[Steel and Fire and Stone]

Thank God the little guy didn't have a gun, or he might have hurt someone while trying to defend himself. < /sarcasm >

If the shooter wasn't a cop, he'd be in jail today.

This could have happened to anyone, anytime. There are bad guys out there .. really bad guys, and all the reason and "niceness" of the world won't save your life, your kids, or your spounses life.

Yes, this is utterly tragic, but it's a reason some folks want to have a handgun nearby. If you've ever been unarmed in a life-and-death situation, you versus the "bad guy" and survived, you'll never want to be that vulnerable again. I've survived several such situations armed, and by the grace of God (and use of my wits), unarmed. I much prefer being armed.

FReegards, SFS

[tictoc]

"An armed society is a polite society."
            -- Robert Heinlein

I would add that a society must also have a well-established system of laws and effective law enforcement. Otherwise you get something like the wild border provinces of Paki-/Afghanistan, where everyone is armed but blood feuds and armed banditry are the norm.

[roadcat]

"I've survived several such situations armed, and by the grace of God (and use of my wits), unarmed. I much prefer being armed."

Amen. Same here. Born and raised in San Francisco, I've had situations like that when unarmed. Had to use my wits to talk my way out of situations being confronted by both knives and handguns in my face. I've been lucky when I got mugged a couple times that the beating was stopped by friendly rescuers. If it hasn't happened to you, don't think it never will.