Can anybody help me out on this one?
== Forwarded Message Follows =========================================
 * Originally By: Stewart Stremler
 * Originally To: Greg Allen
 * Originally Re: Guns guns guns guns guns
 * Original Date: 04-24-98  05:31
 * Original Area: 202_Net
 * Forwarded by : Blue Wave/386 v2.30
[snip]
 > The large majority of folks who are legally carrying concealed aren't the
 > ones you have to worry about. In states with more liberal concealed carry
 > laws, only a tiny fraction of permit holders are ever arrested and only a
 > small portion of those arrests are firearms related.
A large majority of the people I meet aren't the ones I need to worry about
defending myself from to the extent that I would need a gun. And still... you
can feel the need to carry a gun.
The fact that only a tiny fraction of the permit holders are arrested is one
of those facts that I consider interesting, but that's about it. Perhaps cops
aren't eager to arrest folks who are packing... or they're the ones who shoot
the cops.
Or not.
How about some possibly relevent information -- can you dig up info on
concealed-carry vs open-carry?
 >> "An armed society is a polite society." - Robert Anson Heinlein
 >  SS> I prefer the politeness of respect, not the politeness of fear.
 > If someone is unsure of who is or is not carrying, perhaps they'll
 > show the proper respect to EVERYONE they have dealings with.
Are you saying that I should cower all the time to show proper respect?
I hope not. I hope I just misunderstood what you wrote. Let me wax verbose on
my worry in the interest of clarity:
I prefer to be polite out of respect.
If I'm unsure if someone is carrying, then any "politeness" that I exhibit is
_not_ do to respect, it's due to FEAR.  I am under strong motivation (for the
best of reasons -- my LIFE!) not to offend others, by deed, presence, or
failure to cower appropriately.
I don't look at it from the point of view that *I* am the one carrying, and
that everyone should damn well show me a little respect; but rather, that I'm
the unarmed guy who isn't showing sufficient respect (it's sufficient to me,
but not necessarily to others).
It's immoral to base your actions on fear. You do what is right because it is
right, or you don't.
                                                  -SJS B.S.
PS Heinlein also brought up the idea that a firearm makes you arrogant and
careless. _Tunnel in the Sky_ comes to mind... a man with a gun feels
invincible, while a man armed with only a knife grows eyes in the back of his
head....
-!- FMail 0.92
 ! Origin: I want a universal machine. To play my tapes. -KF (1:202/726)
======================================================================
... I want Michelle Pfeiffer to have my baby.
___ Blue Wave/386 v2.30 [NR]
--- MysticToss 1.20/Pro
---------------