I'm with you, Mike. I was raised in a small, rural town and all the men in my family were hunters. There were always guns around and I was taught that a man should defend his family and home. When I was in my 20's I looked out the back window of my Chicago apartment and saw a cop cruiser and a bunch of activity in the back yard of the house across the alley from me. I walked over to see what was up and watched them dig a bullet out of the guy's garage. The guy was all amped up and bragging about how he had run off a would-be burgler with a single shot. Looking at the scenario he described, it dawned on me that if the shot had been even one degree to the side the bullet would have missed the garage and carried on across the alley, directly into my daughter's bedroom. That was a rude awakening to the reality, and potential consequences of the "right to bear arms." I moved my family rather than live around "dirty harry". I'm sure that there are many people out there who are properly trained and capable with firearms, but I fear the majority are not. I know a number of Chicago cops and one FBI agent, and not one of them has ever told me they like the idea of armed citizens helping them shoot the bad guys. Personally, I feel safest when there are no guns around. The other day I dropped my lead wheel hammer on my toe. Who know's what damage I might do with a gun!
Daryl,
Thanks for the post you echo my views, and I believe those of the British Police force regarding armed citizens.
There have been a few high profile cases recently here in the UK were innocent youngsters have been killed by firearms.
I have yet to see one one mother of those children come out and say we should have more guns.
Perhaps as this forum is predominantly male we don't get a very balanced view.
If you want to own a gun fair enough but strict controls do need to be in place.
Last August Bank Holiday Mr Foster killed his wife and 15-year-old daughter before setting fire to their home at Maesbrook, near Oswestry, and killing himself.
It emerged at the inquest into the deaths that Christopher Foster had been suffering from depression and had mentioned suicidal thoughts to his GP.
T
his prompted Mid and North Shropshire coroner, John Ellery to recommend a closer link between the medical profession and the police, who issue gun licences.
In the last few days the British Medical Association (BMA) has said it is about to update its ethical guidance on firearms.
The Gun Control Network was set up after the Dunblane tragedy in 1996 when 16 children and an adult were shot by Thomas Hamilton. It campaigns for tighter controls on guns of all kinds.
Spokeswoman, Gill Marshall-Andrews described the new guidelines as "absolutely wonderful".
She said her concern was for the risk faced by the families of gun owners: "If an individual commits suicide, that is a matter for him, but if he is going to kill his family, it is a very different matter
After the inquest into the deaths, Christopher Foster's estranged brother, Andrew, spoke publicly about his relationship with his brother and the need for greater control over the issuing of gun licences.
He said he had done some research into the subject: "There are 27,000 licensed gun holders in West Mercia alone and 25% will be treated for depression.
"That means 6,500 gun holders are suffering from depression and yet there is no communication between doctors and the police for people who are feeling suicidal."