Tangential but relevant: The only evidence I could find in media accounts that Poplawski actually had a CCW permit was a statement by a friend of Poplawski’s that Poplawski had showed him one. I could find no official verification of Poplawski actually having a valid CCW permit mentioned in any of the media reports, and subsequent media reports do not mention his having a permit. His background indicates there was sufficient reason to deny him a permit. So I’m left with one of two conclusions: Either he didn’t really have a permit (other than perhaps a home-made one) or the authorities tasked with background checks completely failed to do so competently.

People are only frightened, because they have been indoctrinated by the Left to fear guns. They don’t know that this used to be very normal behavior among most Citizens, to go about armed. It should still be so.

I am both so I can relate to that right away.

Would you be happy with going through what it takes to obtain and maintain a DEA licence to dispense dangerous drugs in order to own a gun?

Of course not. You dont want this headache, not the years of training, maintaining a spotless record and oversight which a doctor, nurse, or pharmacist must undergo on a regular basis.

Medical professionals do very dangerous things for a reason. The concept of medical mistakes or accidents is a complex one, a personal interest of mine, yet a basic discussion of that would take us too far adrift.

I understand the basic point about the tension between dangerous activities and liberty. I tend to the libertarian side. However a basic understanding must be had about certain things which require not just advanced training and maturity, but a certain ethos.

I think these folks went too far. Using a legal public display to frighten and intimidate. If that is why you own a gun it is for the wrong reasons.

Spindok

Contrast Amendment 2: “…shall not be infringed,” period, full stop, without exception, end of discussion. Infringement of the right to keep and bear arms is prohibited to all, including States, and so does not fall under those rights “reserved to the States” by Amendment 10.

It’s right there in parchment and white. Read it and weep, you whiny wimps.

We really look at carrying, and having self defense weapons at home, as giving us a “last option” that we otherwise would not have. We hope to never need to use any weapon for self defense, but want to be able to do so if needed.

The following is from this paper:

In an unpublished report, engineering statistician William Sturdevant found that concealed carry licensees had arrest rates far lower than the general population for every category of crime. For instance:
Licensees were 5.7 times less likely to be arrested for violent offenses than the general public – 127 per 100,000 population versus 730 per 100,000.
Licensees were 14 times less likely to be arrested for nonviolent offenses than the general public – 386 per 100,000 population versus 5,212 per 100,000.
Further, the general public is 1.4 times more likely to be arrested for murder than licensees [ see Figure I ], and no licensee had been arrested for negligent manslaughter.

see: http://www.ncpa.org/pub/ba324

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVROC-gsnXA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8sj91NH5fvw&feature=related

I don’t even need to comment on your response to the liberal desire to trample on free speech. It’s common knowledge that it was coming out of the liberal left as you pointed out but slamming those that reported on it as making “noise” is once again a liberal trying to shut up the opposition. Funny how it began with talk radio and now has moved into the town halls. Those darned Conservative/Independents just will NOT SHUT UP WILL THEY?