General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRemember, the guns used today were bought to make someone feel safer
if they were purchased legally, and it sounds like they were.
if they were the mother's guns, she probably hoped they would protect hers or her family's safety. they did not.
this is a common misunderstanding. that guns make us safer.
the moment when they could be used to make you safer is more rare than the times they could be used against you or to harm a family member or others.
the critique of gun culture is not unfounded. it is a criticism of the idea that guns solve problems, or can solve problems, when it is so rare that they do. in fact, the opposite it true, guns usually cause problems. why? because guns kill and it's what they are designed to do. any solution predicated on killing is not a solution one can use without significant drawbacks.
it really is a curious thing, in a way, the idea that guns save you --it's almost from the movies, more than real life.
think of this scenario:
1) perp pulls gun on innocent
2) innocent sees gun, is able to see the threat, judge threat, draw gun, aim properly and kill perp in less time than the perp can kill the innocent
3) also assumes the movie-like confrontation where the perp holds up his hands and gives up after being confronted with a gun, while he himself is holding a gun.
but where are the situations where the assailant is never seen?
where are the situations where instead of unlocking your gun to protect your house, you should just run out the back door and get away?
where are the situations, where in the dark, it's your own kid in the backyard, sneaking out for the night, and not someone you want to shoot?
guns allow deadly force to be used without thinking, better and more easily than almost ever in our history.
if you think that makes us safer, then you are a victim of the gun culture's message.
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edited to add this:
CBS News ?@CBSNews
UPDATE: Federal official tells @CBSNews that all 3 weapons that Lanza had with him were bought legally, and were registered to his mother
https://twitter.com/CBSNews
teddy51
(3,491 posts)chances are not good that you are going to get your gun out to protect yourself. It might make you feel safer, but I doubt that you really are.