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I first wish to complement everyone on this very interesting exchange of POV's and general thoughts and beliefs.
We could start another thread in R/M on having weapons in a chapter house.
For this thread, I too have some surprising mixed thoughts.
I was a member of the NRA. I was taught gun safety by a retired, U.S. Army Colonel (W.W. II combat veteran). I qualified, long rifle, as a sharpshoot-bar one.
From what I can recall, this is what he told us: "This is NOT a toy. It is a weapon. It can and will kill. Even on a range (which did happen on another range near by-bullets went though a defective back stop and over a mile of trees and hit cars on The Northway.) You have to treat her that way.
At ALL times think safety first.
If you choose to carry a weapon off a range, remember that it will kill. If you use it, be ready to shot to kill. However remember that you too can be killed by her."
Now that stuck in my head. When I had long guns, I kept the bolts far away from the gun.
I sheet shoot sometimes now and if I have ammo around, it too is locked up and far away.
I have never given it a thought that I should keep a weapon near by for "self-defense". While I know how to use them, I never had for lack of a better term combat training. I do know know if I could shoot some one while under pressure. And I do not know if could or would hit them or someone else. And to me, the very thought of hitting the wrong person scares me.
As some, IIRC, have pointed out, things today are very different that the 17 and 1800's. I think we have become perhaps too desensitized on violent acts.
Kids play video games that all one has to do is press reset and a dead person lives.
We have drive bys and road rage.
Some of us have been "raised" on war videos.
On the other hand, there are people, good honest people.
That have good, level headed thinking and thoughts at all times.
Who can control their emotions and understand training and situations.
But just how many are there on school campuses?
One can be well trained on a range and shoot targets real well.
But there is a large leap when the target is shooting at you and many others are around.
As I indicated when I started, I may start re-thinking some positions of mine. Time will will tell.
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