A letter to the anti-gun crowd...

[freyasman]

This woman used to be very anti-gun. She never liked them much and then when a family member committed suicide by shooting himself, she really didn't like them. But then she got attacked in a parking lot one night, and she got a new attitude....
“The irony is that so many of us say, we are not going to live our lives in fear. We are not going to learn how to protect ourselves or carry a gun because we refuse to let the bad guy win. We refuse to give him that kind of power over our lives. We use the excuse of not being afraid and that lie puts us in the most vulnerable position we can be in, defenseless. When you are out of excuses and when someone is lying on top of you telling you exactly how they plan to take full control of your life, well, then you will get to experience the kind of life altering fear . . . that I did.”
She's a smart lady though, so she thought it through after she got all the bullshit out of her head, and she found some folks who were willing to help her. Read her letter....
http://www.agirlandhergun.org/2012/01/09/an-open-letter-to-the-anti-gun-folks/

 

[marvin martian]

Powerful letter. Thanks for sharing it.

 

[freyasman]

Powerful letter. Thanks for sharing it.

The things she said about not letting "fear" rule her reminds me of the way Bugs and some others on here are always trying to shame folks into being helpless, as though it is somehow better to be remembered as a "bold and fearless" murder/rape/assault victim. Sometimes I just think people like that are idiots, but other times I have to wonder if they aren't doing it deliberately, like maybe they take some sort of perverse pleasure from knowing that others are being brutalized and victimized.

 

[marvin martian]

The things she said about not letting "fear" rule her reminds me of the way Bugs and some others on here are always trying to shame folks into being helpless, as though it is somehow better to be remembered as a "bold and fearless" murder/rape/assault victim. Sometimes I just think people like that are idiots, but other times I have to wonder if they aren't doing it deliberately, like maybe they take some sort of perverse pleasure from knowing that others are being brutalized and victimized.

It's certainly possible. The regard those types of people have for women tends not to be very high. I think a guy like Bugsy is probably incredibly threatened by the idea of an armed woman who won't be a doormat...

For me personally, the sight of my wife with her pistol on her hip when we're out hiking, camping, hunting or whatever is a bit of a turn on...

 

[freyasman]

It's certainly possible. The regard those types of people have for women tends not to be very high. I think a guy like Bugsy is probably incredibly threatened by the idea of an armed woman who won't be a doormat...

For me personally, the sight of my wife with her pistol on her hip when we're out hiking, camping, hunting or whatever is a bit of a turn on...

I just don't understand people who extoll the dubious "virtue" of being completely defenseless..... it's such a ridiculous and illogical position that it's hard to imagine someone being that naïve. It makes me wonder if they're deliberately trying to manipulate people into bad spots.

 

[fairsheet]

I've never argued fer or agin' an individual availing themselves of a gun. BUT, I've always had a heckuva time figuring how the person who feels the need to pack heat, is necessarily the LESS fearful one.

 

[freyasman]

I've never argued fer or agin' an individual availing themselves of a gun. BUT, I've always had a heckuva time figuring how the person who feels the need to pack heat, is necessarily the LESS fearful one.

Shit happens.... I am better about this stuff than about 98% of the population due to my training and background, but shit still can happen. It's not "fear" to acknowledge that reality. You ever heard of a fireman who didn't have any fire extinguishers or smoke detectors at home? Someone who isn't worried about the possibility of being assaulted and has no tools, training, or preparations in place to deal with it, isn't "brave", they're simply blissfully ignorant, (and will hopefully stay that way).

 

[freyasman]

Bump back to the top.... this lady's letter is too good; I want more folks to see it.

 

[as seen on tv]

i'm pro guns.

but i favor a constitutional amendment to regulate them in a manner similar to automobiles.

take a gun operation and safety course.
pass an exam on the type of weapon you want to own.
receive your "license".
go to the gun shop, show your license and proof of insurance and pick out your iron.

presumably a goose hunter with 20 years experience with his shotgun will pay a much lower insurance premium than a high school dropout who wants an inexpensive revolver "just in case".

i realize this won't eliminate criminals with guns, but it will educate the 90% of americans who want to own and use guns safely on how to do so.

 

[trapdoor]

i'm pro guns.

but i favor a constitutional amendment to regulate them in a manner similar to automobiles.

take a gun operation and safety course.
pass an exam on the type of weapon you want to own.
receive your "license".
go to the gun shop, show your license and proof of insurance and pick out your iron.

presumably a goose hunter with 20 years experience with his shotgun will pay a much lower insurance premium than a high school dropout who wants an inexpensive revolver "just in case".

i realize this won't eliminate criminals with guns, but it will educate the 90% of americans who want to own and use guns safely on how to do so.

At least your calling for an amendment.

 

[marvin martian]

i realize this won't eliminate criminals with guns, but it will educate the 90% of americans who want to own and use guns safely on how to do so.

Unfortunately, it won't stop a single criminal, since, by virtue of their very nature, they aren't going to follow the process you suggest.

Also, what you're proposing is very similar to our laws here in CA. In order to purchase a handgun, one needs to obtain a "handgun safety certificate", pass a background check, and endure a waiting period before exercising their civil rights. It's a statist's wet dream, yet it does next to nothing to prevent criminal acts since, once again, the gangbangers and drug dealers aren't doing this. They're buying their guns on the street straight from Eric Holder, no background check, no training and no waiting...

