So Joan Peterson of the Brady Campaign and Joyce Foundation discusses self defense.
Anon- you have chosen to carry a gun and have a gun to “protect” your family. I have not. I see things differently. I don’t see the need for a gun everywhere I go and so far things have worked out fine except for the shooting of my sister by her estranged husband.
First the small point she starts off with the “You made your choice, I made mine”, which is horribly disingenuous. I have NO problem with people choosing NOT to carry or own guns. Gun ownership is elective. Now those who work for the same groups as she does often use the scare tactics of “The NRA wants everybody to carry guns EVERYWHERE!” or “The Gun Lobby is handing out guns to *X Demographic*. Which is bullshit. What we’re for is allowing people to CHOOSE to carry, and CHOOSE where they carry. If you want to buy a gun, BUY ONE. If guns are icky, or you only like one type of gun, nobody is forcing you. If you think AR-15s suck, or 33 round glock magazines are scary, nobody is tossing them in your Christmas stocking.
Of course The Joyce Foundation and the Brady Campaign have a long and storied record of DENYING choice. They want carry laws to be repealed. They want more areas declared “Gun Free Zones” so those who CHOOSE to carry are FORCED to disarm, and they and they have spoken up about banning just about every gun known to man, so if you WANT an AR-15, well they would prefer you couldn’t get one, and if you WANT a 33 Round magazine for your Glock or a rifle, well they want to make that a crime.
Sorry, Joan you can’t hide behind “Well that was your Choice” when you’re working to remove that choice from legal activities. (Of course noting that while it IS illegal to do drugs in this country, criminals still make that choice in spite of the law, as they do with carrying guns and other weapons around to commit predatory violence)
But the big point is her exception made: “except for the shooting of my sister by her estranged husband.” Her sister’s boyfriend was also murdered that day, but she fails to mention that.
You know that’s a pretty big exception, don’t you think? I mean I didn’t put on my gun this morning because I expect to use it. I really expect, just like all the days before, NOT to use it. Same goes for my safety belt, my security alarm, locking my doors, hell I make sure to shut all the windows in the house before I go to bed. Why? Well its just in case a freak thunderstorm comes by, I’d rather wake up in a house that’s a bit stuffy in the morning than deal with water damaged hardwood.
If I expected to use my safety belt or air bag in my truck, I simply wouldn’t go driving that day. I go driving because I assume I’ll be safe, but I understand that there is a real possibility that I might be in a serious accident where those safety devices will save my life.
I don’t expect to use them, but I do anyway because death is kind of a big deal to me.
I don’t expect to use my gun, but I know that if the ball drops and I REALLY NEED my gun and for whatever reason I don’t have one, I and/or somebody else may die.
That’s a HUGE Exception, and one I don’t really think expresses much Common Sense.
What do you think?