Leftforge Doesn't Understand the Second Amendment...

But neither of us are panicky! I'm about the most non-trigger happy guy there is, and that was in a combat zone at that! I guess you had to be there.....but trust me, you pretty much have to have a gun to my head to get me to put a gun to someone else' head. I only wish there were more than 360 degrees in a circle, so you could be even more than the 180 degrees out of touch with reality than you already are. And I can't speak for Forbin, but if he were trigger happy New Jersey would have taken all his guns away by now.

To be perfectly frank........you Garamet give anti-gun people a bad name. If you represent the typical mindset of an engaged, coherent gun control proponent your cause is truly fucked, and gun owners everywhere are thankful.

Yes, and could you translate Garamet's mindless, pointless, off-base rantings into something a sane person could even remotely relate to? You seem to speak her language. Or even convert her opinions into facts of some type? Proof that I am trigger happy would be nice for starters, or proof that there's a link between numbers of guns owned and how more (or less) trigger happy said owner becomes.
Could you do that for us please?

He sure does seem to care a lot about what people own in the privacy of their own home.

Sorry, but I'm not a nosy busy body who asks questions that are none of his business.

No need. She's right, and perfectly straight-forward to understand. Your posts do occasionally reek of trigger-happy paranoia. If that's not the case, you do a piss-poor job of conveying your POV. And in pointing out the perception that your posts clearly convey (intended or not), garamet doesn't give the anti-gun people a bad name. Not at all.

See if you the idea you put forth as representative of "the typical mindset of an engaged, coherent gun control proponent" your cause is truly fucked, because you come across as anything but "coherent". You sometimes really do come across as someone who is positively chompin' at the bit for the any opportunity to blow away a punk. And in pointing out you guys, the garamets of this world are doing us a much needed service.

Hmmm.......I admit to carrying a weapon occasionally when in a statistically proven high crime area. And I believe if somebody is going to harm me or my family I have no problem with killing them versus becoming a victim. So how exactly is this "chomping at the bit" to kill somebody? Do you really think I want to go to prison? Not many folks have nice things to say about it. Do you think I would risk my security clearance? Do you have a wife & kids/grand kids? And you would value the life of someone in a position to harm them over your family members lives? That's some negligent parenting right there. So how is Garamet "pointing us out?" "Mister policeman! That guy says he wouldn't hesitate to use a gun for self defense!" So I hope she doesn't wear out her finger (sorry about that mental image) pointing out everyone who believes in self defense and values the life of a law abiding citizen over that of a violent criminal. She better pack a lunch, it might take a while.

I think it has to do with how you're always going on about how dangerous it is where you live, when in fact it's not. Makes you look paranoid.

Maybe it's 'cause you seem to talk about defending yourself so much, that it appears you're kinda ooking forward to it? I most certainly wouldn't hesitate to use a gun for self-defense either, but don't feel the need to say that every time the topic of guns comes up, 'cause I know it'd make me look psycho.

This!

Only certain neighborhoods are high crime. Notice how I stated that I occasionally have a gun with me? Occasionally would imply it's not a constant thing. If I were paranoid I would carry one everywhere. Just clearing that up for you. I don't have a gun next to me in my home. I don't take a gun to work. Hardly paranoid behavior in my book. What's paranoid is thinking every law abiding citizen (like myself - clean as a whistle police record) with a gun is a threat, despite any evidence to the contrary. Just sayin'

But I don't really know anyone who thinks "every law abiding citizen with a gun is a threat". Certainly, not anyone here. We all pretty much respect MAOHS, and don't think he's a threat, and I'd hazard a guess that he's probably got a pretty good sized gun collection. Cause, he's kinda... you know... sane.

As am I. If you have any evidence to the contrary, please share it with the class. So is your degree in psychiatry or psychology or both? That's what I thought.

I don't know if you're crazy or not, but to my admittedly layman's ears, you sometimes sound pretty damn paranoid, and like you're Jonesin' for a fight. MAOHS, not so much. Apparently, I'm not alone in that perception.