 

[freyasman]

Bump back to the top.... because I'm bored.

 

[zzigzzag]

This woman used to be very anti-gun. She never liked them much and then when a family member committed suicide by shooting himself, she really didn't like them. But then she got attacked in a parking lot one night, and she got a new attitude....
“The irony is that so many of us say, we are not going to live our lives in fear. We are not going to learn how to protect ourselves or carry a gun because we refuse to let the bad guy win. We refuse to give him that kind of power over our lives. We use the excuse of not being afraid and that lie puts us in the most vulnerable position we can be in, defenseless. When you are out of excuses and when someone is lying on top of you telling you exactly how they plan to take full control of your life, well, then you will get to experience the kind of life altering fear . . . that I did.”
She's a smart lady though, so she thought it through after she got all the bullshit out of her head, and she found some folks who were willing to help her. Read her letter....
http://www.agirlandhergun.org/2012/01/09/an-open-letter-to-the-anti-gun-folks/

From her letter:

The gun community has offered me hope and strength, and courage.


They have taught me to have belief in myself.


They have asked nothing of me in return and, yet, I would give them my life.

Wow. This lady has issues. Sounds like she was groping in the dark for affirmation that she was worth something and that it's a coincidence that the gun people found her before Robert Tilton or Jim Jones did.

Guns as religion. A path to enlightenment and self discovery. She offers her very life to the gun culture.What a concept. She's nuts.

 

[freyasman]

From her letter:

The gun community has offered me hope and strength, and courage.


They have taught me to have belief in myself.


They have asked nothing of me in return and, yet, I would give them my life.

Wow. This lady has issues. Sounds like she was groping in the dark for affirmation that she was worth something and that it's a coincidence that the gun people found her before Robert Tilton or Jim Jones did.

It's better to be healthy than sick, better to be wealthy than poor, better to be strong than weak, better to be informed than ignorant, and it is better to be armed than not.

 

[zzigzzag]

It's better to be healthy than sick, better to be wealthy than poor, better to be strong than weak, better to be informed than ignorant, and it is better to be armed than not.

She is sick and she is weak. That much is obvious.

Perhaps she is rich and she's certainly armed. Hope it gives her some relief.

 

[connieb]

Shit happens.... I am better about this stuff than about 98% of the population due to my training and background, but shit still can happen. It's not "fear" to acknowledge that reality. You ever heard of a fireman who didn't have any fire extinguishers or smoke detectors at home? Someone who isn't worried about the possibility of being assaulted and has no tools, training, or preparations in place to deal with it, isn't "brave", they're simply blissfully ignorant, (and will hopefully stay that way).

Its funny you bring that up. My co-worker's father was a career fire-fighter. He barred them ever having a full size christmas tree. They could only ever have one of those little table top live kind that is really almost a house plant. Why? because he was a firefighter and saw thedevastation by christmas tree fires. This was the 50's 60 an 70's and 80's. By the late 80's and early 90's when you could get decent artificial trees, and the lights had come a long way in safety he finally relented and allowed them to get a fake tree. But, he actually paid to have the wiring upgraded in his house for the spot where they were going to plug it in.

Was he fearful? Or was he simply conscientious and prepared? I mean, don't get me wrong, I think it is a little OTT but then I never pulled the lifeless bodies of small children out of a house-fire that was completely preventable either. I am quite sure that would change one's perspective on the acceptable level of precautions.

 

[freyasman]

She is sick and she is weak. That much is obvious.

Perhaps she is rich and she's certainly armed. Hope it gives her some relief.

There's that shitty, unhelpful attitude she talked about.... the one where nothing but denigration and insults are offered.

 

[zzigzzag]

Its funny you bring that up. My co-worker's father was a career fire-fighter. He barred them ever having a full size christmas tree. They could only ever have one of those little table top live kind that is really almost a house plant. Why? because he was a firefighter and saw thedevastation by christmas tree fires. This was the 50's 60 an 70's and 80's. By the late 80's and early 90's when you could get decent artificial trees, and the lights had come a long way in safety he finally relented and allowed them to get a fake tree. But, he actually paid to have the wiring upgraded in his house for the spot where they were going to plug it in.

Was he fearful? Or was he simply conscientious and prepared? I mean, don't get me wrong, I think it is a little OTT but then I never pulled the lifeless bodies of small children out of a house-fire that was completely preventable either. I am quite sure that would change one's perspective on the acceptable level of precautions.

Kinda like deciding to have no guns in the house if you have children.

 

[zzigzzag]

There's that shitty, unhelpful attitude she talked about.... the one where nothing but denigration and insults are offered.

She'd need a therapist to receive treatment. But first, she needs a friend who will tell her so.

Pledging her life to the "gun community" because they "taught her to believe in herself" sets off no buzzers with you?

It's a template for cultspeak. "I was lost. Now, I am found."

Like I said....whichever cult found her first.....primed and ready.

 

[freyasman]

She'd need a therapist to receive treatment. But first, she needs a friend who will tell her so.

Pledging her life to the "gun community" because they "taught her to believe in herself" sets off no buzzers with you?

It's a template for cultspeak. "I was lost. Now, I am found."

Like I said....whichever cult found her first.....primed and ready.

A "cult" that asks nothing of her, and demands nothing from her? That freely shares knowledge with her, and doesn't ask for anything from her in return?
That sure doesn't sound like any "cult" I ever heard of.