[ThirdOfFive]

[QUOTE=Sarah_W;2099233]Full disclosure: I am a hunter and grew up in a hunting family. I am a competition shooter, competing in speed pistol and precision rifle. I am a certified firearms instructor and co-founder of US Womens Shooting Academy. I know a lot about firearms. Lastly, I speak publicly on the Constitution as well as the 2nd Amendment.

Etc........

Excellent, well-written post. I didn't paste the whole post here but I DID print it. Lots of good information there.

One thing I inferred from the post is something that I believe very strongly; and that is that the excess emotion by the people who favor far stricter laws and controls actually hinders, rather than helps, the debate. And yes. There are many (far too many) who use a public display of emotion all too often accompanied by twisted claims and interpretations that are used to increase the emotion level of the public for their own gain. Such shenanigans solve nothing.

What is needed is reason, an actual KNOWLEDGE of the facts rather than just mindlessly repeating words designed to inflame rather than inform, and a willingness to look beyond our own prejudices. We don't have a gun problem. We have a people problem. And until we recognize and deal with THAT, things will just get worse.