Reply #11: There are two types of people who look at this argument:

[PistolSteve]

First there are city people (no offense, seriously). They grew up without guns and often only hear about them when someone is shot. I am not making a broad statement, but gun perception is much different in cities.

Then there are people in Alaska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, etc.. who have houses often full of guns without a second thought (many times unsecured). If there is an attitude that kids need to learn how to use them to be safe - that's a good thing. The fact is that they are available whether we like it or not. Gun education doesn't make kids killers.

My reaction when I see a gun isn't thinking of it as a weapon of self defense or crime, but simply a gun - used to hunt.

Now for my ironic twist - I hate guns. Guns are used to kill people/animals brutally. I don't support murder and I won't eat something that has been shot and suffered. I detest people hunting for sport - I can understand people hunting if they NEED the food but I still don't like it. I hate the fact that many animals NEED to be killed to control their population so they don't starve. I only eat free range animals that have been killed without pain.

In my perfect world everyone would have enough food and there would be no need for guns (except for police) - but that will never happen.