[firmbeliever]

There are those lunatics out there and perhaps law enforcement draws them because of the authority. There was a man who worked in the city where I moved from, who was a prison guard, became a probation officer, and thought he was God on earth. He manufactured evidence, boarded up his daughter's bedroom windows so she could not break curfew, planted drugs on the very people he was supervising their parole, beat his first wife when she was 8 months pregnant, pulled a gun on his second wife when she decided she had had enough and shot her. The man was as unbalanced as a teeter totter. But he was allowed to resign and relocate. He moved to Idaho where he was able to get back into the prison system and works as a guard. Scary, isn't it?

That story gives me the shivers... scary is the right word.

[Skell]

I thought my comment on the gun would get you all going. It always does. I'm certainly not blaming the gun. Responsibility rests with the killer. No doubt.

BUt I still can't agree with those of you who think more guns are the answer. It's a sad indictment on the place you live that most of you feel you need a gun to live safely. Ive never laid my hands on one and I can still go to sleep at night with the doors unlocked. Im sorry the rest of you guys don't have that feeling of safety that I enjoy.

[Skell]

Yes I own guns for sport , hunting and protection, everyone should own a gun to protect themselves, because the police cannot.

How sad you guys have no trust in your police. I feel sorry for you. And I don't mean that in a derogatory way.

[NeedKarma]

I thought my comment on the gun would get you all going. It always does. I'm certainly not blaming the gun. Responsibility rests with the killer. No doubt.

BUt I still can't agree with those of you who think more guns are the answer. It's a sad indictment on the place you live that most of you feel you need a gun to live safely. Ive never laid my hands on one and I can still go to sleep at night with the doors unlocked. Im sorry the rest of you guys don't have that feeling of safety that I enjoy.

You echo my sentiments exactly Skell. Well said.

[Skell]

I wish this I could give you a greenie Mr. Yet. I have to agree wholeheartedly with every word you said.

Yes, more guns are the answer.

[Skell]

Oh lord.

Some idiot goes crazy and kills people, and people are blaming the GUN?

Get real!

It's really a tragedy--I've been to Crandon several times. But it was a POLICE OFFICER that did it! So...taking guns away from the general public would have done NOTHING to prevent this tragedy.

Sorry Synn. I posted my comment before it was reported as being a police officer. It still won't convince me though that giving everyone a gun will solve things.

[NeedKarma]

How sad you guys have no trust in your police. I feel sorry for you. And i dont mean that in a derogatory way.

Actually they should not feel trust in their police, the abuses of power are rampant. Goes back to that state of fear being pushed onto the populace.

[Skell]

People have been killing people from the beginning of time. They used clubs, knives, whatever they can get their hands on.

It wasn't the "gun" that killed these people, it was the lunatic holding the gun. The firearm cannot fire on it's own. It needs someone to pull the trigger. That boy would have committed this crime whether or not he had a gun. He would have found some other way.

I live in the city with the highest crime rate in America. You think I'm NOT going to protect myself and my family. You gotta be kidding.

I beg to differ. Do you actually think this boy would have bashed or knifed all those people to death??

As I said its sad that in the States there is no trust in the police that you feel the need to arm yourself to protect you. Im sorry for that!!

[Skell]

Actually they should not feel trust in their police, the abuses of power are rampant. Goes back to that state of fear being pushed onto the populace.

Fair point. Im not up to date with all police abuse stories over there but surely it is a minority only? We have abuse issues here at times and I'm sure you guys in Canada do too but it doesn't waive my trust in the majority of police. Ours are primarily upstanding citizens who do a fine job and I'm glad I can put my trust in them and not a gun!

[Synnen]

Actually--I know good cops and bad cops, and have heard more than a few stories about the bad from people I know personally.

My sister, for example, was pulled over one night. She had a teething infant in the back seat, and was tired, but had not broken any laws.

The officer proceeded to ask her to step from the car and frisked her, making lewd gestures and basically groping her everywhere, then let her go with a "warning" that next time she wouldn't get off so easily.

No cameras, of course.

She reported it the next day, and was told that if she pursued it, she would be essentially be taken to court and made to look like a liar because no one would doubt the word of the "fine, upstanding officers on our force".

The reason I have a gun is because some day our government will go too far. That's when the revolution will happen, and at least I'll be armed with SOMETHING against the troops they send against me. THAT is why there IS a second amendment.

So no--more guns won't make it any better. But neither will FEWER guns.

[startover22]

I thought my comment on the gun would get you all going. It always does. I'm certainly not blaming the gun. Responsibility rests with the killer. No doubt.

BUt i still can't agree with those of you who think more guns are the answer. Its a sad indictment on the place you live that most of you feel you need a gun to live safely. Ive never laid my hands on one and i can still go to sleep at night with the doors unlocked. Im sorry the rest of you guys don't have that feeling of safety that i enjoy.

I have to ask that if someone came into your home and proceeded to kill and hurt your family or yourself, would you still want to leave your doors unlocked and not have had a gun to get him/her before they got to you? More guns are not the answer, not letting the wrong people get to them is... none of us will ever be happy... I guess we are getting off subject here...
Edit:::: Hey Skell, I used to keep our doors unlocked till the next door lady got a big scare with her life and a robbery. I had to add that cause I think it is sad that people don't feel safe too sweet... I really do!

[firmbeliever]

Start,
It is not getting off topic...

This is in member discussion, so I guess it could go anywhere in connection to the shooting.

[J_9]

As I stated before... I live very close to the city that has the highest crime rate in the country. I choose to protect myself.

