OK...the million dollar question. Why would you want to kill someone?

[jp76]

163. I understand and agree.

I own a gun, and I (mostly) agree. I don't think anyone should own or operate ANYTHING potentially lethal, be it gun, car, fireworks...without considering the consequences of its use.

I'm a safe driver, because I know the consequences of driving recklessly could be the death of an innocent. I could not live with that on my conscience. It would wreck me.

I'm not the sort who looks for trouble, it's really going to have to come find me. If it does, I will do my best to exit the situation, call the authorities, or take whatever steps I can to de-escalate the situation. If none of those are options, or if there is no time for any of those options, then I will shoot.

Will I feel bad about it? Of course. But will I feel AS bad as I would if I was driving wrecklessly and killed an innocent? No way. Not even close. The death of an innocent would be because of something I did (or didn't) do. The death of an aggressor would be because of something THEY did.

So, yes, I have asked myself that question. Frequently, about many things, not just guns.

Only point of disagreement - a gun is really no different than an axe. If properly operated, it, like an axe, will not kill anyone it is not intended to. It is not the nature of the tool that defines it, it is the use to which it is put. An axe, while designed to cut wood, can serve as a fairly gruesome killing tool.