Fight or flight

[old man 76]

I recently had a discussion with three men about gun control and the right to own guns. Only one of the three I knew and this was just a chance encounter in a store. All felt they musted be armed to protect their homes and families. I have no problem with this as I own guns myself. I made the statement if some one was trying to break into my home I would grab my gun but there were a number of exits so I would take my wife and run. The men showed sign of distaste for this notion and the one man I knew asked me as we left why would you run I know your a pretty good shot. There are three reasons. First I would not know the number of people breaking in and if they were well armed. Even if no one wants to think about it there is alway the chance you will be shot or a family member hit by a stray bullet. If I go down that leaves my wife unprotected. Second not knowing who is breaking in you might kill an unarmed person with a mental problem, intoxicated and had the wrong house or a child to name a few scenarios. You might just end up arrested and facing prosecution. You might win but it could cost ten thousand or much more in legal fees plus the possibility of a civil suit. Third every one has some body they are special to no matter how bad they may seem. One of those some bodies might just decide to even the score by killing you or worse a member of your family. Outside chance I know but is still still a possibility. Being macho sounds great but sometimes common sense is better.

[socalgal58]

1. Damn you old man 76 for making sense!

Did their heads explode at this overload of common sense?

[plethoro]

2. Home is part of what I am. If I have to flee from Home, I have fled from

myself. My wife and I will stand and fight. If we die in the process, so be it. We will not turn into something we are not with a thousand rationales for not taking a stand on Home. Your post spoke legions about what we have become. But, then, I have come to understand the new way. I have one gun, a pistol my father took off an SS officer in WW2. Every once in a while I check to see if it works. I will do that today as soon as I pay the Feds what I owe them in graft.

[eggplant]

4. Wow, a willingness to trade one's life for stuff.

Personally, I don't own a gun. I don't lock my doors. I don't spend my time in fear that someone is coming to get my stuff. I pay a small amount of money in homeowner's insurance, and I know that I can replace my stuff. I'll never find another person like my wife, though.

[plethoro]

6. You are on a different vector then me. And our wives are different. If I ran in the face of danger,

the woman I observed when I stopped running that day would not be the same one as when I started my run. I watched the scared families in Vietnam decide that they shouldn't run when the Americans demanded entrance into their homes to check for NVA. Sometimes that didn't work and the Americans cut them down stat. We have nothing further to talk about. All about stuff to you, huh?

[eggplant]

7. So you're worried that an army is going to show up at your door?

And you're going to hold them off with your pistol?

All about bravado to you, huh?

[plethoro]

9. What?

I'm not worried about anything. However, I will never put myself in the position where it is up to another to determine my actions. The enemy already knows what you will do. Not me. And bravado will win many times over running. But, like I said, I am on a different vector than you. If the gangs come to my street, the neighbors and I will take care of it ourselves. You will simply let the police handle it. Sagan said it would be like this in the end.

[flamin lib]

3. When I wore a younger man's clothes here in Texas I frequented as many Honky Tonks

as the next fella. Drank as many beers too and flirted with all the girls. Never did I feel the need to defend myself.

I had a few friends who were adept at Karate. Damned if they didn't have to fend off attackers at least monthly.

Funny how that works.

Hell, I won my last fight by 40 yards . . .

[Spitfire of ATJ]

5. What? Run? And leave your stuff?

Don't you know Conservatives are obsessed with property?

Their stuff is at least as important as their life and the lives of their family.

[eggplant]

8. +1

That's why they included it in the Declaration of Independence. Oh wait, they took that out and replaced it with Pursuit of Happiness. Sorry, my bad.

[luckyleftyme2]

10. ah far be it for me to run

I'D like to reply to several since I live in a state that has less than 2 million residents.I see we are now being flooded with drugs from larger states to our south. I have been a hunter all my life my dad bought me a 20 ga. bolt action mossberg shot gun when I was
eight! I grew up with weapons,I can throw a knife,shoot a bow ,go 10 for 10 wing shooting dove,quail or partridge!make a tin can dance with my ruger 22!I have 4 children and they have children that all have guns! In the last year I have had the police park on my front lawn ; walk down two houses surround a house and take two people in custody!
I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THIS FAMILY AS THEY KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THEY TOUCH ONE THING ON MY PROPERTY,IF THEY HARM THREATEN ONE OF MY FAMILY! 32 YEARS AGO WHEN I MOVED INTO THIS NEIGHBORHOOD A FAMILY MEMBER OF THEIRS STOLE A TOOL BOX OUT OF THE BACK OF A BUDDY OF MINES PICKUP WHILE HE WAS VISITING ME!I VISITED THAT FAMILY WITH A BASEBALL BAT AND SAID WE WERE GOING DOWNTOWN (MY FRIEND AND I) WE WOULD BE GONE AN HOUR-WHEN WE CAME BACK THE TOOL BOX WOULD BE IN THE PICKUP NO QUESTIONS ASKED(I knew if they hadn't taken it they knew who had) but if I had to come back it wouldn't be pretty!
needless to say the tool box was in the pick up and we have never had a problem since! but that family is now into hard drugs! and you bet your butt I'm to old for fisticuffs now but I can shoot the testicles off a running man at 50 yards! and thats where the first round is going!
and that is why the 22nd amendment is so important! my home is my castle ! has meaning! If you think that the police dept.or any other form of gov. can protect you 24/7 your living in la la land! don't take this wrong they try but they cannot be everywhere at once! you have a duty to your self and your family to protect whats yours ! and never forget it!

[old man 76]

11. Just a thought

Remember I said I would have a gun in my hand as I left. I fired my first shot when I was six. I was trained to shoot by my uncle who had been in world war two through the north Africa and European campaigns. He was badly injured invading Germany and finished his military as a fire arms instructor. He taught me well.He also told me killing is not pretty and no one would ever understand until they walked thru blood and body parts. I can shoot and I can kill but I will leave the bragging about it to you.

[luckyleftyme2]

12. oh sorry

I was the pvt that the firing range co ask to demonstrate how I could shoot 8 for 8 with an "m-1" at 100,300 and 500 yds! so if you think I'm bragging your right! It was my dad that taught me how to shoot! he could name the wing on a duck,partridge in the air he would break! he was the best wing shot I ever hunted with! I think your not from maine but texas!
I was brought up that you didn't take anything that wasn't yours and you didn't let anyone take anything of yours !
that no matter how rich or poor you were their was always someone better off or worse off than you! and you accepted that!
war is hell,death is permanent and time makes friends of enemies! The older I get and I'm older than you the more I respect life! But the less I think of a thief! you respect my rights I'll respect yours! I lived my life by this and hopefully my children and grandchildren will! And so do many others! thats the real reason we are a free country!