Starbucks Boycott Over Marriage Equality Spurs Tenfold Backlash

[Starboard Tack]

130. Thanks for sharing. Interesting.

"But we do not live in a world of wonderful people"
Now that is a point you've arrived at, but is your cup half full or half empty? You say you are an optimist and I take you at your word. I think we do live in a world of wonderful people. Doesn't mean there aren't some anomalies in there. Sure, there's violence out there, but adding more guns in the street to the equation is no solution. It only serves to abrade the social fabric, making folk suspicious of each other, isolating themselves. I respect your decision and your profession. You are performing an essential service for many people. I'm not a pacifist, nor am I opposed to gun ownership and home defense. I am opposed to the behavior of routine carrying in public. I understand the arguments in favor of it, but I oppose it out of reason, not emotion. That said, if folk are going to engage in such behavior, then they should be trained and qualified by instructors like yourself. Unfortunately, more and more are not trained or are trained inadequately. The consequences are more Zimmermans.
I think the culture is at fault, rather than the laws. The glorification of gun violence. The idea that having a handgun and shooting someone is macho or cool and necessary for some gang initiation.
I think the message needs to go out that guns are not cool, in fact, they are very uncool. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy shooting guns and have since I was a kid. But, they are not cool when used to resolve conflicts, prove oneself, acquire things, protect things and most of all, to take lives.

As long as guns are touted as the best tools of self defense, the problem will not go away. It's the classic self-fulfilling prophesy. Truth is, as I'm sure you teach, the gun is the absolute last resort tool of self defense. Fact is, the situational awareness level, of anyone carrying a firearm, should be so high they should never need a gun. But they get used to wearing it, or the book told them they should get in the habit. I'm a little wary of habits, though I can see how tempting it might be. But I find it a little Faustian and not the way I want to set an example in my world.