You sound paranoid, Paul. There is little evidence that a gun is needed for protection in this town. Could happen. Could happen that a brick falls out of a window and strikes you on the head, too. But if you walked around town with a helmet, you would LOOK paranoid. You would look paranoid precisely because you are preparing for something that has a VERY low probability of occurring.<br>
<br>What exactly am I missing in this analogy? And like Carl said, neither I nor anyone else is going to take away your handgun. But I'll try my best not to let paranoia dictate public policy.<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">
On Thu, Dec 20, 2012 at 8:59 AM, Paul Rumelhart <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:godshatter@yahoo.com" target="_blank">godshatter@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div><div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif">That's your recommended defense against someone who, for whatever reason, has broken into my house with me inside of it? Expect the best of them? Should I trust in fate and never wear seat belts?<br>
<br>Oh, and pardon me for relating a story relevant to the topic at hand.<span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888"><br><br>Paul<br></font></span><div class="hm HOEnZb"><div><span><br></span></div><div><br></div> </div><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt">
<div class="hm HOEnZb"> </div><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"><div class="hm HOEnZb"> </div><div dir="ltr"><div class="hm HOEnZb"> </div><font face="Arial"><div class="hm HOEnZb">
<hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> Ron Force <<a href="mailto:rforce2003@yahoo.com" target="_blank">rforce2003@yahoo.com</a>><br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> Paul Rumelhart <<a href="mailto:godshatter@yahoo.com" target="_blank">godshatter@yahoo.com</a>>; <a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com" target="_blank">philosopher.joe@gmail.com</a> <br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Cc:</span></b> <a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a> <br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Thursday, December 20, 2012 6:32 AM</div>
<div><div class="h5"><br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> Re: [Vision2020] Isn't it about time . . .<br> </div></div></font> </div><div><div class="h5"> <br>
<div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="font:inherit" valign="top"><div>As long as we're substituting anecdotes for data, I can say that I do get on airplanes frequently. In 71 years of life, my home has never been burglarized or invaded. I have never been mugged or even threatened on the street. I have traveled to fifty states, seven continents and thirty countries and found only friendly and cooperative people. I observe common-sense precautions to avoid situations where I could be put in danger, like patronizing sleazy bars while flashing a big roll of bills (I know, no fun).<br>
<br>The only time I found it necessary to be armed was during a year in Vietnam and even there, the great majority of the people I met were non-belligerent. I sold my personal guns when I returned, and don't miss them. Life is a happier place if you expect the best
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<span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span>
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Paul Rumelhart <<a href="mailto:godshatter@yahoo.com" target="_blank">godshatter@yahoo.com</a>>; <br>
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<span>To:</span>
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Joe Campbell <<a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com" target="_blank">philosopher.joe@gmail.com</a>>; <br>
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vision 2020 <<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a>>; <br>
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<span>Subject:</span>
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Re: [Vision2020] Isn't it about time . . . <br>
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<span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span>
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Wed, Dec 19, 2012 10:02:26 PM <br>
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<td style="font:inherit" valign="top"><div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif">I get on an airplane very infrequently, even less so now that the TSA is out of control. I go to bed every night. My friend's dad stopped someone from climbing through his bedroom window a number of years ago by the simple expedient of pointing a large revolver in his face. This had a deterrent effect; the suspected burglar backed out the window quickly and ran off, probably to go get a change of underwear. You live long enough, something strange will happen. Better to be prepared.<br>
<br>Gun safety is an issue. Many newer guns have extra safety features. I hope they continue to innovate in this area. Certainly there is much more that can be done to reduce firearm-related
