75yr old man kills 13yr kid

[lapislzi]

37. An oft-overlooked point about guns, and a reason I don't have them

Yes, yes, it's all there in the Second Amendment. Your RIGHT to bear arms. Fine.

Well, it's a cliche, but it's a cliche because it's true: with rights come responsibilities.

When I owned a firearm in South Africa, I did the requisite target practice. The officer at the shooting range told me something I hadn't considered: you must be prepared to defend your firearm. You cannot allow it to be taken from you. Your firearm defends you. You must in turn keep it safe.

It is actually a level of responsibility that I don't wish to bear, and one of the reasons I will not own a firearm again.

If the man whose guns were stolen had secured them properly, the theft would not have occurred, or have been less likely to occur. I doubt a 13-year-old would have the patience or expertise to crack a gun safe, or carry it out of a house unnoticed. (Note: I am not suggesting that the young man stole the guns; just that it is much easier to steal unsecured weapons)

Having your guns just lying around the house, or stowed in a closet, is asking for trouble.