Reply #157: Yes, they

[billh58]

are "tools." But unlike a knife, or a screwdriver, or chopsticks, or ANY other tool, guns have only one purpose and that is to kill. Isn't that one of the first rules of gun safety: Never point a loaded gun at anyone, or anything, that you are not prepared to kill?

Hunting, is killing food. Defense is killing someone else who is trying to kill, or harm, you. Perfectly legal, and reasonable uses of a gun, but still it is only designed for killing -- someone, or something. And, yes, there is the "sport" of target shooting, but that is a show of proficiency at hitting a target, and "killing" it.

The real subject here, is when is it "reasonable" to exercise the "right" to carry a loaded weapon in a public arena? You guys believe that is always reasonable, and many of us believe that there should be restrictions on who, what, where, and when -- and, guess what? There ARE restrictions in many areas. No one, at least no one I know, argues that keeping a weapon in your home for defense, or for hunting in an unpopulated area, is an abuse of the 2nd Amendment.

And if it's legal to open-carry, or CCW, where you live -- go for it. I can always exercise my right of free association, and stay the hell away from you. Deal?

May your arrows always fly straight and true...;-)