- Joined
- 05 Oct 05
- Moves
- 63425
Originally posted by SJ247Wrapping everything together (guns, mass-murder,) I don't think most mass-murderers, (not speaking to wars, but the notorious individual mass murderers/serial murderers,) really use guns as the rule. Guns are probably too clean/quick.
Mass-murder, it's more interesting.
Go.
Tazers freak me out.
Originally posted by SJ247That's me. In the country, and sometimes I leave my door unlocked. I never lock my windows. This is country culture out here. The houses on my street are so far apart that anything could happen and no one would know a thing for about a week. In my town, the murders that have happened have been all types of killings, once or twice a year, mostly domestic. The city nearby has as much crime as any city for it's population. It's 20 minutes away. But it's rural out here. Horses, cows, etc. We are not rednecks. My town is made up of hard working farmers, low income folks, educated, regular folks who commute to regular jobs, and plenty of affluent people. It's suburban-rural. It's quite nice and diverse.
Funny, the further you move from the city, the safer you *think* you are. The country is full of naive dingdongs who think nothing will *ever* happen, and take no precautions to safeguard their homes. Crime happens everywhere, and if I were a criminal, I'd prefer scoping out remote homes without neighbors, than homes with neighbors. Imagine the hours of fun ...[text shortened]... ard. You don't even need to bust the window, just walk on in through the unlocked front door.
I have changed my opinion on gun ownership. I used to be very anti-gun. Then I moved to NH, where people hunt and own guns. There's also a lot of bow hunting here. I know some very normal, successful, contributing members of my community who own guns. They shoot at the range. I can't really view them as wrong somehow because they own guns. I work in an industry where everybody carries a gun, and owns them personally, either because they are police, guards, investigators, military or just simply "raised on guns." At first, seeing guns in my office was creepy. Now, it's normal. My boss sitting at his desk, looking through the new scope he bought for his 17 year old is normal. He was a major in the Army for years. His boys have their own guns and occasionally, he takes them to the range.
Before this, I had no personal relationships with anyone who owned guns, so I had the opinion that only idiots owned them and that they were just for killing. None of the good people I know who work with or own guns want them for that purpose.
My opinion is that private gun selling should be outlawed, it's unsafe. Of course, those gun shops who sell illegally are the ones who contribute to criminals getting guns. Irresponsible owners keep guns loaded and accessible to unskilled handlers. Owning a gun means you must be trained, responsible and knowledgeable. Our laws are not stringent enough, it's true. I would like to see that change. I don't think children should have access to guns at all, unless supervised by a responsible adult and be over 16 years old. The people out here where I live carry guns for both safety (as they perceive it) and hunting/markmanship. I simply understand both sides now. I do think less people should own guns, but I don't believe street crime has much to do with private gun ownerhip. At this point, outlawing guns in the US would be a pointless effort. It won't happen. Better laws may force the idiots who are not gun-safe and decrease the amount of guns that are untraceable and used in crimes. But I leave the responsibility of gun-related crime where it belongs.
- Joined
- 05 Oct 05
- Moves
- 63425
Originally posted by SunburntLock your door, dingdong.
That's me. In the country, and sometimes I leave my door unlocked. I never lock my windows. This is country culture out here. The houses on my street are so far apart that anything could happen and no one would know a thing for about a week. In my town, the murders that have happened have been all types of killings, once or twice a year, mostly domestic. Th ...[text shortened]... n crimes. But I leave the responsibility of gun-related crime where it belongs.
- Joined
- 05 Oct 05
- Moves
- 63425
Originally posted by SunburntYou're kidding, right?
SJ, do you close and lock your windows at night when you are sleeping?
I close and lock them, then I recheck them. I leave lights on, and I keep the phone next to my bed. I've tried sleeping with my eyes open, but toothpicks hurt.
Originally posted by SJ247I'm not kidding. Let me clarify. I assume you do. I don't lock the top windows, where we all have our bedrooms. It's hot, and we do not have central air out here. Most homes don't in my area. So the wind is helpful in summer. The bottom floor windows are locked.
You're kidding, right?
I close and lock them, then I recheck them. I leave lights on, and I keep the phone next to my bed. I've tried sleeping with my eyes open, but toothpicks hurt.
But I know that if someone wants to get in, they can and will. Hopefull, if that happened, my dog would deter them. When I leave for extended periods, I lock up. If I'm running to the store, I leave the front door unlocked.
I didn't live this way before I moved here. It's a different way of life out here. It's a good life. I've lived in cities, and more populated suburbs. Most people feel safe here because they are. That's all I can say.