Gun Control (from Thats' Gonna Leave a Mark)

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Unzipping your purse can be a little tough when someone has you pinned to the ground with a knife to your throat or when, say, the mugger already has your purse.

When did I say I disliked guns? Given that I have a mildly autistic 9 year old son who is nevertheless too damn resourceful for his own good, I'm not willing to own one for his own safety as well as the safety of my 4 year old (not autistic) son, who is becoming even more resourceful than his older brother. I served in the Navy for 5 years and had a brief stint in the National Guard which, incidentally, nearly got me sent to Iraq had it not been for a near-crippling but well-timed broken elbow (a big piece of bone that healed incorrectly from a previous elbow fracture broke off and shattered in the middle of the joint, which was [mostly] corrected through surgery 6 months later). I've shot before, and I liked it. Before we had kids, my wife and I even considered purchasing a handgun or rifle.

It must depend on the store. I just called Scheel's - the largest purveyor of firearms in Iowa City - and confirmed that they do not offer or reccomend courses on firearms usage. In fact, they weren't able to even point me towards such a course. They do offer a hunter's safety course, but stated that no actual shooting or practical instruction in proper shooting form is given during the course.

 

I knew you were former military so you had had experience with firearms. The only stores we have in malls that sell guns around here are Bass Pro Shops & i wouldn't call them gun stores. Except for that all of ours are dedicated gun stores(well,except for the dozen or so long-guns at wally world). Hmm, i know the hunter safety course here doesn't require any shooting, however our CCW(concealed carry) permits do require a roughly 30-50 round course.

 

I don't really think guns work too well for on-the-street defense as anything other than a deterrant. I know when my mother went into the roughest part of town in Norfolk, VA she took her .33 hunting rifle with her and no one bothered her in the least (a 5'4" white woman). As for home defense, it has been shown that they are effective and (provided proper precautions are taken around children) usually safe for the owner.

As to protecting yourself from the police, there have been a number of news items locally that involved police breaking down doors with guns drawn and firing, typically without identifying themselves first. One killed a 98 year old woman (don't think that was local). Another shot a man as he was getting ready to answer the door. He returned fire and killed one officer. Now he's on trial for murder. They found one bag of pot in the house and nothing else.

Barmy, you find a nation that has a police force so good that you don't have to worry about people breaking into your house at all yet still has enough freedom to actually live, you tell us. Most of us will gladly give up our guns to move there.

Drew, yeah, an autistic child is a pretty good reason not to have a gun in the house. No arguements there.