Paul,
Are you speculating, or have people in these situations actually told you they wanted to be able to carry firearms or other weapons for protection?
I have belonged to several of the categories you mentioned: I worked at a convenience store that had been previously robbed at gunpoint and closed it alone at midnight, then walked home, also alone. One night, while I was cleaning in the back room after closing, the owner's son came into the store, using his key. He scared me half to death, but fortunately, I did not have a gun and no one was hurt.
As a young college student, I often walked home from the library or from work, very late at night, alone and felt as safe doing so at 2 am as I did at 9 pm. I paid attention and felt no need for a weapon.
I have traveled on country roads and interstate highways alone with my children and also with my disabled mother, during the day and at night. I have had breakdowns, flat tires, etc. miles from home. I never wanted a weapon, but a cell phone would have been nice.
I have been threatened and attacked (not by strangers, but by a family member and by male acquaintenances) yet managed to successfully defend myself against much larger assailants, without the use of weapons. I have always been grateful that no weapons were around because someone would have been hurt much more seriously. Maybe me, maybe my attacker.
In the early '60's, my grandparents were held up at gunpoint in their farmhouse. Afterwards, they installed a large light, common now at farm houses, and got a big dog, but no gun. It wasn't that they didn't believe in guns, but they didn't feel a need, and had grandchildren around.
In the mid seventies, my uncle was held up at gun point in his farm house, using his own guns, by the way. My uncle had grown up with guns, was an expert shot, was in excellent physical shape, and was a WWII vet. He tried to defend himself and my aunt with a gun, was disarmed, shot at(they missed), and tied up, but thankfully otherwise unhurt. The thieves were after his guns, the only things they took.
I grew up in a home with hunting guns, rifles and shotguns and we all knew where they were kept and where the ammo was. I even helped my dad load shells. It has never occured to me that guns or knives or pepper spray would make me any safer. It has occured to me, many, many times, that not having weapons around made me and my family and anyone who came into our home safer.
I know that I do not speak for every woman, but I will say that I personally feel much less safe knowing that many more people feel they must carry weapons to defend themselves, particularly since some make no bones about me and my family being so much collateral damage if one of their shots goes astray while defending themselves from a threat.
Terri Hyle
From: "Paul Double" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "On Line Democracy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: FW: [Winona] Conceal and Carry Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 17:42:56 -0500
Randy
"the type of person that may feel the need to carry"
People working second shift, especially women.
Anyone working in a Convenience store off an interstate highway.
Someone walking home late a night alone on their way from work or recreation.
A women traveling alone or with children on a highway in a rural road late at night.
A foreman who fired an employee who threatened them and/or their family on the way out the door.
A person who is physically threatened by a spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend or the suitor of a mutual friend.
Someone who works in an area, like Chicago's Cabrini Green.
Paul Double
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 8:21 AM
Chris I wonder if you could tell us from your experience more about the type
of person that feels a need to carry knives, guns, or other weapons?
thanks Randy Schenkat
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