Sand wrote:
One of the basic problems is how you view possibilities. As I pointed out I have been through a few situations that might be considered life threatening by some. I never looked at them that way and never needed a firearm. Perhaps if I had a gun I might have put myself into a situation where I needed one and I don't find that attractive. But situations do arrive spontaneously where a gun could save a life. It's never happened to me. I do not prepare for being struck by a meteor or some space junk falling on my head but I can't deny the possibility. I don't normally carry a flashlight or a crowbar or a small can of gasoline in case my car runs out of gas. I don't normally carry a length of rope in case I have to flee a fire out of a window. I don't wear thick gloves to control a possible vicious dog. I don't carry snake bite anti-venom in case a rattler crosses my path. These are all real possibilities. I don't carry a gun.
Good for you, you managed to get through life despite it sounding like you often disregarded your environment when it came to preparation. To take some examples from your list, I carry a snakebite kit when I go hiking in snake country, I carry extra gas if I'm going to be driving in remote areas, I keep a flashlight in my glovebox because it's handy, and I carry a gun most anytime I'm out of my house. This isn't paranoia or fear of the world, as you seem to be suggesting, it's simply common sense, being prepared like any good Boyscout. How many people do you suppose are better off by being
less prepared for the unexpected, vs those who take the time to prepare for a few possibilities? As you so often tell us, you've never carried a gun as a civilian, never had any desire to do so, so why should anyone listen to your advice when it comes to choosing whether or not to carry one? You think that carrying a gun may have led to you making poor decisions, but you've never tried it so you're really just guessing. I do carry a gun daily, and can tell you that the last thing someone who's legally carrying a gun does is go looking for trouble, the law holds CPL holders to a much higher standard than your average citizen, because we are supposed to know better. Basically, when I carry legally I lose the right to be a jerk to people because if it turns violent I'll be held responsible, but since I'm not a big fan of being a jerk to people, it's a fair trade for the ability to defend myself and those around me if I need to. Considering that the chances of being wrongfully shot by an armed civilian are signifigantly less than those of being struck by lightening, who's really living a life of fear and paranoia if they spend so much time worrying about it?
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Your boos mean nothing, I've seen what makes you cheer.
- Rick Sanchez
05 Apr 2009, 4:04 pm