accidents.<br><br>Paul<br><div><span><br></span></div><div><br></div> <div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"> <div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt">
<div dir="ltr"> <font face="Arial"> <hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> Joe Campbell <<a href="mailto:philosopher.joe@gmail.com" target="_blank">philosopher.joe@gmail.com</a>><br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> Paul Rumelhart <<a href="mailto:godshatter@yahoo.com" target="_blank">godshatter@yahoo.com</a>> <br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Cc:</span></b> Tom Hansen <<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target="_blank">thansen@moscow.com</a>>; Sue Hovey <<a href="mailto:suehovey@moscow.com" target="_blank">suehovey@moscow.com</a>>; vision 2020 <<a href="mailto:vision2020@moscow.com" target="_blank">vision2020@moscow.com</a>> <br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, December 19, 2012 9:55 AM<br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> Re: [Vision2020] Isn't it about time . . .<br> </font> </div> <br>
<div>Paul,<br><br>Again you are mistaken about the facts. Do some research. If you live in a high crime district, having a gun might provide more safety than potential for harm. If not, the potential for harm is greater. Those are the facts. No matter how much confidence you have in yourself, living in Moscow, ID your gun is much more likely to do you harm than good. I promise you that (unfortunately) we are much more likely to read about someone committing suicide with a firearm, or harming another, than protecting him- or herself in this particular town.<br>
<br>Think of this analogy. Would you ever think of bringing a parachute aboard an airplane? Well, there was a time when it was much more probable that you would die in a plane crash than via a home invasion. (I'm not sure of the statistics now; not many people die on commercial airlines.) If you were to bring a parachute aboard a plane, you would be perceived as suffering from wild paranoia. Of course there is a chance the plane will go down but (a) it is very unlikely and (b) very unlikely to help were a situation to arise (remember the point I made yesterday that in order for a gun to be useful it has to be loaded and available for use, yet that increases the likelihood of accident).<br>
<br>I'm sorry but you and others who are unyielding about gun control seem as paranoid as a guy with a parachute boarding an airplane. The analogy is very close. But the difference is that the proliferation of guns increases risks of gun violence for all of us, as the Sandy Hook episode shows. It isn't just a personal liberty debate; it is a public harm debate, as well. We have a history of sacrificing liberties in order to prevent harms. Again, I don't always agree with these choices and we need to be very cautious about how to proceed. But to dismiss gun control as an option based on some flawed view of liberty is unwise.<br>
<br>Joe<br><br><div>On Wed, Dec 19, 2012 at 9:23 AM, Paul Rumelhart <span dir="ltr"><<a rel="nofollow">godshatter@yahoo.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div><div style="font-size:12pt;font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif">What was I thinking? Home invasions never happen.<span><font color="#888888"><br><br>Paul<br><div><span></span></div></font></span><div>
<div><br></div> </div><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"><div> </div><div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt"><div>
</div><div dir="ltr"><div> </div><font face="Arial"><div> <hr size="1"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> Tom Hansen <<a rel="nofollow">thansen@moscow.com</a>><br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> Paul Rumelhart <<a rel="nofollow">godshatter@yahoo.com</a>> <br><b><span style="font-weight:bold">Cc:</span></b> Joe Campbell <<a rel="nofollow">philosopher.joe@gmail.com</a>>; Sue Hovey <<a rel="nofollow">suehovey@moscow.com</a>>; vision 2020 <<a rel="nofollow">vision2020@moscow.com</a>> <br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, December 19, 2012 8:44 AM</div><div><br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> Re: [Vision2020] Isn't it about time . . .<br> </div>
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Paul Rumelhart tells us:<br><br>"Yet I'd still prefer having one available if I ever needed one."<br><br>Paranoia . . . Self-Destroya!<br><br>Seeya round town, Moscow, because . . .<br><br>"Moscow Cares"<br>
<a href="http://www.MoscowCares.com" target="_blank">http://www.MoscowCares.com</a><br> <br>Tom Hansen<br>Moscow, Idaho<br> <br><br>On Dec 19, 2012, at 8:37 AM, Paul Rumelhart <<a rel="nofollow">godshatter@yahoo.com</a>> wrote:<br>
<br>> Yet I'd still prefer having one available if I ever needed one.<br><br><br> </div></div></div> </div> </div></div></blockquote></div><br>
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