Newsflash: Casey doesn’t wear a bulletproof vest, either
Your daily Letter to the Columnist — Jan. 23, 2013
To: Dan Casey
Have you stripped a cog, lost your marbles?
Why on earth would you tell the world you don’t own a firearm? . . . I wouldn’t publish it in the newspaper.
Joe Painter’s law firm in Blacksburg will furnish you a lawn sign that reads “Gun-Free Home.”
Fred Landis
ROANOKE
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Response: Many people also find it shocking that I don’t walk around with a gun or clad in body armor. They’re part of the fear brigade, though, and that’s on them.
January 23, 2013 - 2:20 PM
Well, Fred, buddy, your average burglar with half a brain is looking to come into your home when nobody’s there, so in that case, all them firearms won’t do you a whole lot of good, now will they? And how many random burglar/robbers do you think will read Dan’s column and then decide, “Heck, I think I’ll go invade that guy’s house while he’s home because he doesn’t have a gun. I’m not afraid of knives or baseball bats or golf clubs. And even if he doesn’t have anything worth stealing, I’ll have me some fun terrorizing the guy.”
Guess what, Fred? One type of home some msart burglars DO target is homes where they know there are weapons. Those thing are worth some cash.
Sheesh, Fred, think a little.
Wouldn’t you say the term ‘fear brigade’ refers to both sides of the gun-control debate?
Pro Gun-Control – Fearful of guns
Anti Gun-Control – Fearful of losing weapons
Both sides are concerned with safety, but with differing responses.
I wouldn’t say I’m fearful of guns. It is only when someone picks up the gun that my internal alarms start clanging. While I’m not afraid of the gun itself, I’m not so sure about the person handling it.
Many gun-owning folks tell me I should feel safer, knowing they are armed and ready to protect me. My response: “Look, I don’t even KNOW you. No way am I going to feel safe hanging around you while you’re toting a gun.”
Donna,
Then you are still driven by fear. That’s my point. Everyone in this debate is driven by fear.
Rob, most people who favor steps to lessen gun violence don’t “fear” guns; many are gun owners. Take for instance Gen. Stanley McChrystal, who recently said he sees no reason for civilian versions of military guns and high capacity magazines to be available as easily as they are now. Do you want to make the case that Gen. McChrystal “fears” guns? Go ahead, try.
You’re attempt at diminishing others by mischaracterization is all too common among those who share your unwillinness to take any steps to make gun massacres more difficult, so you must feel an affirmative need to employ it. Why is that?
It’s still a free country to decide if firearms are right for you or not….for now…and still free for you to say you have one or not…for now.
I’m not employing mischaracterization at all. She says herself that she’s not so sure about the person holding it. Fear of the person or the gun is still fear. As far as diminishing others, not hardly, I’m not exempting myself from fear. I’m fearful of the same things as anyone else, I simply don’t believe that gun control will solve a thing.
and yes, General McChrystal has fears. Ask him.
Rob, a preference is not a fear. I prefer to not to own guns or spend a lot of time around people with guns. I also prefer not to spit on the sidewalk or hang out with people who blow smoke in my face. It’s not a function of fear.
Kristen,
You’re entitled to your preferences. You may not prefer to read a certain article in the newspaper and no one says you have to. However, does that mean you don’t believe the newspaper has the right to print the article you don’t prefer to read?
Rob, we are all entitled to petition our government and seek to influence our elected officials to effect legislation we see as socially positive. I’m not scared of guns and I don’t fear being shot, raped, mugged, or being the target of a home invasion. My interest in the mitigation of gun violence isn’t rooted in my personal fear, much as my advocacy for the full extention of all rights for homosexuals isn’t because I’m gay, or my pro-choice position based in some fear that at this late date I’m going to forget how birth control works.
We don’t know what might work. We know what we have now isn’t working. Obama is correct in saying that just because we aren’t guaranteed our efforts will be perfect, that’s no excuse to so nothing. Our approach to gun violence mitigation is like every single other thing we’ve done as a nation – gradual and mutable.
Kristen:
“I prefer to not to own guns or spend a lot of time around people with guns. I also prefer not to spit on the sidewalk or hang out with people who blow smoke in my face.”
Interesting trio that would never occur to me to group together. Perhaps you feel that firearm carry is a case of bad manners?
We may be taking ourselves just a tad too seriously.
I like the stamp theme. Those break-down style antique revolvers are cool! Oh well, Jack, Casey apparently doesn’t like the idea of your Springfield XD or my Glock 20 on a stamp. Certainly a safer suggestion than a guest post!
.
I have guns. Quite a few of them, actually, and I love owning them. However, I have no guns in my home and I would have zero problem with putting up a sign that said so. Having my guns in my home would mean that the guns themselves would be the most valuable items within it. That’s not a risk I’m willing to take.
