Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Brucelee
"If this many handguns are in circulation, then IMHO, owning one only deepens the extent of the problem..."
What problem are we speaking of here Jim. I see no issue with legally obtained and permitted firearms. Fact is, they provide a mighty deterent to those who would victimize us otherwise.
|
Hi,
I'm referring to accidental shootings, children being killed or injured with
unloaded handguns, crimes of passion made possible by the ready access to a handgun, etc.
I believe in self-defence and keep a 12 ga. at home for that purpose, but only if my life or my wife's is
directly threatened. IMHO, the only justification in taking a life (or even attempting it) is to save a life which is in
immanent danger, not for the saving of property (which seems to be the jist of this topic).
There seems to be a lot of Macho inference in this thread, but taking a life, under any circumstances is the most horrific thing you can imagine, in fact, unless you've done it, I doubt you can imagine it. I know I didn't.
And you don't need a Handgun (or any gun for that matter) to kill someone. You can just as easily line them up in the crosswalk.
So far as deterrent, it seems to me that if you are going to pull it as a last resort, you've moved way beyond deterring the bad guy anyway. I suspect that in more cases than not, once you pull it, you're gonna have to use it.
I guess what I'm wondering is if people are so fearful of such immanent personal threat that they see owning a Handgun as a viable cure? Wouldn't moving to Iowa be at least as reasonable an alternative - I mean if you're
that threatened?
It's reasonable to assume that I'm not the only one here who believes that any schmoe being able to arm himself/herself with a handgun might not be a such a good thing. You're asking me to place a whole lot of trust in their personal restraint. Trust which I'm not sure I can bestow...
Happy Motoring!... Jim'99