A recent shooting in my town that left 3 people dead has brought about many issues. For example: it has been suggested that if more people "strapped guns on their sides" that this tragedy could have been averted or at least the perpetrator stopped (as of this writing he is still at large). What disturbs me most about this suggestion is that it came from a police officer. Of all professions I would think a law enforcement officer would want to keep as many guns off the street as possible. He made a pretty convincing argument but the idea still scares the hell out of me.
I have considered getting a gun to protect my family. I live in a very rural county and if someone broke into my house while my wife were home alone she currently has no protection other then our 2 large, vocal dogs. The Sheriff's office is only a phone call away but the nearest Deputy might be quite far away. What would happen if really hard times hit and we have any kind of societal breakdown? What I mean by this is: suppose fuel prices skyrocket again (greedy oil companies and evil Arabs) and the grocery store shelves start getting bare. Electrical service becomes intermittent. Suppose I saw this coming and stored a year's supply of food essentials, fuel and water on my land. Next thing you know, my neighbor wants some. He comes over with his hand gun to appropriate some of my stores and I repel him with my shotgun. So he returns with a couple buddies and an assault rifle or two. OK, where does this end? Someone ends up dead. Do we really want to return to the day when he who carries the biggest gun wins all the gold? I know it is an extreme example but it could come about.
What really frightens me is that I am a pacifist, yet I am considering getting a gun. Next thing you know I will want to carry it around with me. I have had lots of training as a martial artist and tournament fighter; however, every time I began a fight the adrenalin rush was almost too much for me to control. I think that if I were in such a tense situation as having someone shooting a gun around that if I drew a weapon I'd be shaking so much I might shoot anything or anybody. I am having trouble getting past the idea that when eventually most people are walking around armed, that every argument would end up with a gun being involved. I've got an employee that I know loves guns and has a carry permit. What if I have to terminate this person someday? Should I keep a gun in my desk to protect myself? I wonder how to keep guns out of the hands of people that have no business handling them. I knew a guy who was a University Police Officer and was so paranoid he should never have been allowed to own a gun. Neither of these people are criminals but I shudder to think of what might happen if either finds a bottle of SCOPE in his mailbox someday.
I wonder if it would be much of a deterrent for criminals if more people were armed? A sign outside the door that says "I own a gun and I'm not afraid to use it" might be just as detrimental. I suppose it depends upon the type crime. A crime of opportunity is more likely to be second thought then a crime of passion.
I guess that a perfect world only the Police and the criminals would have guns and there would be enough police around to protect us all.
stw
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Dad, does it scare you to think that someday, the United States will fall, like the Roman Empire, or the Ottoman Empire, or the Byzantine Empire, or the Macedonian Empire? This list goes on...
ReplyDeleteI'm not saying it is going to happen, but America fits into what is known as an 'empire'. It is possible that someday we will be overthrown. Now, is this really reason to panic and use every nuclear weapon to destroy all life that is on the planet? It's a weak argument, but it has a good point.
If you get a gun, you will be trying to hold on to what you think is safety but really just a way to kill someone. The glass is half full, yet you are drinking poison. The times will come when anarchy will ensue, and people will be toting guns around everywhere they please. Those will be dark times, but the physical implications will only reflect what will happen then and there. People are not bulletproof. Countries are not, even the world is not bulletproof. But, from the movie V for Vendetta, ideas are bulletproof. The idea that we can and will eventually filter out weapons of mass destruction and guns. It is ideal, but nothing is impossible.
Now, I'm not trying to make you angry, dad. I'm just trying to state that I, for one, would never own a gun that was intended for protection. My protection is my word, whether I live or die. My protection is my body, which may or may not be able to react in time. If others die for my lack of protection, it is simply what was supposed to happen. Existential and fatalist as it may seem, I believe that life is, has been, and always will be(quoth Watchmen).
He's a smart kid.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how I feel about owning a gun. On one hand, I despise them. I feel that they only cause more unnecessary violence. On the other hand, the need for protection is getting more and more necessary.
I do feel more confident in knowing that Andy has extensive knowledge and experience with guns... it's one of the few things I can thank the Army for. If we ever needed that kind of protection, I'm very confident in his skills.
Let us hope that worse does not come to worst.
I am so proud of my kids. Smart they are!
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