Before you people who are totally against guns tell me to move... Moving is NOT an option at the moment. Yes, I would love to move to get away from it, but currently I have no choice.

If crazy ole Bubba or Tookie comes to my house in the middle of the night with a gun and my children are in harms way... You better bet your A$$ I am going to protect myself. The police where I live, basically Mayberry, will make it here after my children and I have been shot to death. I refuse to let Barney Fife and his deputies in my small community even think they can protect me, because I know they can't.

Why do I know they can't? Because my husband is a master gunsmith in our community, not many left in the country, they (the local police (?) come to him to have their firearms repaired and/or maintained. They don't have firing pins, they have a 8mm cal gun with 357 cal bullets. You can bet your Arse I'm going to protect myself.

They don't know the difference between a semi-auto and an automatic.

I don't choose to live here, but I don't have the choice to get out right now. So, do I protect myself or rely on Barney who doesn't know a revolver from the hole in his Arse?

[magprob]

I thought my comment on the gun would get you all going. It always does. I'm certainly not blaming the gun. Responsibility rests with the killer. No doubt.

BUt i still can't agree with those of you who think more guns are the answer. Its a sad indictment on the place you live that most of you feel you need a gun to live safely. Ive never laid my hands on one and i can still go to sleep at night with the doors unlocked. Im sorry the rest of you guys don't have that feeling of safety that i enjoy.

I'd really like to take issue with you on that but at the moment I'm beating my head against a Eucyliptis tree and it feels really nice, thank you very much.

[magprob]

As I stated before....I live very close to the city that has the highest crime rate in the country. I choose to protect myself.

Before you people who are totally against guns tell me to move.....Moving is NOT an option at the moment. Yes, I would love to move to get away from it, but currently I have no choice.

If crazy ole Bubba or Tookie comes to my house in the middle of the night with a gun and my children are in harms way....You better bet your A$$ I am going to protect myself. The police where I live, basically Mayberry, will make it here after my children and I have been shot to death. I refuse to let Barney Fife and his deputies in my small community even think they can protect me, because I know they can't.

Why do I know they can't? Because my husband is a master gunsmith in our community, not many left in the country, they (the local police (?) come to him to have their firearms repaired and/or maintained. They don't have firing pins, they have a 8mm cal gun with 357 cal bullets. You can bet your Arse I'm gonna protect myself.

They don't know the difference between a semi-auto and an automatic.

I don't choose to live here, but I don't have the choice to get out right now. So, do I protect myself or rely on Barney who doesn't know a revolver from the hole in his Arse?

Tookie? Tookie? I'd like a little Tookie!

[Skell]

The reason I have a gun is because some day our government will go too far. That's when the revolution will happen, and at least I'll be armed with SOMETHING against the troops they send against me. THAT is why there IS a second amendment.

So no--more guns won't make it any better. But neither will FEWER guns.

Many people will say that has happened already.. :)

I respect that decision but do you honestly think a gun is going to protect you against the might of the US military? Is that the reason you really have a gun. So one day when neded you can use it against your Government?

That view is shared by many isn't it? I have to admit that it is quite difficult for me to grasp but obviously is a popularly held belief in the US. It just shows that even those in the Western world have quite different cultural beliefs.

[Skell]

I have to ask that if someone came into your home and proceeded to kill and hurt your family or yourself, would you still want to leave your doors unlocked and not have had a gun to get him/her before they got to you? More guns are not the answer, not letting the wrong people get to them is....none of us will ever be happy......I guess we are getting off subject here....
Edit:::: Hey Skell, I used to keep our doors unlocked till the next door lady got a big scare with her life and a robbery. I had to add that cause i think it is sad that people don't feel safe too sweet....I really do!

If someone came in and killed my family and me it would be too late to lock the doors. Just as it would be too late to go to my closet, unlock the safe, unlock the other safe where the ammunition is, load the gun and then work out how to shoot someone.

To me it is simply a matter that having a gun would not make me feel safer. In fact if I had a family it would make me feel more uneasy then anything.

And I will admit that the doors do get locked at night time now, but locking the doors still won't stop someone coming in and hurting me and my family. Just like owning a gun won't stop it either.

[Skell]

As I stated before....I live very close to the city that has the highest crime rate in the country. I choose to protect myself.

Before you people who are totally against guns tell me to move.....Moving is NOT an option at the moment. Yes, I would love to move to get away from it, but currently I have no choice.

If crazy ole Bubba or Tookie comes to my house in the middle of the night with a gun and my children are in harms way....You better bet your A$$ I am going to protect myself. The police where I live, basically Mayberry, will make it here after my children and I have been shot to death. I refuse to let Barney Fife and his deputies in my small community even think they can protect me, because I know they can't.

Why do I know they can't? Because my husband is a master gunsmith in our community, not many left in the country, they (the local police (?) come to him to have their firearms repaired and/or maintained. They don't have firing pins, they have a 8mm cal gun with 357 cal bullets. You can bet your Arse I'm gonna protect myself.

They don't know the difference between a semi-auto and an automatic.

I don't choose to live here, but I don't have the choice to get out right now. So, do I protect myself or rely on Barney who doesn't know a revolver from the hole in his Arse?

That's fair enough.

Can I ask where you keep your gun J?

[Skell]

I'd really like to take issue with you on that but at the moment I'm beating my head against a Eucyliptis tree and it feels really nice, thank you very much.

Just be careful that Koala doesn't fall out of it and land on your head. You know those things are the size of polar bears. They're Australia's biggest killer behind knife wielding maniacs named Mick! :)

[magprob]

And Ned.