juanbalv Loc: Los Angeles / Hawthorne

Gender notwithstanding, a fart is a fart is a fart is a fart.

berchman Loc: South Central PA

In what ways is prayer better? Will prayer prevent your former neighbor from stealing your food? Will prayer keep your electrical appliances and electronics working even though an EMP has been set off? Just curious if you would clarify your assertion.

Spider223

RickTaylor

To think that anyone who carries a side arm has something seriously wrong with them is a totally unfair statement. They are simply taking precautions as no one knows when or where lightning will strike. I would be willing to bet when you leave your home you lock your doors and set your security system. I’ll bet you even have a spare tire in your car in case of a flat. I respect your decision that a firearm is not your choice but you need to respect the right of anyone who chooses to carry without lumping them into the category of radical mass shooters. A firearm in the hands of a proficient and law abiding citizen is something I feel comfortable with. We are not all crazy lunatics. A policeman carries a firearm as a tool to do his job while on duty. While off duty he still carries his firearm. I’ll bet a plumber does not carry a pipe wrench when he takes his family to dinner.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Well sir, the aforementioned robbery on myself actually took place in a park, and had I not been armed the thugs would have succeeded! It has been documented that millions of times a year firearms are used to prevent or terminate felony crimes against persons. That doesn't always mean that the perp has to be terminated. Robbery is the forcible stealing of ones property under threat of serious physical injury or deadly force. That can be accomplished without a weapon, i.e. numerous perps against one victim, age difference, sex difference, to give a few examples. If you choose not to be armed I'm perfectly fine with that, but don't claim that my choice to be armed is wrong because you don't like it.

dsmeltz Loc: Philadelphia

Well I guess it is good I did not say "anyone who carries a side arm has something seriously wrong with them" But it is typical NRA thinking to take things out of context.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

A firearm and a bad attitude is a poor substitute for camera insurance. Killing thieves is illegal, and the consequences of such, unless you are killing a thief who has pulled gun on you, will be far worse than losing a few pieces of camera gear. Again, It's just not worth it. Carry insurance instead of firearms.

Here is some food for thought, based on fact and not some BS touted by the gun lobby or the NRA:

"According to a Harvard University analysis of figures from the National Crime Victimization Survey, people defended themselves with a gun in nearly 0.9 percent of crimes from 2007 to 2011.

David Hemenway, who led the Harvard research, argues that the risks of owning a gun outweigh the benefits of having one in the rare case where you might need to defend yourself.

"The average person ... has basically no chance in their lifetime ever to use a gun in self-defense," he tells Here & Now's Robin Young. "But ... every day, they have a chance to use the gun inappropriately. They have a chance, they get angry. They get scared.""

https://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/fv9311.pdf

Seems like there is at least one argument that is really full of holes here.

DMZX

My dog is very attuned to my state of mind. If someone is making me a little nervous or suspicious, his demeanor is totally different than that of a friendly/how's it going, encounter.

He is not a schutzhund dog. He is a trail companion. Curious and friendly. But...rest assured his pedigree instincts are there.

bertloomis Loc: Fort Worth, Texas

Carry pepper spray, the king that will generate a stream that goes 15 feet or more. Not the kind that just creates a mist.

I feel just like you do.

Bill_de Loc: US

Back in the 70's things were much simpler. Among the things listed on the card they gave me with my carry permit were a list of reason to use deadly force. To prevent a felony, and to prevent somebody from leaving the scene of a felony were part of the list.

I was managing a gas station at the time. The verbal instructions from the local police captain was in case of a robbery give them the money. What followed was to let them get out the door and blow the back of their head off, as it will be easier to clean up outside. Finally, make sure they are dead as there is less paperwork.

We won the Cold War by having superior fire power. We are having issues with North Korea today only because back in the 50's the politicians wouldn't let us use it. They made the same mistake in Viet Nam.

More fire power equals more protection, but only if you know how and when to use it.

Happy Veterans Day

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RickTaylor

I respectfully disagree again as per your wording it was strongly implied. Again your last statement typical NRA thinking you are again lumping is all In the same category. Your statements are amazing as you don’t even realize your own ignorance.

lowkick Loc: Connecticut

Are you aware of the saying that, “a liberal is just a conservative who hasn't been mugged yet”?

Benzzeze Loc: Tucson, Arizona

Not all threats come in human form. Being prepared to protect yourself with a firearm is a wise and practical solution and has nothing to do with weapons being used by deranged people who want to kill people.

I have three handguns in my possession when I'm on the road or out in the country. One for self-defense while in the car and the other two based on calibers for what I might encounter in the wild. The right to defend yourself is exactly that, a right and it's not a political issue. Therefore, I agree with other comments that carrying a firearm and a good cell phone are two ways to alleviate your fears as you get older. Also, staying aware of your surroundings and not getting yourself stuck in a place you should not be is also a good idea, (i.e. don't get as close to the edge of the canyon that you used to get).

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL