At one point I worked at a clerk selling guns and ammunition. We had many police, security officers and other completely ligitimate people who came in to purchase firearms. There were women buying small guns to put in their purses for protection. Men buying handguns or rifles to put in their homes after a breakin scared the whole family. I saw young boys coming in with their Dad's to buy their first hunting rifle and then sign up for the hunter's safety class. I saw only 2 or so men come in who once the handgun check was run through the system wre turned down for purchasing a gun because of minor law infractions they had committed. The majority of crimes are NOT done by these people who would be affected most by any more laws. The guns these people bought were for healthy purposes - ie. protecting their families, providing food for their families (hunting) or simple sport. Personally I would not carry a gun for protection (I have learned other methods) because whatever weapon that you carry including pepperspray can be turned against you. If you carry a weapon for protection you MUST be prepared to use it. There was a retired policeman who use to come in just to shoot the breeze with us. Two things he said that I will never forget were 1. If you shoot a man who is robbing you make sure he isn't in the process of leaving because then you are considered the attacker (I think this is so screwed up but I can see where they'd get it) 2. If you have to shoot someone who is attacking you shoot to kill or they can sue you for their injury. I've seen that happen and it's so pathetic. Guns shouldn't be getting this bad rap - It's the criminals that buy them on the street that are the problem. Gun control? Use Both hands.
__________________
"Always learn the rules so that you can break them properly." Dalai Lama
My Karma just ran over your Dogma.
|