Gun Control & RKBA
In reply to the discussion: IMO This song defines our debate [View all]ErikO
(24 posts)#1: I consider it antisocial to assault a group of people who have gathered for a social reason. When you gather with your friends or as part of a wider group of people that you don't know well, do you care who is wearing undergarments from the opposite sex if you don't? I feel the same way about someone carrying a concealed firearm who doesn't need to show it off - thereby keeping it concealed.
#2: Your answer harkens back to the Western Expansion when those who were armed carried openly and those who carried concealed were trying to hide in the ranks of those who scoffed at those who carried openly. Today, the social norm is to appear unarmed. There are laws in place that restrict WHEN use of a firearm is proper and when it will result in your inability to own firearms. Assuming that just because someone has a gun in their pocket they want to use it is not quite accurate. Everyone that I know that carries does so in case something goes wrong and they have to draw it. To do otherwise is to invite a charge of Brandishing or Attempted Murder.
#3: If two people are in the vicinity of someone that is looking to rob someone, the one that appears to be an easier target will be selected. I'm over 40 and in not very good shape. In that situation I would want to be carrying to even things up in case I were chosen as the easier target. The social setting you are talking about would probably not be a location that would be chosen, unless there was some expectation of the targets there being 'soft' or less likely to cause a problem for someone that sees themselves as a predator in that situation.
#4: I disagree. The carrier does care about the safety of those around themselves as well. Carrying a gun is NOT an easy choice due to the ramifications of using that gun. Everywhere except for Vermont and Alaska have some sort of mandatory training requirement that goes over the laws of the state that issues the CCW permit. The majority of that training involves the learning of the gun laws of the state that supplies the permit.
It is difficult to take into account the thought process of those who legitimately wish to cause another harm to get what they want. It is understandable to hold those who have decided to not be a victim to a similar light as those who would wish to do you harm. It is important to remember that taking the responsibility for being armed in today's society is nothing that is done lightly. If you have only been around those who carry a gun to do another harm I'm sorry you keep such bad company.