mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

I am certainly NOT against gun ownership or the Second amendment but I would be remiss if I didn't point out that Texas also has the dubious honor of having the second highest number of mass shootings in the country.

gwilliams6

Not sure if your comment and mine here will violate the politics ban here in UHH. I now live in Texas, near Dallas, but I have lived all over the USA from west to east, California to New York.

As a news photojournalist for over four decades I have seen too many criminal acts and covered too many sad stories and sad funerals of innocent civilians, adults and kids killed in accidental crossfires, mass shootings, or just private gun accidents.

What this world does not need is more civilians shooting it out on the streets with criminals, that should be left to licensed and trained professional law enforcement. Protecting from intruders inside your home is one thing, but many of these robberies are taking place outdoors where innocent civilians are at risk from any gunfire. FYI, I have worked with the Police on many undercover stings and operations as a photojournalist over the decades, and I have a few decorated career law enforcement officers in my extended family.

The fact that almost everyone in Texas carries a gun and can carry them almost anywhere makes my feel far less safe than I did living and traveling in most other states and countries, and I have faced live gunfire on the streets of the USA and in foreign war conflicts doing my job as a photojournalist. That is a risk I signed up for as a photojournalist, but civilians shouldn't be victims, innocent , accidentally or on purpose from carriers of the estimated nearly 350 million guns in private hands in our country. Just check the news any week in the USA, sadly.

More guns in civilian hands carried on the open streets is NOT the answer to these robberies. IMHO.

Cheers and best to you.

Wallen Loc: Middle Earth

Just like a camera, it is not only about owning but more important, being good at using the tool. One may have the latest priciest Leica but still shoot crap images just like a some police officers shooting their own teammates or soldier receiving their own artillery.

Lucky you are folks for having the 2nd to ensure you have the chance. The real problem is degradation of character, both the criminal and many of the legal gun owners.

2001vermont

Well said!

2001vermont

Well said!

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I was going to say two cameras.

It could be difficult disposing of whatever they stole. Leica uses serial numbers, right? Maybe I should check eBay. : )

Julian Loc: Sarasota, FL

Why do we drive Ferraris, write with Montblanc pens, wear Rollex watches and shoot pictures with Leica cameras? Because we can. Objections?

Bigmike1 Loc: I am from Gaffney, S.C. but live in Utah.

Leica has always been beyond my ability to pay for and own. They do set the standard in the camera world. I wouldn't mind having one for my collection.

moonhawk Loc: Land of Enchantment

When seconds count, the police are only minutes away....

A. T.

I respect your opinion.

A. T.

Absolutely, exactly my point.

A. T.

Yep, and that's exactly why I carry.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

therwol Loc: USA

Believe it or not, it isn't particularly difficult to get a concealed carry permit in California. This is a result of some court decision a few years ago. The Sheriffs in many rural counties basically rubber stamp the applications.

Having said that, guns should not play any role in these smash and grab robberies. In California, you can only use a gun to defend yourself if your are in imminent danger and have no exit. Also, you can't use a gun to defend property. The best thing to do if you're in a store that is being victimized like this is call the cops and then use your phone to take video to help the cops identify the perpetrators.

camerapapi Loc: Miami, Fl.

Leica is a great camera, ridiculous prices though. Nobody needs such an expensive camera to make wonderful images. I have nothing against Leica, they are very well built and their lenses are well known to professionals. Sebastiao Salgado, well known Brazilian photographer has used Leica for most of his life. All of a sudden he is using Canon gear now.

I have seen many images made with Ernst Leitz lenses and I tell you the same quality of images can be made with any modern camera and equal lenses. The majority of the best images that have been made in our planet have been made with Nikon and Canon cameras. In 1957 Nikon introduced the Nikon SP, a great rangefinder camera that was immediately accepted by professionals. No, it was not better than let's say a Leica M3 but for a fraction of the price it made similar images and its durability was never questioned. After the late David Douglas Duncan returned from covering the Korean War he introduced Nikon lenses to Life magazine, as a matter of fact Life has been publishing without knowing it images made with Nikon lenses he sent while on assignment. One year later all photographers at Life magazine were using Nikon cameras and lenses.

My experience shooting since 2002 with Olympus cameras with Zuiko and Panasonic lenses could have not been better. I do not usually enlarge beyond 12x18 inches but I have seen huge enlargements from Zuiko lenses and all of the details recorded by the lens were there. I do not happen to see often photographers shooting with Leica, I simply do not see them. Leica cameras sell, no question about it but I continue to believe I can do with my Nikons and Olympus similar images without spending a fortune. Leica was near bankruptcy I believe in the late 80's. They began to work with Minolta and eventually with Panasonic. I believe in one occasion they had conversations with Tamron to make lenses for their cameras although I do not know what was the outcome of those conversations.

I am perfectly fine with what I have.