What if someone gets their hands on your car and initially runs someone down should you be held personally responsible?

 

I want to know how all this "firepower" is supposed to protect you when you aren't carrying it with you? If you're that afraid that someone is going to "snuff you out", then I suppose you carry all your "protective" weapons with you at all times? If not, then the argument that you need them for protection is pretty shallow.............. While the freedom to do certain things is nice, it's gotten our country into a bit of a mess. Having weapons is one thing, but preventing the criminals from getting them is another.

 

I personally don't care if people want to own guns or anything else. In fact, I don't care if you move to Ruby Ridge, build a log cabin, and surround it with a moat and nuclear missles! What I do care about is honesty. I happen to believe that using the 2nd amendment (and even personal security) to justify your stockpile is a bunch of bs. An earlier poster (Toiletduck) said that guns were "fun," and I respect that honesty! Even though I don't own guns, I could imagine that shooting things would be fun! Maybe you just want to impress your friends, or maybe it's some pseudo-phallic thing. Who knows. As far as personal security is concerned, I would like to present the following rule of thumb: until you can DEMONSTRATE that you can pull that trigger WITHOUT HESITATION while looking someone in the eye DURING A HIGH-PRESSURE SITUATION (and splatter their brains all over your wife's new window treatments), DO NOT ASSUME that the gun will be of any use to you in a real confrontation. This is the same concept as giving someone emergencies in the sim. It's one thing to talk about what you would do in a given situation, and another to actually do it when your heart is beating 900 times a minute, you have tunnel-vision, and no fine-motor skills.

There's one other point that I would like to make. I have figured out who some of you are, just as some of you know me and/or have figured out who I am. I find it ironic that some of you will not discuss the details of the FFDO program (which is a good thing), but some of you will advertise in so many words, on a PUBLIC INTERNET FORUM, that you have a stockpile of guns at home (thereby putting you and/or your family at risk)! It is not beyond the realm of possibility for someone to not only figure out who you are, but also your address and your basic schedule. Just something to think about on your next 4 day trip.

 

There is concealed carry. For out of the home. There are home weapons for, well, the home. As per stockpile... How bottles of booze do you have? One kind of vodka? Stick with just one kind of beer? Like only one white wine? So, if you own more, is that considered a stockpile? Do you HONESTLY need more than one variety? Do you believe that drunk driving. which has killed more people than guns, should be used as a reason to limit your freedom to purchase more than one type of alcohol, as people get killed by drunk drivers? When a drunk drivers plows into a car and kills 4 people, isn't that as bad as someone with an AK shooting people? So, ban cars. Ban the liquor that relieved that person of their personal responsibility. Stabbings with knives? Been in ER's a good bit and can tell you knifings blow out gun wounds many times over as violent crimes. Go ask your ER doctors what they see more. Inner city as well.
It is fun to shoot things at the range with different firearms. And, much as I am no John Wayne, I have been in situations where a gun has been been pulled and can without hesitation say that if it was either me or the fine upstanding criminals trying to kick in my door who were going to walk out of the situation, pulling that trigger to save me, my wife or my kids would have been instinctual. I agree. Some training can make you cocky and therefore useless in the event of a real life situation. But if it came down to protecting your family, and all you had was a gun while someone came in, and God forbid, went for your wife or tried to hurt your kids, would you simply yell "Help" and "Run" or would you fire? But, being a non gun owner, which is fine, what would you do? Think about that on your next 4 day as you wave goodbye to your family. My wife is well trained and respectful of guns. But is willing, I hope, to protect our kids in an event like the above. I sure as heck hope she never has to, as the ramifications, mentally, last for years after. But at least your pulse is still going and you will have the time to work the issues out.
I have no intention of moving to Ruby Ridge. But it may be a possibility if the government wants to take away my freedoms. These freedoms were paid for in blood. There is no reason they shouldn't be defended with such. If you like being herded like sheep, given all your basic needs on a government platter and feel the need to be over-governed by people who will make decisions for you, have at it. But do it in Russia, or Cuba. Leave America, land of the FREE, to those who like it like that.

 

The government takes away your freedoms all the time.

Are you free to buy crack?
Are you free to drive 125mph on the highways?
You willingly allow yourself to be hearded like sheep all the time.

 

are you living under? Speed limits are limits, not freedoms. Crack is a drug and illegal. Neither are mentioned in the US Constitution. Maybe in the Martian one.

 

The stockpile argument is lacking - it can be compared to many things.

Your other point...which I agree somewhat about being able to pull the trigger, when you take the concealed weapons class, one of the things pounded over and over is the rules of the road for pulling the trigger. You can't use your weapon as a show of force... if you unholster your weapon, you had better be willing to pull the trigger without any second thoughts - and it is paramount you should be able to hit your target.

There are three parties involved in a crime: The victim, the criminal, and the police .... who of those is the last to show up?

 

So based on what I'm reading, many on this forum would have NO PROBLEM with EVERYONE carrying concealed weapons as long as they were "properly trained". That'd sure make me feel safe........... The first time someone feels "threatened", they'd pop the other guy off. Then it's going to be "who's got better and bigger firepower", who's faster on the draw, who's aim is better, etc. We'll be setting ourselves up for quite a show. Hopefully I'm not there to enjoy it. I guess we should all be going out and buying Tasers next.

 

There are quite a bit of people in certain states that do carry quite often... I'd venture to say in States that prohibit such a thing, the crime rates are higher - particularly in California -

I guess all of those people with their "stockpiles" are constantly mowing down other people they don't like

 

Last I knew, people didn't brag about the number or kinds of Vodka they had in their liquor cabinets, nor were their kids sneaking into their liquor stash to blow someone away. They didn't brag about having 15 cases of beer in the fridge, nor was drinking and driving "legal". Anyone over 21, including criminals can buy liquor. Hollow arguments...........