This doesn’t mean that my home is unprotected by any means. I have a Louisville Slugger, a very sharp machete, a kitchen full of fine cutlery and a folded steel katana that I’m absolutely positive makes as scary of a sound as any pump-action shotgun being chambered when it’s being withdrawn from its sheath… especially considering that I’m flipping the main breaker to the house before I engage you. My turf, my rules. And we’re dancing in the dark if you break into my home while I’m in it.
I prefer psychological warfare. If you see a banshee-screaming, enraged redneck coming at you in darkened close quarters wielding a sword, even if you survive the encounter, you’ll never break into another house again. That kind of thing leaves emotional scars that will never heal.
JM White…lol. Well played.
JohnW, I know, weird group. So many things bug me I had trouble picking.
If you see a banshee-screaming, enraged redneck coming at you
Just another day at the office for me in here.
“Pro Gun-Control – Fearful of guns” is what you said, Rob, so make the case that his position on massacre weapons in civilian hands shows Gen. McChrystal “fears” guns, specifically.
J.M.,
Sounds like you have a plan for security.
Keep your eyes open for some interesting news on Friday about some of my work on improving my security skills.
Re: J.M. White @ 10:06 pm
At 73 w/ heart problems & COPD, I have no allusions that I could take-down a single young home-invader — much less the typical 2 – 4 perp gang of them. I’m not the strapping young Marine I once was. Not by a long shot.
IMHO, even as a youngster, if you find yourself in a fair fight it is a sign of bad planning on your part. You can crank that up a few notches for intentionally going into a disparate force combat on the less-likely-to-win side of the disparate force equation.
I find it humorous that folk (not necessarily you) who throw terms of disparagement (e.g., Rambo / macho / etc) at RKBA posters because they carry, then turn around and often claim (or don’t question) the Romboest proclamations of self-assured bare-handed or edged implement defeat of all comers.
My advice? Don’t take a knife to a gun-fight.
J.M. White:
“…especially considering that I’m flipping the main breaker to the house before I engage you.”
My home security plan has a similar provision. I can certainly navigate my house in the dark much better than anyone else. A sign on my front door reads “There is nothing here worth your life”. I hope criminals heed it.
Dave Hicks:
“…if you find yourself in a fair fight it is a sign of bad planning on your part…. My advice? Don’t take a knife to a gun-fight.”
Absolutely. Why should I choose to be underprepared out of concern for whomever is breaking into my home or seeking to harm me? Invaders have a 12 gauge shotgun to encounter here…. and a few other possibilities….
“folk…who often claim…the Romboest proclamations of self-assured bare-handed or edged implement defeat of all comers’
comment by Dave Hicks
You know, Dave Hicks, that sounds an awful lot like the image cultivated by a certain NRA spokesman, a guy named Norris. But then, since the NRA vehemently thinks violence in entertainment is a huge problem, they wouldn’t hire a violent image peddler to be their spokesman, or would they?
http://www.meetthenra.org/nra-member/Chuck%20Norris
JW, send me a pic of gun on a white background and I’ll gin up a stamp with it when I have a bit of spare time.
Back in the early 90s, when we lived in Annapolis but had been out of state visiting family for a week, we returned home in the middle of a burglary at our place. If I had kept a gun in the house, there’s a fair chance it might have been used against me as I interrupted that burglary. Man I’m glad I had no gun in that house!
Re: Dan Casey @ 11:51 pm
You would have kept unsecured firearms in your house?
I’m sure some of the regulars here who are pro-prohibition / restriction will take you to task for such irresponsible planning / thinking — even hypothetically.
Dan:
“24.JW, send me a pic of gun on a white background and I’ll gin up a stamp with it when I have a bit of spare time”
LOL. I was just pulling your chain, but I like the stamps. We need guns on real stamps too. I’ll send you something….
Back in the early 90s, when we lived in Annapolis but had been out of state visiting family for a week, we returned home in the middle of a burglary at our place. If I had kept a gun in the house, there’s a fair chance it might have been used against me as I interrupted that burglary. Man I’m glad I had no gun in that house!”
Alternatively, Maryland should become shall-issue so her residents can carry their guns with them. That would have covered you on both ends of that problem.
I hope that everybody here is aware that one of the popular infographics claiming there are 8,000 “home invasions” in the U.S. every day is pure BS being pushed by industries that stand to make money from unreasonable fear.
“That would have covered you on both ends of that problem.”
Of course if he had come home packing and started a gun battle, he might be dead now.
Comment by Dave Hicks — January 23, 2013 @ 11:00 pm
My advice would be to not live in an area where 2-4 perp home invasion gangs are common. I have no problem with anyone using a firearm to protect their home, especially if they’re in ill or failing health or live in a particularly high crime area. I don’t begrudge anyone for their guns, ever. I’m lucky to still have my health and an extremely sharp mind. Though I’m not strapping by any definition, I have no lack of confidence in my physical abilities, either.
