[graciegirl]

Bk and Red.

Your considered and kind responses brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for your posts. I can see that you two are not afraid.

We are all different here. That is good.

[ejp52]

I suggest installing landmines around the perimeter of the house like I did.
Note be sure to disarm on grass cutting time.
I support the conceal carry,one never knows what is in store.

[Pats2010]

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

Gracie, when this discussion first started getting more opinionated, I thought about you. I felt protective of your opinions of TV, guns and the topic of criminals in the TV area. I didn't want anyone to offend you whether you posted in this thread or not.

We haven't met, but I feel like I know a little bit about you from your posts. Nothing from any of your posts would ever lead anyone to think you are an airhead or uninformed.

The second amendment gives us the "right" to own guns. It isn't something that is required. Don't worry about the people who carry concealed weapons. They aren't the criminals. They've had background checks. Some of the people who carry concealed weapons are off-duty law enforecment officers or military people who know the proper way to handle firearms. Some are people who have gun training for whatever reason. Some are idiots.

Same as people who get behind the wheel of a car. Some are safe, some are idiots. Either way accidents happen.

When you were taught to drive defensively it was to teach you to watch for situations that put you in harms way and to lessen the likelihood of an accident. I'm sure you live that way without a gun and you've been safe so far. On the otherhand, I bet you'd be surprised how many of your wonderful neighbors, both in Ohio and in TV, have weapons in their homes as a defense. People just don't generally announce it.

I'm from the country and most people have guns whether it's for protection or to hunt or both. People have gun racks in their trucks. Our county schools have a required gun safety class in elementary school. Not the entire school year, but just a few lessons about gun safety. It is required before children get their hunting license.

See my point? To me at least, there are many cultural reasons I am comfortable around firearms. I was raised with four brothers and we would skeet shot and target practice. My dad was a sharp shooter. Safety was always first. I have a compound bow and love to shoot targets. I've never killed an animal with a weapon. Since I've been a licensed driver, I have killed a dog, a cat and a rabbit by accident with my car. I hit a deer with my car once, but I like to imagine when it finally got up and ran away, it survived.

I would never encourage someone who isn't comfortable with a gun to own one. That is your right and nobody should make fun, belittle or make assumptions about someone who doesn't own or carry a gun. I would bet the majority of people who own guns and live in TV came to TV with the gun and the reasons for owning a weapon; they didn't purchase their first gun because they moved to TV.

I know you have good common sense and would never put yourself in harms way or in dangerous situations intentionally. I don't think you are naive or unsafe because you don't have a gun. It's just a topic that brings up strong opinions and defensiveness by gun owners because the right to bear arms is often debated in the Constitutional manner. We have the right to, and the right not to, bear arms.

Good post. I would also remind people that the economy often dictates the crime rates.

[billethkid]

it is the people. And statistically the number of unlawful incidents by a person with a permit is so small it gets lost in the rounding.

Persons with permits are well intended. Criminals are not.

As was stated previously in this thread, if the media gave as much play to the accomplishment of good by and armed citizen in an event got as much play as the Walmart, ISOLATED, incident folks would soon be aware of the good that is done by the well intended armed citizen.

After all the media's objective is to frighten you so you stay tuned. And doing good frightens nobody nor does it further their agenda and always present talking points.
That is the shame of it when it comes to guns.

btk

[Talk Host]

Think for a moment about the tragic events of the past few years. 21 students shot to death at Virginia Tech. 13 people massacred at the Civic Association in Binghamton, New York. 8 people killed in an Omaha shopping mall. 12 students and teachers dead at Columbine High School and on and on and on.

Oh that 1 person had a concealed weapon to stop the carnage.

[The Shadow]

Let’s have a contest. Does anyone have more that 5 snub nose 38s?

Originally Posted by Talk Host

Think for a moment about the tragic events of the past few years. 21 students shot to death at Virginia Tech. 13 people massacred at the Civic Association in Binghamton, New York. 8 people killed in an Omaha shopping mall. 12 students and teachers dead at Columbine High School and on and on and on.

Oh that 1 person had a concealed weapon to stop the carnage.

This happened on a military base where you assume the people there have thorough knowledge of the use of all kinds of weapons. It took a while to take the shooter down.

Even in the Wild West very few people actually knew how to use a handgun against someone who is firing back.

[bkcunningham1]

Following the Ft. Hood murders by radical Muslim Nidal Malik Hasan, Lt. General Cone stated: "As a matter of practice, we do not carry weapons on Fort Hood. This is our home. Military weapons are only used for training or by base security, and personal weapons must be kept locked away by the provost marshal."

Specialist Jerry Richard, a soldier working at the Readiness Center, expressed the opinion that this policy had left them unnecessarily vulnerable to violent assaults: "Overseas you are ready for it. But here you can't even defend yourself."

