[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Rebel Pirate

Absolutely!..we're all different! To quote a well known sage, "I have to be myself. Everyone else is taken." We're all products of genetics and our experiences. If our experiences were the same, perhaps we'd have similar views. Here's a summary of one of my experiences.

I am not a "gun person." I don't feel a need to own guns...it's a choice I make.

About 20 years ago I was in the military and stationed in southern California. I had never carried a weapon in my car except while driving from one duty station to the next; otherwise, they were locked up at my home. I never planned or expected to carry a weapon outside my home. Where were you April 29, 1992? For me, it was a normal west coast day...cool and sunny. Then it changed dramatically. What came to be known as the Rodney King riots broke out. I’ve got several stories, both personal and from teammates. No one from my organization was killed or seriously injured, but there were close calls. The riots produced 50+ killed and 200+ seriously injured; smoke from car fires on the nearby freeway wafted through our workspaces; a 15 minute drive took 2 1/2 hours because the freeways were closed; televised video showed innocent people pulled from their cars being beaten and murdered. It was a surreal change from the beautiful, laidback place that existed shortly before.

The next week there was a pistol in my car wherever I went...and the only place I went was to/from duty. Duty demanded I go to my station; prudence dictated I be prepared to defend myself. This experience didn’t turn me into a gun person. But it convinced me that law and order can breakdown without warning, and then it’s too late to buy a gun, become proficient with it, get a concealed carry permit, learn how to carry it, etc. It also crystalized the truth that police can’t prevent crime and they won’t be available when you need them most.

I now have a concealed carry permit and I plan to have one when I move to The Villages. I don’t ever plan to carry a weapon either in The Villages, outside The Villages, either on my person or in my car, other than when transporting guns to/from the range. But, if “something” ever happens I’ll be prepared. I don’t expect “something” will ever happen...but then I never expected “something” to happen before April 28, 1992. I have no problem at all with ANYONE who chooses to NOT own a firearm. But, in the event that "something" happens, the police are nowhere in sight, and you absolutely must travel (like to a hospital) you might show up at my door. I'll be prepared to help you...whether you like guns or not.

I own a home and have homeowners insurance. Neither owning a gun nor having a concealed carry permit defines me...not anymore than owning a home and having an insurance policy defines me.

I am not a "gun person."

I think you'll read that the vast majority of us who don't own guns have little issue with a permit for a hand gun for protection etc. But it gets crazy with these semi-automatic rifles etc. in my opinion. I too was held up at gun point but looking back at it I'm glad I didn't have a gun because in the end no one was injured, no shots were fired. I just lost some cash and the 3 'guys' were caught and sentenced to 3-5 years. Would the outcome have been different if one of the people being robbed (there were 5 of us) were carrying a weapon?