Hi,
First off, this is the first time in 50 years that someone has even alluded to my being a
Liberal, which is a little frightening all in itself.
Second, I am not advocating a Ban on Guns or the repeal of the 2nd Ammendment.
Third, I keep a Long Gun (12 Ga.) at home, loaded for Self-Protection and would immediately resort to it's use if the need ever arose, which I hope never happens.
Fourth, I
am an ex-serviceman who has used weapons against people in Anger, and they didn't get up - ever.
Believe me, a fully munitioned F4 can rain down a whole lot more death & destruction than a simple Handgun. And unlike many of you, I have been shot at as well, practically daily on 3 Floats totalling 10 mos. on
Station Yankee and 5 months on
Station Dixie, flying MigCap, ResCap, and IronHand (the NAVY's equivalent of Wild Weasel) - Air-to-Air, Air-to-Ground, and SAM Suppression.
I have no doubt that in the hands of a qualified,
experienced, and confident individual, a Handgun can offer the desired protection. And I do not have any remorse in seeing a violent Street Punk or Addict's reign of terror ended without increasing the burden of the Taxpayer.
But, I equally have no doubt that many people brandishing Handguns are not properly prepared, either Mentally or Physically, to use them (despite having attended some training) when the need arises and that tragedy (for themselves and others) is most likely the result.
Like the MA devotees, many will stumble, fumble, and shake so badly that everyone on the Street except the intended target will be at risk. And don't think it won't happen to you, the Adrenanline rush alone will cause you to shake like a leaf. The first time I was shot at in Combat, my Flight Suit needed changing as soon as I trapped aboard - my initiation into a VERY Big Club!
We have people here who can't even change their Oil, Bleed their Brakes or change their MAF (no offense meant to
anyone), and you want me to accept advocating them acquiring and carrying a Handgun in Public? Clearly, everyone should not do this, although admittedly they do retain that Right.
It's interesting that the Handguns displayed in this thread go waay beyond what is needed for basic self-defense. These
Thoroughbred Heaters aren't any more effective than a simple H&R .32 Revolver. True, you can't squeeze 15 rounds into a Revolver, but if you're in a situation where you require that many rounds, you probably got yourself into something deeper than you had to (maybe because you were
packing?). These seem to be Vanity pieces designed to boost Egos - to pass around for the admiration and agrandisement of their owner... That's OK, but are we still talking about basic self-defense here?
Like I said, I do not know the answer. But I have been into and out of some Street situations, both in this Country's Inner Cities and throughout the World, that many just see in the movies and I never once felt I needed a handgun to extricate myself. For now at least, I'm choosing to remain unarmed...
Happy Motoring!... Jim'99
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