Good ideas all around…but would you say this is the norm for people that buy guns for the purpose of feeling safer?
I’m afraid not.
Hell, I was on a jury once and the cop that was tesifying did not know how to safely handle a rifle. Nor did the balif.
Gawd, the rifle (evidence) was laid on the jury table pointing right at someones chest. I asked if anyone wanted to see it (they did not) I safely picked it up and proped it in a corner. They made me forman. Do NOT mess with me when it comes to gun safety.
Here’s the thing though, just because someone else is a dumbass, does not mean I am.
I am so happy we have good guys with guns opening fire! Thoughts and prayers only get you so far. An armed society is a polite society and as you see in this exact instance, we had an armed society and it was so fucking polite! Lots of sirs and ma’ams all around.
Here’s the thing, though.
When you walk into a fast food joint, no one is carrying a large sign saying “I am not a dumbass when it comes to guns” and, as you say, you are not the norm.
I’ll take that as a compliment. I can’t fix broken people. I CAN assure you that no one will mis-handle a gun while I am able to correct them on proper procedure.
If they open fire, I’m not really in a position to give them safety instructions.
Like I said, our approach is that it’s better to know and not need, than to need and not know. That’s what this is about.
Every time I hear this sort of thing I’m reminded of some of the responses to the Long Island Railroad shooting (that if everyone on the train had been armed the incident would never have happened: at the first false move everyone would have drawn, taken aim, and blown Ferguson away).
Human nature being what it is, I have a strong suspicion that if that had been the case the result would have been something like this, resulting in a railroad car full of dead & wounded.
(Note: the above is directed at the “more good guys with guns” meme, not at @wguy123.
I do wonder if there was ever an actual situation like that to demonstrate how people really behave. Things very often do not happen the way people envision them, especially people with an agenda. No matter how rational a certain chain of events may seem, we know today from ubiquitous video that all sorts of things defy expectations.
I think your chain reaction analogy is apt. A crazy shooter pulls a gun. Only a couple of people are even paying attention, they pull out guns, gets more people’s attention. Now you have a bunch of people with drawn guns and only two or three of them know who is the original crazy shooter. To the people coming in late to the pyramid, it looks like everybody is a crazy shooter.
There are people who carry guns just waiting for their moment in the spotlight when they can save the day, like Bernie Goetz. I still can’t understand why he wasn’t convicted. He was just burning to shoot somebody, and contrary to early news reports his victims were unarmed.
Surprisingly, my wife asked to teach her how to shoot. OK, I’ve been shooting for a long time.
So, 3 table top lessons from me (no gun involved. Safety, safety, safety), and then she bought a revolver. Gun stores recommended that as she is new to shooting. I agreed. She now seems to prefer a semi-auto. I think it’s a better fit for her as well.
She and then I signed up for CCW permits for conceal carry. Make no mistake, neither of us carry, and we don’t want to. BUT it was good instruction.
My Wife took a pistol self defense course too. And is gonna get personal instruction from the people at the range that we shoot at twice a month. That’s a good idea, her husband of 29 years should not be training her. I’ll miss something besides a target. A pro is a good idea. Someone that can say - No, that’s wrong.
Meanwhile, in Gary, Indiana it looks like someone doesn’t want the power restored:
The only way to stop a good guy with no gun at the wrong address is stupid police with guns.
This is pretty nuts. Shooting in KC today. Second video in this link (from a dash cam) the shooting starts at 30 seconds with audio. Four people jump out of a truck and start shooting at a car stopped at a stop light. They are NOT lacking in fire power, but somehow the driver gets away.
Road rage or gang conflict???
I’d say gang conflict. I would think the odds of having four armed occupants in a road rage incident are pretty low.
Heh, never know…
j/k
In KC you’re probably right. In Texas? Not so much.