wouldn't know. In general, I think, a lot of the law is not that it's going to Stop things from happening -- but how much trouble folks will get into IF trouble happens.

So, IF you're drinking in a bar with a firearm, you are breaking the law -- if that drinker pulls his gun, well, he's in trouble even if he felt he was pulling his gun in self defense.

In reality, btw, You WILL get hassled, permit or none, if use a gun, right or wrong.

Here's a terrible example of what this law might be about. a guy in my state complained because he went into a restaurant wearing his firearm and was refused service because the restaurant also served booze.

In my somewhat 'wild west," state ANYBODY (not a felony) can buy and go around wearing a pistol. No permit needed....it's only when it's a concealed weapon would you need a permit.

ANYBODY can go to WalMart, but a shotgun, and walk out with it slung on your shoulder, walk down Main Street, go almost anywhere you want; go into the bank and make a deposit, etc. (Couldn't go on Federal property, like the Post office, or any private business with a clearly visible No Guns decal posted).

96% of the people here don't do this; it's not very 'friendly,' - although if I spent all day running around town I'd probably see one or two people wearing a handgun. (This freaks out a few out-of-state visitors now and then)

I KNOW this might seem frightening...which is why I and others think that, in fact, carrying a pistol out of sight is a bit more calm...no one made scared for no reason.

The rednecks wouldn't like it but maybe requiring the registration of all guns and gun sales would start to control things. It might have less opposition because NONCRIMINALS would not be denied what they feel is self-protection...they would just have to register (guns can be traced anyhow).

I just know I don't want to be hassled by the law, criminals, bears or wolves. Even my blade is 2.25 inches.