In a message dated 9/21/00 7:43:20 PM US Eastern Standard Time,
afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx writes:
<< It's just that we here in Aus. have a very similar society to yours and we
mostly manage without them. You live in fear of violence and choose to
protect yourself with a form of violence as have many of your compatriots.
Consequently, you seem to have created a violent, dangerous and fearful
culture.
I'm not a pacifist, although I will admit to being a pinko greenie
tree-hugger, and I have used a firearm for hunting and target, but I can
see no place for a handgun in a home or in the pocket of a civilian in my
society. I recommend it. >>
I recall one very good reason why you "mostly manage" to live without
firearms. The Australian government recently arbitrarily took them away from
its citizens. I also recall that there was a real outcry from those citizens
who lived in areas where they were appreciated, desired and occasionally
needed. Of course, those who do not obey the law are not going to be bound by
legal restrictions, so guess who will still have firearms. Right, the
potential victimizers. Guess who won't have that means of protection any
longer. Right, the potential victims. Hmmm. There seems to be some flaw with
this line of reasoning. But, that's bureaucracy for you. Bureaucrats always
know what's best for other people. I imagine the crime rate in Australia has
really dropped. Right?
As for the "violent, dangerous and fearful culture," you are quite mistaken
about that. Have you ever visited the United States? For the most part the
United States is a country of peaceful, non-violent, law-abiding, friendly,
trusting, caring and generous people. We enjoy personal rights and freedom of
movement unsurpassed by any other nation in the world. Unfortunately, there
is also a minority of aggressive, violent, law-breaking, self-centered and
sociopathic citizens who prey on others as a life style. (As in all other
nations/cultures of the world.) The number is growing with the spread of the
drug culture and the need of addicts to support a drug habit by any means.
The potential for violence has also increased with the influx of immigrants
from countries where violence was/is a way of life and who were the
victimizers, not the victims. (Don't misread that as me implying that there
are not also some wonderful people immigrating to the US.) Generally, the
larger communities have the most problems.
Law-abiding citizens who refuse to be victimized and who choose to arm
themselves for self-defense do not create a violent culture, they are a
result of it. As a matter of fact, a country where law-abiding people are
known to carry personal weapons is usually a more polite, respectful, less
aggressive society--for obvious reasons. As a matter of statistics, in our
states where concealed weapons carry has recently been authorized, crimes
rates have consistently dropped. Wonder why that is? If firearms were the
problem, one would expect the crime rates to go up.
<< I have used a firearm for hunting and target, but I can see no place for a
handgun in a home or in the pocket of a civilian in my society. I recommend
it. >>
Apparently you have been blessed by living where no one has attempted to make
a victim of you. In the event such a thing would happen to you or someone you
know, whom are you depending upon for protection/rescue? The police? It will
all be over by the time they can be summoned. Yourself? Against a possibly
armed assailant? By what means? Fist? Club? Knife? Some other armed person? A
weapon is a weapon is a weapon.... To single out firearms for exclusion is
merely the exercise of a personal bias.
<< I recommend it. >>
Are you saying that you place the responsibilty of your self-protection and
that of your family upon others and recommend the practice to others? By what
right does one ask others to place themselves in potential jeopardy on their
behalf just because he/she prefers not to protect him/herself? That is not
self-defense. That would be a terrible injustice to the defender, with the
possible exception of those who have deliberately chosen that defensive role
(i.e. police, military). Those of us who prefer to maintain a personal means
of protection do so because we have assumed the major part of the burden for
self and family protection. Some of us have prepared for that protection by
purchasing a firearm and becoming proficient in its use as part of our
defensive preparations. We have chosen not to be a victim if we can
successfully prevent it. That is not a reason for censure; it is a reason for
commendation.
Robert
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