About guns, [View all]

[MadHound]

For those of you who are wanting to restrict gun purchases and ownership, what are you going to say to the literally thousands of people who have protected themselves with a gun over the past decades? How do you convince them that owning a gun is a bad thing?

For instance, after intervening with my drunk neighbor thirty years ago over the fact that he was beating his wife, after getting his wife to safety, the guy got pissed and kicked my front door off of its hinges. Having no phone, I was on my own, with no possibility for law enforcement help coming by anytime soon. The only thing that kept this guy from coming after me was the fact that I had a pump 12 gauge shotgun loaded and ready to go. The fellow backed down, went away, and the situation resolved itself peaceably.

If I didn't have a gun, I could have been beaten to a pulp. And this scenario is played out again and again, with different variations, every single day. The fact is, having a gun does prevent people from tragedy, especially when help is far away. How do you convince people that restricting their right to own a gun is a good thing.

Frankly, I'm still glad I have that old 12 gauge pump. I now live out in meth country, dealing with people who are desperate, who will steal and commit violence to get what they want. Yes, I want a gun in my house for self defense, it has worked for me before, and I want to have that option in the future.

Also, I think of this Gil Scott Heron work everytime one of these tragedies happen and the talk invariably turns to greater gun control. As true now as it was then.

"Well the philosophy seems to be
At least as near as I can see
When other folks give up theirs
I'll give up mine."