---In [email protected], <punditster@...> wrote :
On 6/6/2014 6:27 AM, Share Long sharelong60@... mailto:sharelong60@... [FairfieldLife] wrote: But Richard isn't the shooter a citizen? And aren't the citizens then also becoming shooters? What is the distinction that you're making? Wouldn't it be better for the citizens to call the police to deal with the shooter? It seems like the other path leads to total anarchy. > So many questions, Share - you're actually making me think and sort this out in my head. Thanks. My position is that every home should be having a gun for the self-defense of the resident, their family, and their neighbors, unless the resident is certified insane, a felon, or a minor, in which case it is unlawful for them to own a firearm. Many citizens are already armed at home where it is legal to own a gun, which is in most states in the U.S. and Alaska. Around here in rural areas, almost everybody has a long gun in their home to be used for self-defense or for sport, or for hunting. In Texas, it is legal to carry a rifle or pistol in your vehicle if you coming or going to a gun show, a hunting trip, or a gun sporting event. Some conscientious citizens in towns and cities even have a carry permit and they may be armed with a concealed handgun. The debate is whether or not people should be allowed to carry guns openly in plain sight. I have some reservations about this, but I will admit that the argument makes sense. Would anyone rob a bank if the patrons in line all had a gun in their pocket, on their hip, or a rifle over their shoulder? It's not complicated. In an ideal society there would be no murder. The worst case of mass murder in Texas occurred at a Luby's Cafeteria, where a guy came barging in an shot up the place killing over a dozen people. If someone in there had a concealed handgun, they could have shot the guy between the eyes the instant he raised his weapon and pointed it at someone. It took only a few minutes to mow down the defenseless diners like they were sitting ducks. What a tragedy! What we need to do is face the reality that people in this country have access to guns and that is probably not going to change any time soon. That is, unless we vote in an government that sets aside the Second Amendment and sends in federal troops to confiscate everyone's firearms, thus starting a civil war between the federal government and the states. It would be really scary if an authoritarian government would take away everyone's civil rights and then impose their will on the people by force of arms. Take away that "civil right" and see if I care. It is a "right" not based on any concept of "civility" I know of. Guns are so lethal and so powerful that they have absolutely no place in the hands of human beings that are not actually engaged in some kind of lunatic war. This idea of wanting to maintain a "civil right" that can only bring bloodshed is sheer idiocy and ignorance. I know there are times if you are faced with a life-threatening situation where you wished you could meet that threat with fire power. Having your life or safety threatened is terrifying but does it justify blowing someone away? Humans who shoot other humans and feel justified in doing so should be treated like the social misfits they apparently are and lose other "rights" as a consequence. This goes for those who have done so in "self defense". Confiscating every gun is virtually impossible but start by eliminating this outdated "right" first. Of course, I know this will never happen - you'd have to gun down or incarcerate half the population of America in order to wrestle their precious firearms out of their hands. America has a really, really big problem on their hands and it is only going to get much worse. As long as people believe blindly in this mistaken notion of their "civil right" to carry a lethal weapon you've got no solution. Welcome to armed America. First, they take away your civil rights, then they come for the guns, then they come for the gays, lesbians, cross-dressers, and transgenders; then they come for the Jews, the Christians, the Muslims; and then they come for the TMers. Everyone should take self-defense weapon training of some kind, even if it's just pepper-spray. That's what I think. Note: My uncle is a custom gunsmith in Abilene and owner of one of the oldest gun shops in Texas. I've spent countless hours with this guy talking about this issue - I may be biased. Go figure. On Thursday, June 5, 2014 4:58 PM, "'Richard J. Williams' punditster@... mailto:punditster@... [FairfieldLife]" <[email protected]> mailto:[email protected] wrote: On 6/5/2014 8:27 AM, awoelflebater@... mailto:awoelflebater@... [FairfieldLife] wrote: ---In [email protected] mailto:[email protected], <mjackson74@...> mailto:mjackson74@... wrote : It appears that Canada is not immune to gun violence either. Nowhereis immune because people are violent. Another example of why guns have no place in society. > We are probably never going to have an ideal society where there are no guns. The reality is the last place you want to be, is in a gunfight without a gun. If citizens were armed they could kill the shooter with a single shot to the head. It's not complicated.