Whatever! Perception is not reality, despite the claim. No I am not looking for a fight, I grew out of that shit when I was a little kid. I'm over 50, in the chill out mode from here on out. Going to prison isn't on my "bucket list." I'm just not seeing how occasionally carrying a gun is a sign of paranoia, nor is admitting some neighborhoods are more dangerous than others and taking precautions as needed. It's just basic "situational awareness" and might just help you avoid any violent encounter versus enable one. The ultimate victory is the unsheathed sword and I believe that's true most of the time.

But what if thugs or alien assassins pop out unexpectedly from an inter-dimensional portal, as happens all the time on Rick and Morty? Is there really such a thing as a "safe" neighborhood?

Riiiiiiiiiiiiggggghhhtt!!!

Why do you keep bringing up prison, when we're talking about you defending yourself? Seems you imagine a thread of guilt running through your idea of "defense". Why is that?

Neither do I. Nothing at all wrong with occasionally carrying a gun when the situation warrants. Talking about it all the time, on the other hand... that's quite another matter. It makes the prospect sound just a tad... premeditated.

Occasionally carrying a gun when the situation warrants? When/where would that be, and why couldn't you avoid the situation if you have the foresight to bring a gun?

Yes, the businesses & facilities I need to visit can just relocate! They probably never thought of that. The reason I brought up not going to prison is I don't really care to go, which is a likely outcome of needing to defend yourself. Not every trial goes your way.

Wow, there must really be some rough places in GA. I had no idea.

It's good your employer allows you to carry. Most wouldn't want the liability unless it was required for the job, such as security.

You wouldn't survive a week in G....oh wait.

Augusta has less violent crime than Charlotte, and I never feel the need to go packing in the city. Memphis was a different story. I carried pretty much everywhere when I lived there.

No, this is not job related business. I work on an Army post which is a "gun free" zone. If I had a gun at worlk I'd be ass out a job!

You're not getting this - it's not about Augusta as a whole (crime is dropping) it's certain areas! Why is this so hard to grasp? It's like NYC - Upper West Side - lower crime than the South Bronx. Augusta is not like Memphis (thank goodness) where you carried all over. I can't blame you, it's just common sense self defense. BTW doesn't that make you..........wait for it..........paranoid? Or that only applies to me I guess. But I agree with your choice - Memphis is a shithole. But by me saying that, it makes me racist - just ask Garamet or Tererun or Chardman, etc.

Probably the highest crime rates (for an entire city) would be Atlanta and Macon.

So what kind of business, not job related, requires you to risk your life?

Okay, we are getting off track here. It doesn't matter really. The point is there's nothing wrong with taking advantage of our 2nd Amendment Rights if we so desire. I spent 22+ years active duty defending/supporting The Constitution so I think I have that right as much as any US citizen.

Hilarious? More like obvious, heavy handed, and mean spirited. Maybe he should focus his creative talents on making a funny movie for a change. Him and Adam Sandler.

Are those the areas that have all that black on white crime that you're so worried about? I figure Charlotte must have places like that as well, but I still don't feel the need to carry.

Damn right I was paranoid. I'm not aware of any mall, Wal-Mart, Target, or Krogers in the whole city that didn't have people getting mugged in the parking lot almost routinely. Hell, the Mall of Memphis had freaking guard towers in the parking lot.

Guard towers? Oh fuck yes that is AWESOME! I don't think about "black on white" crime so much as "violent criminal on me" crime. If the criminals happen to be black, so be it. That said some people are BEGGING to be robbed at gun/knife point. Stopping and asking a stranger for directions? I hope the hospital or police station was your destination. Having a stranger with a cigarette ask you for a light, and of course getting right up close to you where it's pretty much too late at that point to react? Goodbye wallet, hello soiled underwear! Seriously these are the two most common ways people are crime victims in high crime areas. And yes, broad daylight robbery is very common. Victims feel less vulnerable and more trusting in broad daylight generally.

I definitely think the gun lobby is too powerful in the US, and a lot of the intention of the 2nd amendment is irrelevant due to the irrevocable march of history.

But I sure as hell accept the fact that there are places in the US where having a side arm for protection makes a hell of a lot of sense. That's why my personal take on gun rights is that you should need to pass concealed carry permits to own a handgun - but those permits should be obtainable and the people who get them should have some training in self-defense.