Meramec River Shooting

[moguy1973]

Can you link us to the last murder that happened there?

Can't do that, but I have a friend that saw a guy get shot dead there about 8 years ago. It's closest Walmart to downtown St Louis. You won't find me there late at night.

[John Andrews]

ANOTHER PERSON WHO REALLY "GETS IT" I carry thats plain fact. My weapons ONLY purpose is to either A. prevent someone else from using theirs on me or B. to stop some some nut on a shooting spree from shooting myself or other un-armed people. Someone breaks into my home, my weapon will come into play. The intruder will have the choice to exit my home. Weather it's dead or alive is up to them.

A ccw firearm is a last line of defence tool it is not something to defend your things with any responsible gun owner knows that and for those of you who do not carry because you think you would get angry over an argument, High five! If every person cared to think about it before choosing to carry we would have far less gun toting knuckle heads to worry about.

[tho1mas]

F & F - You have it right - it is like insurance, do not need it very much but it is a must if you do need it.

[Mitch f]

Why do police officers carry guns? They have tasers and night sticks.

That way they don't need to wait for the first responders

[LarrySTL]

I dont much like Walmart, but I have been to the Brentwood one many times, including quite a few times at night. The only thing I dont like about it is that its often crowded and that way too often they seem out of whatever I am shopping for.

Just FYI and admittedly off topic, I got curious and looked up crime stats. The easiest time frame I found was 2001 - 2011. Brentwood had three murders in that timeframe and a crime rate somewhat high for St L County, but mostly comprised of burglaries and "thefts". The overall crime rate is about 60 % of the national average. http://www.city-data.com/crime/crime-Brentwood-Missouri.html

Murders by burb in that timeline. Brentwood 3, Ladue 1, Chesterfield 4, Webster Groves 1, Kirkwood 8 ( tho 6 of those were the Cookie Thornton shooting inside Kirkwood City hall).

Not sure why I am what feels like defending either Walmart or Brentwood, but maybe is a toxic effect of the ZMan worm I was briefly chewing on.

[Al Agnew]

It's all a matter of risk assessment. What are the chances that the average Joe doing what average Joe's do is ever going to need to defend himself or others? Further, what are the chances that if he does ever need the firearm, will he be able to get to it in time and use it effectively? As I've found out again and again, marksmanship and gun handling are perishable skills. If you don't shoot often and regularly, and don't practice getting the gun out quickly and efficiently, you probably won't be effective if you have to use it. So compare those risks to the risks and hassles of carrying. Maybe for you it's worth it. For me it isn't. You can't protect yourself from every small risk, and the VERY small chances of the average Joe doing average things running into that kind of danger is a risk I'm prepared to take.

[Smalliebigs]

"Not sure why I am what feels like defending either Walmart or Brentwood, but maybe is a toxic effect of the ZMan worm I was briefly chewing on".

Man thats awesome Larry!!!!!...we need to fishing again sooner than later and launch from ramps that don't have meth families camping on them

[1969Larson]

Speaking just for Northwest Arkansas, I seem to remember a Bella Vista law enforcement officer who shot and killed a speeder and two Rogers Police who killed a lady with a knife in a convenience store recently, and two Rogers Policemen who shot at a car stopped in the middle of highway 12 in June. So lets not act like training and a badge mean you make good decisions.

I can also recall a number of children who accidentally shot and killed family or friends. What I don't recall is the last axe murder around here who was killed during a home invasion by a qualified gun owner. Just sayin... If you've never needed it your whole life, consider rarity of that happening and weigh it against the hassle and the risks. Also, this perspective is coming from a gun LOVER. By the way, in the news today, the Rogers Police face a $35 million lawsuit over the concienience store incident.

[1969Larson]

Oh, and the whole insurance policy analogy is a horribly poor one. Here's why:

1. You're required by law to carry insurance not a gun.

2. Almost everybody needs and uses their insurance at some point. Almost nobody ever needs or uses their gun at any point.

3. There is no risk or downside to carrying insurance. The risks of carrying a gun (though they can and should be minimized) are many.

4. There is no machismo or emotion involved in using your insurance policy.

5. There is no training involved in using your insurance policy.

Again, I'm not anti-gun... Just anti guns being used on people.

[ColdWaterFshr]

It's all a matter of risk assessment. What are the chances that the average Joe doing what average Joe's do is ever going to need to defend himself or others? Further, what are the chances that if he does ever need the firearm, will he be able to get to it in time and use it effectively? As I've found out again and again, marksmanship and gun handling are perishable skills. If you don't shoot often and regularly, and don't practice getting the gun out quickly and efficiently, you probably won't be effective if you have to use it. So compare those risks to the risks and hassles of carrying. Maybe for you it's worth it. For me it isn't. You can't protect yourself from every small risk, and the VERY small chances of the average Joe doing average things running into that kind of danger is a risk I'm prepared to take.

That sums it up perfectly. Great post.

Cell phone, car alarm key fob, and if you absolutely have to have it for the parking lot (i don't, even in Brenthood) get your wussie-self a can of mace.

Go ahead and continue to believe that there are bad guys lurking around every corner or gravel bar (ha!) and then realize that you, yourself have become a victim of the very "press" that you seem so much to despise.

The gun crowd is looney-tooney these days.

Its really very simple . . . .would our society be better off with MORE guns, or LESS guns. (?) Look in the mirror and ask yourself the question and then go listen to the NRA's industry-bought-and paid-for spokesman's PIFFLE.