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Upon much reflection, I have deicded that at this debates very core is a matter of my perception and philosophy differening greatly from others. I will let Ghandi speak for me in answer to several previous insinuations: "Nonviolence and cowardice are contradictory terms. Nonviolence is the greatest virtue, cowardice the greatest vice. Nonviolence springs from love, cowardice from hate. Nonviolence always suffers, cowardice would always inflict suffering. Perfect nonviolence is the highest bravery. Nonviolent conduct is never demoralizing, cowardice always is."
I am such a strong believer in nonviolence, that I believe that violent self defense is still violent, whether the cause of that violence is nobel or not. Ghandi again: "However much I may sympathize with and admire worthy motives, I am an uncompromising opponent of violent methods even to serve the noblest of causes." It took me years of martial arts training and much violence to realize that true peace means a dedication to nonviolence that is uncompromising. While I have the skill to defend myself or attack someone with a high success rate, I know that I will never be able to do it beacuse it's wrong. When I hear people justifying murder or violence, no matter the reason, I see one thing: entitlement. While you will not agree with me in this, I must tell you how I perceive the subject. If a man acts in such a way as to purpously take my life or the lives of my wife or daughter, he is posturing for battle or conflict. If I counter and injur or kill him, have I won? Is it really a victory if he is left injured or killed? I would say not. It is the general sense in our society that it IS okay to murder in self defence that I speak of when I say entitlement. This is why I so ademently support security doors and passive defensive measures. Buying a gun to defend yourself is similar to making a doomsday device to keep yourself safe. It is the most severe form of contradiction.
If you wish to buy a gun in order to keep yoursrelf safe, please do so. If you want to question why others don't have a gun, expect an answer that has more to do with philosophy than statistics. I realize, as someone who lives in the real world, that the statistics point to probable failure for the San Francisco gun ban. I also know that I sleep more soundly knowing that others are, like me, so dedicated to non violence that they are willing to gamble their lives on it. If it doesn't make sense to you, that's fine. I expect no concessions on the matter. I just wanted to come back fresh and let you know what I was thinking.
I apologize if I offended anyone with my eariler posts. I started to lose my temper, and that is something I have to live with.
One more Ghandi quote to go out on: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
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