Dan,<br><br>The last two comments to your points are good ones. As for the dangers of school shootings, there is a difference between "the Moscow Police, Fire and EMS" taking "steps in obtaining training and equipment to mitigate such a situation" and, say, arming teachers or students with guns. The latter is crazy and paranoid. I don't have a problem with seeking aid from professionals to prepare for the worst case, especially where school children are concerned.<br>
<br>On the other hand, this is much different than owning a gun for protection. I think that having a gun as protection in this town is a sign of paranoia. A bat and access to a telephone would likely provide equal safety without the associated risks of owning a gun. No doubt you and I might disagree about this and I respect that. You have confidence in your ability to use a gun to protect your family but I can assure you that I don't need a gun. No one is going to break into my house and harm either myself or my family. And all I have is a bat and my wit. You might think I'm arrogant in believing this but I would say the same about gun owners. We disagree and that is fine.<br>
<br>Which brings us to Art's point, which he has made twice and I am now making for the second time: NO ONE IS GOING TO TAKE AWAY YOUR HANDGUNS OR RIFLES. No one is seriously talking about that. No one on Vision 2020 has advocated that. I don't know of any elected official who has that position. It is a strawman fallacy to use it in debate. <br>
<br>I think owning a gun is more dangerous than not, so I don't own a gun. You and Paul disagree and both of you own guns for protection (among other reasons). I'm fine with that. There is a great deal that we can do to try to solve the problem of gun violence in the USA without taking away handguns and rifles and everyone that I know who is interested is discussing THOSE issues.<br>
<br>Joe<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Dec 20, 2012 at 9:50 AM, Art Deco <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com" target="_blank">art.deco.studios@gmail.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
<div dir="ltr"><div>Let's shift the discussion to semi-automatic handguns and rifles, especially those for which large capacity magazines are available and/or which can be converted to fully automatic weapons.<br><br>
</div>
How then do Paul's arguments fare when considered against the probable risk of such weapons used in self-defense v. aggressive criminal actions/<br><br>w. <br></div><div class="gmail_extra"><div><div class="h5"><br><br>
<div class="gmail_quote">
On Thu, Dec 20, 2012 at 12:10 PM, Tom Hansen <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:thansen@moscow.com" target="_blank">thansen@moscow.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">
Serious question . . .<br>
<br>
When was the last time that a home invasion occurred in Moscow, Idaho?<br>
<br>
(No, I am not talking about an incident of unarmed breaking and entering)<br>
<div><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>
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</div></div></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br></div></div><span class="HOEnZb"><font color="#888888">-- <br>Art Deco (Wayne A. Fox)<br><a href="mailto:art.deco.studios@gmail.com" target="_blank">art.deco.studios@gmail.com</a><br>
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