@TestCase How would you approach the school shootings / mass shootings issue? How would you prevent the next Las Vegas, Parkland, Sandy Hook or Sutherland Springs? How would you minimize the threat?
[
Begin A VERY Rambling Stream of Conciousness Response]
I'll suggest that a large number (most?!?!?) of these mass killings were not realistically preventable at all because they involved scenarios that were either totally unimaginable or were so far down the "odds of it actually happening risk/reward chart" that no one would consider them as realistic probabilities.
And do you really think someone that is hell bent on hurting people isn't going to find some way to do it?
Now think of all the schools, churches, theaters, malls, grocery stores, restaurants, etc that exist in this world. If any of us SERIOUSLY believed that these types of mass shootings were REALISTIC possibilities, likely to occur at any time, on any day of the week, why the heck would we go to any of these places -- let alone leave our homes?
The answer is we don't really believe it will happen -- because it's such an infinitely small possibility! Your odds of dying as a result of alcohol is twice that of being killed with a gun yet millions of people drink it everyday.
Every time we walk out our doors, we have consciously or subconsciously made the personal calculation that we are in no REAL danger of actually being shot as we go through the humdrum routine of our everyday lives.
Yet despite knowing this type of thing is not realistically probable, people are still hell bent on restricting or getting rid of guns owned by law abiding citizens - people that MASSIVELY outnumber those criminals and crazies and represent no danger to anyone except a possible bad guy/gal.
Let me ask YOU this. If you were to find yourself caught in the middle of a mass shooting, would you:
A) Want the guy/gal huddling under the desk with you to be a concealed carry permit holder with a weapon in hand?
OR
B) Would you prefer that they just be another average Joe/Jill with nothing in their hand?
I certainly know which one I'd prefer. Hell, if I ever find my self in that situation I could care less if they had a CHL/CCW permit or not. They just need to have the gun!
A few years ago I had a relative (that also used to be my roommate a number of years prior) commit suicide with a handgun that was bought for that purpose a few days before. I knew that they had some mental health issues yet others never saw that side. But none of us that did see it would have ever thought it would result in suicide. And that's the problem mental health issues, it's very hard to tell who will go to those very dark places.
I grew up shooting but got away from it for a number of years. Eventually I got back in to it. I've never been interested in hunting but do find target shooting to be very relaxing - though sometimes extremely frustrating.
I've lead a good life. I've had good/great things happen and I've had some not so good things happen. I've had my cars broken in to more times than I can remember. I've been home when someone broke it my apartment in the middle of the afternoon. Without thinking and with an adrenaline rush pumping through my brain, I chased him back in to the the hallway and down the stairwell. He was faster than me and was long gone by the time I hit the ground level and opened the door...
I've worked in and spent time in places that definitely had me concerned for my safety. I've also had loaded handguns pointed at me three times, the last two times 6 inches from my head by people that wanted my money. There have also been a number of other situations/life experiences (not to be addressed) that have had me deeply concerned for my overall well being and lifespan.
Despite the bad, I've never felt the need to have a gun on my person outside of my home -- but I understand those that do feel that need.
I have a very deep respect for guns and the damage they can do. But I also know for a fact that they aren't going to walk up to me on their own. It's the crazy or the criminal that holds a gun to my head that scares me -- and they are still able to threaten my wellbeing with or without said gun. The instrument/tool isn't the issue, it's the holder's intent.
Again, if we were really serious about truly saving lives, why haven't we completely outlawed alcohol and tobacco? They aren't absolute life necessities.
Why aren't people required to buy only small vehicles that have a complete rollcage and a limited speed limit. Only a few select people REALLY need more than that. Right?!?!? And those that do need something larger or faster should have to prove that they have a an extremely compelling reason for such an exemption. This would save an enormous number of lives, reduce medical and insurance costs and save us a ton of natural resources. PLUS, none of those things are protected under the constitution so it should be easy to pass these laws.
But none of the above will happen because people aren't really that serious about wanting to minimize deaths if it impacts the way
they* want to live/lead their lives. (Well, that and all the economic and political reasons...)
Let me end this by saying that everyday I walk out my door, my only real safety concern is every other driver on the road.
[/
End A VERY Rambling Stream of Conciousness Response]
