Do you feel safe in your house?

But that's what I meant. It's not just maths! It's human lives. I don't care What stats say. If one person in ten million has died because someone misused their gun, then I don't like it.

I'm not saying they never work right in self defence. But if you don't own a gun, you're never going to fire it. And I'm not sure I could even bring myself to use one in self defence.

What? But anyway, yes, I'm scared lest I should go momentarily crazy. I'm no superhuman, and as I say it can happen to *anyone*. Id rather not have a gun and repent anything related to that. If you want to think I was born crazy because I admit to the possibility of something triggering that, then do, I don't care.

Okay, so I was talking about your father, sure Look, I don't like generalisations either, Adrian. They're always wrong, they're the same as the stats - meaningless. An the fact that your constitutions lets you carry one is only because those were crazy times when it was written. Back then also retarded people were thought to be devilish and young women were accused of witchcraft. What about all those state laws that appear from time to time that rule the weirdest things?

See, you may have a gun or a thousand guns, you may provide me with all the stats you want. You may think I'm accusing your father without actually knowing him. To me a gun is a killing machine and I don't think basicallyanyone can get hold of one and sleep with it tucked under their pillow.

Yes, if one innocent person in ten million died because they misused their gun, that is a tragedy. I believe that with all my heart. What I do not believe is the vicious lie that that one person's life outweighs the lives of all the people who would be condemned to death by banning guns. That is a barbaric, inhuman trade, despite being made with the best of intentions. Could I bring myself to fire a gun in self defense? Honestly, I don't know. I haven't been put in that situation yet. I pray with all my heart that I never will be put in that situation. But if I am, I also pray that I am strong enough and knowledgeable enough with my weapon to defend my life and those of the people around me.

So, do you want to hear the stories of people who have defended their lives with guns?

I don't think you're crazy. I don't know you - that would be an illogical, and degrading assumption to make. You could (hypothetically) be the person driving next to me, or my doctor, or any of the dozens of people who in some way influence my life every day. I have no problem trusting you, even if you carry a pistol around all day. If you don't want to own a gun, if you don't LIKE the fact that I own a gun, that doesn't bother me in the least. I would never force anyone to own a gun or even like them. Or like me. I just don't care. But if you, or someone acting at your behest makes my gun illegal or comes to take it, then we have a problem.

Statistics are not meaningless. They may not tell a complete story, but they are far from meaningless.

The Second Amendment to the United States Constitution doesn't let me do anything. It acknowledges my right as a human being to own and carry weapons of military usefulness. That is its sole purpose, that was the reason it was written. Just because the writers lived in a scientifically un-advanced age does not negate the many good things that they did. You can unravel our culture today all you like too, that doesn't negate the advances we've made.

Adrian

where's that? i'm in west jesmond and thinking of moving. the number of stuck-up students around here is unbelievable. jesmond gets all the silver spooners.

Yeah man...I know exactly what you mean. I'm on Glenthorn Road and every time I go to Jesmond Tesco or walk down Osborne Rd I'm ready to pop the lot of 'em....Its Ok in the summertime when most of them piss off though...The chavs that are hanging about with the Town Moor being on are just as annoying though....and more likely to half inch your car aswell.

I live in the toxic wasteland of Northern Jersey - and like Spunky I don't even lock my doors. I just think that some people are naturally paranoid. I know that some crazed nut COULD break into my house but the probability of it happening is so small that it's riskier driving in a car and getting killed. I don't like the idea of living in fear with a gun under my bed - if I lived in an area that was that dangerous I'd try to move if I could.

Kathleen

Aren't there about 290 million people in the US? Do you actually believe 280 million of them own guns? That would be 97 % of the people. That would mean kids own guns.
Get your stats straight.

Ponrauil

My apologies for that mix-up, and thanks for bringing that to my attention. Got the total number of firearms mixed up with the total number of owners (though I think we're a bit over 290 million people). The correct (I freely admit I made a mistake in that one statistic - the others come from the Lott/Kleck studies and books) number is around 80 million plus - a not inconsiderable number. About one out of every three to four people in the nation.

Adrian

how unbelievably scary.

Btw, it's fairly normal for parents to ask other parents whether or not they have firearms in their household before they let their kids go over for playdates.....

Kuwait is very safe in that regards and i never heard any stories about people breaking into the house and stuff like that.... Lot of time i even forgot to lock our doors.. But in india its bit scary not to close ur door properly coz u always hear some or other stories about people breaking into house and even kiiling few.... But for that noway i will want to have gun in my house... I never understand the concept of people having gun for safty....