regarding the gun debate...

From: john grigg (starman125@hotmail.com)
Date: Thu Mar 16 2000 - 15:09:54 MST


Well, here we go again! And they said a second world-war just would not
happen! lol! I do enjoy reading Mike Lorrey's posts though(there sure are
enough of them! lol). I do wonder when our resident power (Greg Burch) will
decide when to say, "enough is enough!!" ;)

Mike Lorrey wrote:
the right of individuals to defend themselves was quite a commonplace
assumption. Madison wondered why it was needed only because he could not
fathom a society that would not take the right to keep and bear arms as
foregone conclusion.
(end)

I remember a "This week with David Brinkley" episode where the more liberal
half of the 'talking heads' on the show stated that 'clearly' the right to
bear arms was only for those in the militia's of back then or the national
guard of today. Not for the private citizen! Madison must be rolling in
his grave!

James wrote:
Ok, done ranting. No need to plonk. I've said all I will say. I won't even
respond to whatever objections you all may find against my logic. I believe
if you reduce it to what's really important, your own and your loved ones
precious and maybe even immortal lives--if we here have our fondest wishes
come true, and then just use your imagination--dare to picture the worst
actually happening to you yes even to you and yours, then you will have to
agree that NO ONE has the right to FORCE you to be vulnerable.
(end)

I totally agree!! Here in Alaska, you can actually get a concealed handgun
permit without much trouble. Simply have no offending record, take a three
day class and get fingerprinted. No need to beg a judge for it like in some
states. My two closest friends have gotten them.

I don't feel threatened by the social environment here in Anchorage and so I
have not gotten one myself. It might just save someone's life in the right
situation to have one(and be carrying) but they might 'stand their ground'
in a situation and wind up firing(causing injury or even death) where
without the gun they would have run away. But then some situations cannot
be run away from... It is a matter of having the right training and good
judgement.

Zero wrote:
*You* might say that. I must confess that every time I take public transport
I imagine what I nice way to travel it would be if I didn't have to worry
about somebody sitting next to me with a cannon in his pocket fantasizing
about the _Dirty Harry_ movie he watched last night.-
(end)

Having a mentally unbalanced and homocidal person sitting next to you
with a gun would be bad! But if this person simply wants to protect
themself then you may really benefit when a group of thugs approach and he
pulls out the gun and orders them away.. or else. Just hope he is
level-headed in such a situation and a good shot! Again, if he has had
concealed weapons permit training the odds are much better that you will be
ok.

Ironically, my father lives in New York City and I would love to have a
concealment permit and a firearm before I went to visit him!! I have been
there before and found it a very disturbing environment. But the liberal
power structure there will not allow people, except in the most severe
cases(decided by a judge), to get a permit and a gun so they can protect
themselves! I think one reason things are so much safer in Alaska (and we
have our share of dangerous characters) is that alot of people do carry and
you can never be sure just who is! ;)

Charlie wrote:
My attitude probably doesn't make any practical difference to anything- -- I
live in the UK and have never seen a real, working handgun in this country
outside of a museum or an airport departure lounge --
(end)

But surely outside the UK you have gotten the chance to shoot one?? One of
life's pleasures is firing off rounds at a firing range. Right Mike? lol!
Hunting is another pleasure. But just don't waste the meat.

I am still mourning the loss of the only indoor firing range here in the
Anchorage area. The idiot owner did not properly shield the area behind the
range and a high-powered round escaped and hit a home! The state still runs
a nice outdoor range just out of town though.

I wonder how many lives (especially young) would be saved by trigger locks
or gun security boxes being made a necessity by law? I realize seconds
count in the case of a home intruder and that people don't want to be
fumbling for a key but with (relatively) inexpensive protective cases with
keycodes, it would be a snap to input the code and gain access to the gun.
Is this asking too much? I think if a person can afford a gun they should
be able to afford this also. I view the NRA very favorably but think they
and my childhood hero, Charleton Heston, have both faltered on this.

sincerely,

John Grigg

P.S. Mike, that is one damn nice collection of firearms you have! :)
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