Sorry to barge in but this all reminds me of an old thread. I've borrowed some of these sentiments from the June 08 Gun Rights Posts. I hope you can find some pertinence in them.
I think the main issue in gun ownership is self defense. Crime stats diminish when criminals start getting killed by law of protectionism. If guns were banned people would resort to using knives. If knives were banned they would resort to using baseball bats. People that resort to violence in order to make statement will use whatever weaponry is available. Including but not limited to road side bombs and biological means. Personally I feel I would rather have a gun to protect myself against a knife wielding criminal in a parking lot rather than a knife as the gun would level out the field should my opponent be stronger than I. Of course there is the scenario: Thief pulls out knife, I pull out Derringer, thief pulls out Colt 22 , I pull out a Glock, thief pulls out 38 Special, I pull out a .44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world and blow his head clean off and make my day. A fully armed citizenry does not rule out passive action, the fact of gun ownership does not imply violent confrontation exclusively. So we cannot draw conclusions based solely on ownership but have to further evaluate the psychological position of the owner. The US is armed to the hilt and further spends more on military power than all the other countries combined, still many passive attempts have been made to quell problematic aggressors. A confrontation is usually the result of armed provocation. Guns are not the issue as much as the human drive for power. In the beginning we threw rocks and used clubs, later we made spears and developed iron weaponry, we forged swords and hacked away. Later came gun powder and the rest is history. Banning rocks would not have reduced violence. Only the human condition or the alteration of it can change the way we communicate. I used to own a couple of small caliber rifles but currently do not own any weaponry. If crime increased to an alarming rate, and I imagine that the current economic downturn will fuel an increase in crime, I would without reserve purchase at least a shotgun should the potential of a home invasion seem likely. Further I would not hesitate one instant to use is on a would be trespasser, as is my right. Ownership is not a priority but having the "Right to Own" is! There have been in the past drives to get people to voluntarily turn in their guns and sure enough I was staggered to see how many people actually gave away the only real protection they have. The police department basically and most often acts as "after the fact" participants at a crime scene. They take the reports and create the crime statistics. You can view crime statistics in your city by typing Crime Statistics (your city). Some offer a breakdown by postal code as well. So if there ever was a time in which to own a gun for personal protection it is now. I would rather shoot the dirt bag(s) breaking into my home and remove them from society than to have to call the police so I can tell them the story about how my family was burglarized and worse. Even if they catch the creeps, they will just give them 3 hots and a cot on tax payers expense. Guns are essential in creating a sense of balance and keep the opposition at bay. Again, it is not as important for me to own a gun as it is for me to have the "Right" to own one. Freedom is freedom and stripping away the right to own a gun, for whatever reason, is an attack on freedom. No one can give me a good reason why I should lose my right to own a gun. The more we turn over our lives to government bureaucracy the more we become like sheep. I will decide if and when I need or want to own a gun, not joe blow politician. IMO, Slip --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups ""Minds Eye"" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/Minds-Eye?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
