I think a gun in the hands of a trained and responsible adult is much better than in the hands of a group of agitated people. And there is definitely a difference between fending off an intruder on one's property, and patroling the streets. Certainly anyone who breaks into a house should be repelled by whatever means necessary, and I'm glad your wife is okay. I don't believe in banning firearms outright (and I do not think it would work in this country--we're not England). I have friends and relatives who hunt and collect firearms responsibly.
But I do have very serious concerns about people walking around in groups with bats and guns or whatever. Some of my concerns are also for the safety of the people patrolling. (Will they try to keep hidden or make themselves visible? If hidden, how will various patrols recognize each other in the dark? If visible, how will they avoid becoming targets for criminals/terrorists themselves? What procedures will they utilize and warnings will they give before they brandish a weapon, etc.) I don't think armed patrols should be used in lieu of alternatives, such as block clubs and phone trees, etc. If one is determined to have armed patrols, I would at least like to see these alternatives already in place. Actually, John and I lived in Phillips during the beginning of the Getty episode there--STAY wouldn't listen to us, they were determined to have Getty. People as rigid as they were are heading for a fall. The JDL members in Brooklyn strike me as much more reasonable and methodical than who we were dealing with, but I still have serious misgivings even about the purest of intentions. I admit that the police can't protect us all and that I don't have the answer. Kristine Harley Sheridan _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
