longbough

If I had to defend myself against someone weilding a knife or a bat, should I be expected to enter a knife-fight? If my life is in danger I will use a gun. What could an 85lb old lady do?
This is already the case. I think it's safe to say we still have a problem.
A ban changes nothing in this regard.
I don't understand how I, as a gun-owner, am adding to the problem - unless you see me as a threat. As a slogan it sounds superficially rational - but think about what that statement is really saying.

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If you want to have an idea of the typical sociopath or criminal mind you ought to consider the opinion of most LEOs. I used to work as a community primary care physician and now I'm working as a physician for the California Department of Corrections. I have some familiarity with the socioeconomic issues of the underserved community as well as the needs of the middle and upper-middle class.

My experience doesn't trump your opinion - but I would beg of any neutral reader to consider my opinions seriously.

Willravel, you should know better than to misrepresent my statement that, "these posts aren't the best source of information." I had written that in response to a comment from Charlatan that he/she has "come to understand the gun-advocate's point of view quite well (mostly from reading posts here)." Are you defending the idea that these forums are sufficient resource from which to understand the gun-proponent argument? While much of what is written on these forums are sourced from the internet - so is much disinformation. Unless you check the facts for yourself there's no way to distinguish the two from just reading the forums. Honestly, how can you possibly argue against conducting independent research through alternative sources? That's like marshalling a defense for perpetuating ignorance. I credit you with more insight than that.

Unless you believe that "gun shows" and legal gun transactions are the main source of criminal firearms then how will a ban on firearms affect the criminal?
Even so, is it not conceivable, that this will just bring more business to the black market?
Did prohibition work for alcohol?
Does the war on drugs affect marajuana, heroin, cocaine or amphetamine use? I work with substance abuse patients so I can tell you that the problem is as alive and well as it always has been.

Even if the effect of a ban on criminal activity is debatable - one thing for sure, if I were living in SF proper, I would certainly be affected by it. While you may not regard me as a danger - a law banning firearms would say otherwise.

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Prevention may be the ultimate solution. I agree. But that isn't an immediate solution for an active problem. The horse is out of the barn - fixing the door now will help in the future but we have things we must do here and now. The ability to defend onesself with deadly force doesn't displace the need for prevention - nor does the focus on prevention address immediate concerns for self defense.

As I mentioned I work with hardened criminals in the overcrowded California State prisons - I don't envision these people, all at once, becoming "born again" in the near future despite whatever social programs and psychological, occupational and educational resources they might have at hand. Spend a day at work with me and you'll realize that there are many people released into society who are hardened "predators." And as much empathy as I have at my disposal I prefer to retain the ability to defend my loved ones if I have to.

If you have never been assaulted, burlarized, had your life threatened, raped or otherwise brutalized consider yourself lucky and count your blessings. Ignorance is bliss - it happens in the best neighborhoods to the most unsuspecting and compliant people. I'd rather be prepared.

My uncle owned a grocery store and was robbed at gunpoint. Being an unassuming, peaceful man he was compliant with the criminal completely handing over all the cash in the till. It just so happen the man decided to shoot my uncle in the face anyway. In the face of uncertainty I'd rather be prepared. And please don't even suggest that a ban would have prevented that from happening.

I've never had my house burn down or destroyed by earthquake - but I carry insurance.
I have never lost a limb - but I do carry disability.
I have never gotten Hepatitis B but I have my vaccinations.
I have never been in a situation that required my need to take someone's life - but I do own a gun and know how to use it - psychologically as well as physically

- Again, I don't expect you to see things my way - you've already made up your minds. But know this. Just because I'm a gun owner doesn't mean it'd be my first resort if I get robbed or that I am quick rely on deadly force as a solution to most adverse encounters. If my car was being stolen I'd let them take my car (that's why I have insurance) or my house were being burglarized I'd stay in my bedroom, lock the door and call 911 with gun in hand.
But if that carjacker was thinking of dragging me to the pavement to beat me in a riot or if my neice were screaming in the next room because the invader decided to do harm to her (heaven forbid) I wouldn't (and shouldn't) hesitate to consider the use deadly force. It doesn't matter if the invader has a gun, a knife, a pipe wrench or a baseball bat.
But if the law were to disarm me I would be absolutely powerless ... In a matter of life or death it's unreasonable to think a knife-fight is an appropriate alternative.

They are not unrealistic scenarios - they happen all the time. I was living near the city at the time of the Rodney King riots. Luckily I was already safe at home and not in my car on the roads at the time.