January 2, 2003 3:50 PM GMT
Hi all!
Goddess! Miss a day, you miss a lot! ;D
Okay, now it's my turn to take aim at the topic...
I am a Navy vet. I have had pistol training, and in fact was stopped short of accomplishing a marksmanship medal for Pistol (which is a long story and I won't get into it here).
Yes, I could very easily shoot some poor idiot with a pistol if I chose to carry one on my person. I have never killed anyone, and hope I never do. I don't think I could live with myself if I did.
However, I could just as easily shoot out the street lamp, shoot someone else by mistake, or blow my foot off... because, if it isn't a very small calibre pistol, I no longer have the upper body strength to keep it on target. Period.
This is why I keep a pepper spray in my purse.
Now, as I mentioned in the other post, I do support the 2nd Amendment to the US Constitution. However, I also feel that with that right, there needs to be responsibilities. To wit:
1. A national FBI criminal background check, and a waiting period of not more than 48 hours.
2. Federal ID of all firearms, similar to the VIN for cars. Notice: this is not like a national database; the gun has a number attached to it by the factory and is used solely for ID purposes of the weapon.
3. Mandatory training for every waepon you purchase, regardless of where you buy it. (Look at it this way...if you are going to have a gun, then you'd better d@mn well know how to use it.) In addition, regardless of how many you own, every two years you must take a refresher course.
4. There needs to be a minimum age for owning, federally mandated to be at least 16. If we do not allow young people (by law, at least) to smoke or gamble until 21 or drive until they are 16, or vote until they are 18...well, you get the picture.
5. I also support "Use a gun, double your jail time" type laws.
Finally, I still maintain that firearms are safe; I want ammo outlawed. I have seen few cases of people dying of gun wounds...but I see cases nightly on the news of people dead from bullet wounds, or bullets through the head, heart, lungs, etc.
As for hunting: you eat what you kill, and kill only what you'll eat. Want to hunt for sport? Then put down your AK-47 and get a bow and a quiver of arrows. Make it sporting for you...and your prey.
Should Trannies carry guns? (Sounds like a Jerry Springer episode!
) That is up to you. I'd rather not; I have too much crap in my purse to start with. (Purse? More like carry-on luggage! ;D) But then, I also try to avoid seedy places as much as possible. I am comfortable enough as Jayne to venture out to better lit venues...and also in broad daylight.
I'll grant you that doesn't mean I'm any safer. But I cannot live my life the way I choose to do, and be worried about the worst case scenario.
Otherwise--why bother to live at all?
Luv 'n hugs,
Jayne Sakura
"Almost-Angel, T-Girl Genius, and Ultra-Flirt"