The Daily Peeve / Rant

In a way ... ok this is off the wall, but open carry can be useful. Even here in the wild, wild west, it's extremely rare to see someone just walking around with a firearm. When you do, it's a huge red flag that Something Is Not Right with this person. Heads go up and eyes go a little wider. I don't agree with carrying firearms at all, but at least with open carry, forewarned is, ha ha, forearmed. Now concealed carry is a different thing, I think if someone wants to hide a firearm on their person that's actually a much more dangerous situation and it should be a lot harder to get a cc permit. Knowing how to shoot a firearm and having true James Bond ability are very different things.

Some people feel more secure with a gun on their hip, apparently. My father was a captain in the infantry, more than competent with firearms. When he was mugged in his front yard, mowing his lawn, I guess he should have been armed. But then he would have probably lost his wallet and a firearm. He was in his eighties, after all. No matter how many times the NRA mindset is explained to me, I still don't get it. If I were traveling in the wilderness, a weapon would be useful for scaring away wildlife, i suppose. But that's not going to happen. :~)

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Originally Posted by freshstart

I feel like it will never change, this was the 45th school shooting just this year. I'm with Obama on this one, “our thoughts and prayers are not enough.” While expressing condolences, he was clearly angry and said he expected to be accused of politicizing this issue and he responded with, "why shouldn't it be?" He brought up gun control. There were 13 guns there supposedly, how did one guy amass that many? The NRA has not responded because they want all the facts, I'm waited with bated breath for how they will spin this. Responsible gun owners, I can deal with, hunting, target shooting, perhaps in your home for protection. I can compromise. But open carry on a trip to Walmart, why is this ok? 2,500 kids killed so far this year. I'm done and ready for change. If there was a group not so frenetic as the NRA, who can compromise as well, we could get this done.

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When I was out in AZ they passed a law allowing people to carry guns into bars. One of many reasons I left...

I am appalled by all the shootings. But at this point I am not surprised or shocked. It is business as usual in the US.

I just try to increase my situational awareness, look over my shoulder, keep my eyes peeled, etc. That is all that can really be done.

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Originally Posted by kib

In a way ... ok this is off the wall, but open carry can be useful. Even here in the wild, wild west, it's extremely rare to see someone just walking around with a firearm. When you do, it's a huge red flag that Something Is Not Right with this person. Heads go up and eyes go a little wider. I don't agree with carrying firearms at all, but at least with open carry, forewarned is, ha ha, forearmed. Now concealed carry is a different thing, I think if someone wants to hide a firearm on their person that's actually a much more dangerous situation and it should be a lot harder to get a cc permit. Knowing how to shoot a firearm and having true James Bond ability are very different things.

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When I was in Phoenix I saw plenty of right wing nutjobs carrying guns.

Hmm. I'm in Tucson and I almost never do. ... Then again, they probably don't hang out at Sprouts and Value Village very often ...

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Originally Posted by UltraliteAngler

When I was in Phoenix I saw plenty of right wing nutjobs carrying guns.

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Originally Posted by kib

Hmm. I'm in Tucson and I almost never do. ...

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Reality is fungible if the narrative suffers. Damned right wingers.

You gotta admit, left wing nut jobs are rarely pro-gun, we're usually more pro-crunch. But if you must have it, "I rarely see anyone carrying guns."

An armed school resource officer (often times a recently retired police officer or a current member of the local law enforcement) could have reduced casualties just by speeding up response time. If your facility is a prime target for mass shooting then I think you have the responsibility to be prepared to apply a swift response in order to stop the action. Some day somebody is going to realize that the schools are negligent if they aren't providing for the safety of their students. Gun free zones equals negligence when you have nothing but a sign posted to enforce it.

Time to stop enabling ourselves to be sitting ducks.

I can't help but think that maybe if these school shooter types believed that they would end up facing armed opponents on their rampages, they might think twice about it. They prey on people they perceive as weaker than themselves. I'm not a fan of gun control considering that the criminals will always have no compunction about arming themselves with whatever weapons they wish, illegal or otherwise, and law-abiding citizens become all the more as sitting ducks.

Taking away guns from citizens in the hope of foiling criminals is putting a band-aid on the symptoms rather than fixing the underlying problems of a culture that more and more lacks compassion, kindness, and empathy for other people.

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Originally Posted by bekkilyn

Taking away guns from citizens in the hope of foiling criminals is putting a band-aid on the symptoms rather than fixing the underlying problems of a culture that more and more lacks compassion, kindness, and empathy for other people.

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I agree, but in my opinion, giving citizens guns is also a band-aid. There are very few people including trained law enforcement who can act with "James Bond-like" reflexes and lucky instincts. The perception of oneself as Super Competent With A Weapon - especially as a Man but with the addition of female superheroes, as a Woman as well - is vastly overestimated. I am - sadly - not Michele Rodriguez, and put up at super speed against Evil Villains, I'd likely shoot the most obvious targets - a bystander or myself.