Quote:
Originally Posted by crisis
We are responsible for our actions. Unfortunately some people act less responsibly or are mentally not well enough equipped to make lethal decisions that involve others. Having this type of person armed and giving them the job of judge jury and executioner is naturally going to be of concern to any rational person.
|
So, for that reason, we should keep guns out of the hands of people who are responsible, mentally stable, and well equipped to make such a decision?
Quote:
|
He certainly needs to be dealt with and may have to be killed. But let’s be sensible and say this will almost certainly never happen to you unless you go looking for trouble.
|
My wife and I were walking home from a movie. We weren't looking for trouble. We were walking home...
Quote:
|
You need to ask why would this ever happen and how likely.
|
I always thought it was pretty damn
unlikely.
And then we were attacked...
Quote:
|
Then is killing this person the only answer.
|
Killing them? Maybe not. But often, shooting them is. Whether they die or not as a result is secondary. The main intent in using deadly force is not to kill a person, but to stop them...
Quote:
|
Who exactly are you to make such a decision? In the civilised world we have police to make and arrest, a jury to decide on the guilt and a judge to decide an appropriate punishment.
|
When the police aren't around, and a decision has to be made, what would you do?
The police were a couple blocks away when my wife and I were attacked. We'd have been beaten, robbed, and prpbably even killed, had we waited for that cruiser to drive past where we were.
Clearly, you're not the type of person who would feel comfortable being armed. Perhaps you simply don't drust your ability with a firearm. Perhaps you'd prefer to be a victim. Perhaps you simply like to hope for the best when presented with a clear indication that your day is about to take a dramatic turn for the worse. Whatever your reasons, fine. But know this: They're only your reasons.
In your situation, I would suggest that you hope for the best, hope your assailants get caught, hope you
live, hope you're attackers are convicted, and then hope they get put away.
I'm sure you believe that would work for you.
I, however, and people like me, are not willing to subject our lives, and the lives of our loved ones, to chance. We're willing to accept responsibility for our actions. Crisis, I shot two people. I think about that every single day. In that thought is the knowledge that I did absolutely, without question, the right thing...
Quote:
|
And in many places including many in the U.S. death is not an option.
|
Huh? When someone is protecting themself, the situation resulting in death is
always a possibility. When those who are properly trained are involved, it may even become a probability.
I was handcuffed, put into the back of a police cruiser, and questioned by detectives for almost four hours. The Assistant District Attorney said it was one of the most obvious cases of a justifiable shooting she'd ever seen.
They returned my gun to me, thanked me for being patient and cooperative, and sent me home...
Quote:
|
Wrapping all of this responsibility into one person of varying rationale, intelligence and temperament is insane and a throwback to the Wild West.
|
Your problem is that you're operating from a position that anyone who wants to carry a gun wants to be some kind of gunslinger. That's simply not true. Believe it or not, there really
are people on this planet who can own and use a firearm responsibly. Until you can get that through your head, you'll never even
see the other side of the issue, much less accept or agree with it.
Unfortunately, I don't know what can be said that would break through such a profound level of ignorance...