Trespass

[Feathers and Fins]

Why would you treat a firearn in that manner in the first place? I personally would not do that to my hammer if I could avoid it. And I would check for mud in the barrel if I dropped a gun in it before pulling the trigger.

Most modern firearms since the 80's have been designed with a hammer block to prevent discharge when dropped, an excellent safety feature to check for when purchasing a handgun.

Jd it was in response to this post:

That was weird on so many levels...the guy didn't know the gun fell out of his pocket, the gun fired as it hit the ground, the victim didn't know he had been shot at first.

I guess Wrench was right; shot at a church function!

I have seen too many cheap guns go off by dropping them, as I said even my 1911 and 686 ( 686 being a revolver) I’ve seen it happen. The Glock it doesn’t happen with! The abuse they put those guns through to insure they don’t go off without pulling the trigger and the abuse they put them through to make sure they go off when you want them to is what I was referring to. Would I put mine through that? NO, but it’s nice to know if it did go through it, it would still work when needed.

[ozark trout fisher]

There are a lot of reasons cited for this, mostly having to do with "lifestyle," which implies mostly that people in the country live with less stress, but I think the main difference is guns. It is common knowledge that everyone in rural Ozarks carries guns, and the evidence is obvious in the back windows of most pick-up trucks. Those who don't display them openly have them tucked under seats and in trunks of cars. Everyone is armed and everyone knows it. I've never seen anyone give anyone else the finger in the rural settings, get upset over everyday things or slow service. This isn't at all because rural people have less stress--it's because everyone is potentially equal in strength and deserved equal "respect," and in these environments, if you are going to become confrontational, it better be for a very good and serious reason.

Interesting analysis. Though I do hope that those of use who live in rural areas are not just more civil and less confrontational because most of us have guns. I think it has more with having a bit of a slower pace of going through life, so there's not as much of a need to be in such a danged hurry all the time. Or at least that's what I'd like to think it is.

Anyone else notice a concealed carry ad at the bottom of this page? Kind of funny....

[Flyflinger]

I don't own a concealled carry permit, or even a handgun. I'm a little skeptical of the motives of people who want this, mostly because of the fears that motivate it. Killing another human has irreversable consequences upon the pschy, no matter the circumstances or justifications, and I think really "civilized" people are incapable of it.

It is clear to me that most of you who fall on this side of the argument keep bringing up the fear thing.

As if the base emotion of fear is somehow an evil emotion that should be shunned instead of listened to, internalized and dealt with through educating yourself.

It is fear of loss that pulls your money out of a failing investment portfolio.

It is fear of living without electricity that makes you buy a generator.

It is fear that causes you to carry bear replant when backpacking in the mountains.

It is fear that makes me not wade too deep.

So please...if you are going to frame your argument on the basis that fear is a poor motivation for wanting to self protect....I suggest you give me a good motivation to self protect.

Furthermore...."Civilized" people are incapable of taking the life of another? Really? So if someone means to do me or my family grave bodily harm or just wishes to kill us outright....I should let them because it is the "civilized" thing to do.....the prudent thing? Come on Ron...you seem smarter then that.

Perhaps a person motivated by this evil "fear" decided it prudent to seek getting his CCW. He dove himself into fully researching the subject...looking at all the statistics, facts, and lifestyle changes that he would have to make. Diligently sought well qualified trainers. Read as many books on the subject....and religiously keeps his skills with his chosen firearm in top working form. He being the victim of violent crime in the past fully recognizes that such violence can occur no matter where you are and at anytime. Since he was attacked in broad daylight....on a college campus....inside an elevator....without provocation. Furthermore...perhaps this guy is also aware that he is alive today (or at least not permanently damaged) because the elevator was unable to be stopped due to a faulty button....and since most criminals are cowards...his assailants flew the seen once the ground floor was reached.....ya all three of them.

[Brian Sloss]

I am not going to get involved with the CC side of the argument because I find these debates never really go anywhere but in circles online. The one argument I find interesting, but disagree with is the one about guns keeping people more civil in country settings. I have lived in the cities and rural areas and live in a very rural area now. People are very laid back here, but that has nothing to do with them being armed. I lived in England for six months where only a few hunters (very few) owned guns and the same condition exists between urban and rural. London is much higher stress and faster paced and a small village in the country moves much slower and it shows in people's behavior just like it does here.

[eric1978]

There's good and bad, civilized and uncivilized in the city, suburbs and the country. And there's stupid everywhere, too, which is what worries me. You give a friendly moron a gun it's still trouble. Moron trumps all.

[Smalliebigs]

I tried to stay out of this but, I can't. I do carry a gun most places I go and all of the anti gun zealots can rip me for it.....I don't really care. Is it fear, the reason carry????? I think so but, I have no problem saying I have fear. I have been carrying a gun since one of my dear friends was slaughtered by a piece of dung who felt the he had to seek revenge against the city of Kirkwood. I was late for the city council meeting that night, four years ago as I was to give my three minute bitch speech to the city council about opening up our street to a larger ajacent subdivision.....thank god. Unfortunately some retard shot two cops, the mayor, a reporter and few council members. He slaughtered one of good friends Konnie Karr who was going to be the new mayor. the whole experience changed me......smelling the gun powder from all the discharded rounds as I arrived, bilowing out of city hall and having a dinner date already scheduled with someone who has just been slaughtered by an animal like him did a ton of damage to my opinion of carrying guns.To hear first hand accounts from people who were in the chamber begging for their lives from this animal haven't helped me. He was able to kill two cops who were openly armed in a very diceitful manner. I was also mugged at gunpoint in New Oleans in 1990, these thing have put fear into me but, my life is not overloaded with fear, I just know what humans are capable of and I carry a gun now.........I think it's funny that people are afraid if I'm carrying on the river......deffinitely not carrying a Deringer and not in church.

[Mitch f]

There's good and bad, civilized and uncivilized in the city, suburbs and the country. And there's stupid everywhere, too, which is what worries me. You give a friendly moron a gun it's still trouble. Moron trumps all.

Well I didn't want to get into this either but Eric is right, morons are everywhere.

[jdmidwest]

There is no fear, it is just another thing to have, to cure what may happen. I wear a life jacket because I am smart enough to realize that I may fall out in too deep of water and can't swim to save my life. I carry a compass because I may lose my sense of direction and need some guidance. I carry a flashlight because something may keep me out after dark. I keep a first aid kit in the truck because I may hurt myself in the pursuit of the outdoors. I carry a pair of dry clothes because I may get wet. And I carry a gun because I may need it to shoot something or signal someone.

[ness]

You got a big enough life jacket to float you and all that hardware?

[jdmidwest]

In support of Ron, civilized people feel that the taking of a life is about the worst thing you will ever have to do. Soldiers do not enjoy what they have to do, but they realize why. Law enforcement is the same way. But the reality of it is, a civilized person would not try to harm me for my possesions or something I have done, but there are plenty of people in this world that do not hold life to the same standards as I do. They are less civilized than I, so I have to deal with it.

I stand firm and correct those that carry a firearm for self defense. If I hear someone state on occaision, I will just shoot them in the leg and it will be over, or fire one in the air to scare them. The reality I stress, if you feel you need to use a gun, "You Will Shoot to Kill or Incapicatate Them". Don't take it lightly, you are going to do grave bodily harm to another human. If you are not grasping that properly, you should leave it on the dresser and carry some Mace.