Originally Posted by bkcunningham1

Following the Ft. Hood murders by radical Muslim Nidal Malik Hasan, Lt. General Cone stated: "As a matter of practice, we do not carry weapons on Fort Hood. This is our home. Military weapons are only used for training or by base security, and personal weapons must be kept locked away by the provost marshal."

Specialist Jerry Richard, a soldier working at the Readiness Center, expressed the opinion that this policy had left them unnecessarily vulnerable to violent assaults: "Overseas you are ready for it. But here you can't even defend yourself."

Why did it take so long for base security to re-act to a shooter on the base?

[bkcunningham1]

The terrorist attack took place inside the very crowded Soldier Readiness Center, where personnel receive routine medical treatment immediately prior to and on return from deployment.

Eyewitnesses said he took a seat at an empty table, bowed his head for several seconds, and then stood up and opened fire. Hasan reportedly jumped onto a desk and shouted: "Allahu Akbar!", (Which means Allah is Greater) before, according to reports, firing more than 100 rounds at soldiers processing through cubicles in the center, and on a crowd gathered for a college graduation ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. in a nearby theater. It was reported that Hasan was focused on soldiers in uniform.

I suppose it was difficult for unarmed men and women in the vicinity to gain control of the situation. He had two handguns: an FN Five-seven semi-automatic pistol, which he had purchased at a civilian gun store, and a .357 Magnum which he may not have fired.

He is charges with 13 counts of premeditated murder and 32 counts of attempted murder.

[duffysmom]

Gracie, I for one do not think you are an airhead. As a matter of fact, I enjoy your posts immensely and want you to be a resident of TV. We need intelligent, savy and feisty women like you. I live very happily in TV with absolutely no fear but I am vigilent. There is a difference.
I don't own any weapons other than my very protective watch dog Duffy. He can be very intimidating, all 4 lbs of him. By the way, I too was surprised to hear that many people carry concealed weapons but I think that is probably true in most communities. We just have a very active website where people share their experiences.

Originally Posted by duffysmom

Gracie, I for one do not think you are an airhead. As a matter of fact, I enjoy your posts immensely and want you to be a resident of TV. We need intelligent, savy and feisty women like you. I live very happily in TV with absolutely no fear but I am vigilent. There is a difference.
I don't own any weapons other than my very protective watch dog Duffy. He can be very intimidating, all 4 lbs of him. By the way, I too was surprised to hear that many people carry concealed weapons but I think that is probably true in most communities. We just have a very active website where people share their experiences.

I would think that all the golf clubs would deter many burglars from entering occupied homes in the Villages.

On the subject of welcome posters, I like Graciegirl's posts even though she will soon be the person with the most posts on TOTV if she keeps up the rate she is going.

[bkcunningham1]

And who might that be?

Taltarzac 4364
graciegirl 4270
chelsea24 3739
Barefoot 3720
Talk Host 3564
KathieI 3423
redwitch 3146
nONIE 3060
Donna 2724
Russ_Boston 2687

[Pturner]

Originally Posted by Yoda

As soon as I saw 6 pages in one day, I just knew...
... If you don't want people to carry concealed guns close your eyes and imagine a world with no guns. That will make you feel better but don't interfere with the rights of other people. The same people with the same arguments.Yoda

Hi Yoda,
As you admittedly prejudged the discussion before read the posts, I wonder if you think it possible that your expectations could have influenced how you viewed the actual posed.

Some people said they are uncomfortable around guns, some gave heartfelt reasons why they carry guns for personal protection, and some said that fear was not a motivating factor in their choice to carry.

Some thought carrying a concealed weapon is a good idea; some thought not. Regardless of shades of opinion, personal experiences were shared. I didn't see any posts that argued for interfering with anyone's right to bear arms.

To paraphrase your comment and put it in a different perspective:
If you don't want to see a variety of opinions on a topic raised for discussion on a discussion board, close your eyes and imagine a world with no opinions other than your own. That will make you feel better.

See how that feels.

BTW, I mean no insult to you and don't actually suggest you close your eyes. I just hoped perchance to demonstrate how that statement can be hurtful, disrepectful and belittling. I respect your opinions on guns and other topics, regardless of whether I agree. I appeal to you and others for the same respect toward me and my beloved colleagues on this site.

[Vinny]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Bk and Red.

Your considered and kind responses brought tears to my eyes. Thank you for your posts. I can see that you two are not afraid.

We are all different here. That is good.

Gracie, people carry concealed guns in your state. I think you are just becoming aware that about 44 states allow their citizens to carry concealed firearms. The overall percentage of people legally carrying guns is small and the penalties for brandishing or showing it in a non life and death situation are harsh with no chance of parole.