General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Stop Lying to yourself About Being That “Good Guy With A Gun” by STEVE MARMEL [View all]GreenStormCloud
(12,072 posts)A few years ago we tried to help a battered lady leave. We told her that we would help her find a shelter, but she couldn't stay with us. We were afraid of him coming to our house in a violent, hostile state. You are right that it is a very dangerous time. The only time that is more dangerous is if he is served with a restraining order. That seems to set a lot of them off. The Gift of Fear has an excellent chapter on domestic violence. Violent predictors is what the book is entirely about. It is a good book and well worth the read for anyone interested in self-defense with avoidance as the first, and best, step.
In the case you speak of, it takes some time for records to update. Humans still have to enter data. I do support universal background checks by making the NICS available online to ordinary people. Or let the buyer go to the police and get a background check with a paper good for 30 days to buy his gun.
Yes, to some extent I do blame the victim. We are the first ones with responsibility for our own safety. I should be able to leave my doors unlocked when I leave home, as the thief is in the wrong, legally and morally, if he breaks into my home, but I lock my doors. If I go to any ATM, I keep a careful watch around me. If I am at the ATM at night (very rarely) I stand with one hand in my pocket on my gun, and use the ATM one-handed, while looking all around between sets of button pushing & screen tapping.
I do not support unlicensed concealed or open carry in public. A person should have to get a background investigation by the FBI, take a class on self-defense law (It is very simple. Just takes a couple of hours.), conflict avoidance, and show proficiency with the gun, get fingerprinted and photographed. (I scored 250 out of a possible 250. But I also considered the test to be easy.)