DETROIT: Large increase in women getting Concealed Pistol License.

[TPaine7]

63. I am trying to understand your position, but you lose me at points.

First, let me agree with you. The fact that people sometimes need guns to protect themselves is sad. It is not a reasonable cause for celebration, in fact, it is proof of imperfections in our society. But so are courts, judges, juries, police officers, trials, lawsuits, and prisons.

But while needing guns isn't so great, having them when they are needed is an unqualified good. And while needing police, judges, juries and prisons is not a great thing, having them when needed is great. I, for one, am thrilled that many folks have been arrested, tried, convicted and incarcerated.

You seem to think that everyone who is attacked gets a warning gut feeling. If only it were so. If your wife or daughter were attacked, there is no reason to believe that their attacker will give them a reason to think they are in danger. There is no reason to think that they will voice concerns for their personal safety to you, or even in their own heads before they are attacked.

If your wife and daughter are competent, level headed and knowledgeable, would it not be better for them to be armed thousands of days and not need the gun than to be unarmed one day when a gun could have been used to save their lives or physical integrity?

Only routine carry can protect a woman against unexpected threats. If a woman's male relatives and romantic interests aren't abusive, stalkers or the like, her threats are likely to be unexpected and opportunistic. If a woman isn't psychic, she won't think to herself one morning "I should carry a gun today because my car will have a flat and I will be accosted by a man intent on hurting me."