Random Thoughts Today

To understand what a handgun is, we should define it. This definition should do fine:

Entry: hand·gun

Function: noun

Date: 20th century

A compact, portable and concealable one-handed, all-weather personal defense weapon, capable of being successfully employed by men, women and youngsters of varying sizes and degrees of skill, from contact-distance out to 50 yards, against one or multiple attackers, with potentially lethal results, and the sight of which can cause attackers to cease or withdraw.

Yup. That'll do fine.

Guns in the Home

Many gun control laws were passed to increase safety in the home. "Guns in the home are dangerous" we are told. "There is a substantial risk people will be injured in a home that contains a gun" says the VPC. Just where are these homes and who lives there?

I purchased my first handgun 34 years ago, in 1974. My first long gun, a Marlin .22 bolt rifle, was purchased the prior year. In the years since, no one has been injured by any of my guns unless you count cutting a finger on a sharp edge or the morning I dropped my 1903 Springfield on my little toe.

Since purchasing my first gun, I graduated college, worked in 4 different fields, with 13 different job titles in 8 companies, got married, got divorced, had room mates, got rid of them, had girlfriends, including one long term live-in relationship, bought & sold 4 motorcycles, 3 cars, my father died and I lost a nephew, had good bosses and lousy ones, was unemployed for two years and much more. Zero injuries, zero fatalities.

Where's all this danger and risk?

Good News

ABC News reporter and Libertarian John Stossel has an excellent column on the Second Amendment and self-defense in the New Hampshire Union-Leader.

We have seen the collapse anti-gun laws in Morton Grove and Wilmette in Illinois. Other cities are undoubtedly looking at their laws, deciding if they should do something now or wait until a suit is filed. But even better news comes from the Nevada Chapter of the ACLU. Breaking with the National organization in New York, a chapter of the ACLU had publicly stated it's intent to defend the Second Amendment as it defends other constitutional rights. Time will tell if they are as "creative" in defending our right to arms as they have been elsewhere.

I was pleasantly surprised by a Chicago Tribune article on guns and suicide. Editorial board member Steve Chapman's piece is a must read. This is in direct contrast of the Tribune's previous, uncredited editorial to Repeal the Second Amendment. Perhaps Chapman can ask the other editorial board members if they'd like to comment on the U.K'.s problems. After banning guns and suppressing the "Gun Culture", their news media complained about replica guns and Airsoft guns. Now, papers are bemoaning the "Knife Culture" as a serious threat. New laws ban many knives in public. What will be next? The "Cricket Bat Culture"?