By no means am I advocating anyone to take the same plan as I have. I’ve been training in edged weapon and close quarters combat for nearly twenty years. Like firearms, edged weapons require a level of proficiency that if not attained and maintained, only make you more likely to be killed/injured with your own.
I will not allow myself to fear death or attack, ever. I cannot allow myself to fear low probabilities. If I should perish protecting my home and loved ones, with or without firearms, then I say that I could not die more honorably and will gladly do so.
I rather enjoy disparate force combat and often trained in 2-on-1, 3-on-1, 4-on-1 and 4-on-2 scenarios, but I’m also a bit of a glutton for punishment. Anyone trained in such would know that you use the environment as an equalizer. Engage the enemy at choke-points. Make your enemy unsure of your numbers/firepower. Engage him where he will be; not where he is. Distract him from his objective. As a Marine, you should know that psychology is as important to any battle as armament. I’m willing to bet that seeing your point man’s head come rolling back between your feet when you round a corner will likely take the fight right out of you, especially in a darkened home with which you are unfamiliar.
Your disparate force scenario puts you on the less-likely-to-win side in any case, even if you’re armed to the gills. That is, unless you’re only assuming one of the 2-4 perps are armed. If they are all armed, the best course of action is to get them to shoot each other. There’s not much room within a home for four men to maneuver tactically, unless they’re military trained. If they’re military-trained and using military 2×2 tactics in your home, then they’re not there to rob you, sir, and you need all the help you can get, so fire away, Mr. Hicks. If you need another trigger man, let me know.
I don’t view my neighborhood or community as a war zone. Were I to interupt a burglary at my home, I would keep a safe distance and gather necessary information to report to the authorities. I do not see such things as a test of my preparedness or courage or prowess. My glass is half full. Always has been.
Do you see this crap? Not helpful!
https://www.google.com/search?q=Bushmaster,+man+card&hl=en&tbo=u&tbm=isch&source=univ&sa=X&ei=doIBUeSjNe–2AWl04C4CA&ved=0CDUQsAQ&biw=1536&bih=789
” Do you see this crap? Not helpful!”
big deal sandi.
Do you see this crap? Not helpful!
Comment by Sandi Saunders — January 24, 2013 @ 1:51 pm
If you examine the “Tea Party Membership” card it’w quite evident whatever
you have linked has liberal progressive stink. Maybe you got a virus.
I do not know that I spend any time fearing death or attack. Certainly not to the point of having some plan for same. I think that society has changed a lot and the days of not locking, and in the summer time not even closing your doors are likely gone for good, but feeling the need to plan for personal safety beyond locking doors is just not on my radar and I am not afraid to die at any moment in time in any event. I do not want to live in a world where the need or want for such “precautions” as carrying a gun and keeping one “handy” become my everyday activities.
If you want to have a little fun after you pull that breaker,
http://www.brite-strike.com/tactical-balls.html
Re: gdad — January 24, 2013 @ 9:27 am
Yup.
I remember when it started out as 8,000 in North America (including Canada, USA, Mexico, & (Panama?).
Somehow that morphed into just the US.
US law enforcement agencies do not keep tallies of home invasion, as such. In fact, there is often conflicting definitions from jurisdiction-to-jurisdiction and more so in press coverage. Even B&E of homes when there was no one at home at the time are reported in the press as home invasion in some papers. Ditto, lack of common definition across Canada, USA, & Mexico. Ditto incompatible / lack of data collection across countries.
Earth to Leon…what?
gdad:
“Of course if he had come home packing and started a gun battle, he might be dead now.”
If he got lost on the way home, the burglar might have been gone by the time he arrived.
If he had a wreck on the way home he might have died.
If my aunt had balls, she’d be my uncle (h/t Art Hill).
What’s your point?
As I said on another thread, John W, your posts are getting more and more manic. Chill pill time. Your comparisons are idiotic. Thank goodness Dan called a halt to your earlier profanity.
The point is, of course, that for some people carrying a gun makes them feel so manly and all that they do stupid stuff that they wouldn’t do otherwise. Like confronting a possibly armed person instead of taking the wiser route of retreating and calling the cops. Or confronting a dangerous Skittles-carrying black teen even after you’ve been advised to back off and ending up killing the guy, thereby possibly ruining your own life and definitely ruining his. Or shooting your own daughter as she snuck into the house late because you thought she was a burglar and by golly you were going to take care of that guy.
gdad:
“Thank goodness Dan called a halt to your earlier profanity.”
What? An self-censored gesture towards elected officials who thumb their nose at our Constitution and violate their oathes is a lot different than what whomever said the same to me personally. That was what Dan called a halt to, if I remember correctly, throwing me into the same category.
The rest of your silly, wild speculations don’t merit addressing.