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What if the cops showed up as he walked outside with a shotgun? I bet he'd be dead, the crooks get away, and everyone gets pissed at the cops for shooting the "good guy."
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Thank you! I forgot to mention that. Very important fact that was overlooked by many others.
I also believe in the Constitutional right to bear arms, but just like free speech, it has its limitations. Like freedom of speech doesn't give you the right to stand up in a crowded theater and yell 'fire' if there isn't one.
Right now, in the State of New Jersey, it is difficult, if not impossible, to get a carry permit for a handgun unless you are a police or corrections officer, in which case your badge and i.d. are your carry permit. I'm actually glad for this as firearms come with a great deal of responsibility. First off, we are one of the most densely populated states in the country (If not THE most). There are too many areas where, if a round is let go, it has too much potential to hit someone. Walls don't always stop bullets; they'll keep going and end up somewhere.
We also have to examine the fact that just because someone doesn't have a criminal history doesn't mean that they have the maturity or mental capacity to handle the responsibility of carrying a firearm. The average Joe isn't necessarily equipped to evaluate when they should or shouldn't shoot. In some cases, an individual may have a clean record but harbor beliefs that might make them more likely to shoot someone based on stereotypes or flat out prejudice. Merely owning a gun doesn't give someone the perspective needed to evaluate the situation to, say, differentiate between a burglar or someone reading the meter for the electric company.
If citizens in this state are to be allowed to carry concealed handguns, I think that in addition to the police background check, they should also receive a psychological evaluation and be mandated to attend and complete an intense class on shoot/don't shoot situations. If they can complete all of that, so be it. Sure, there will be some who can fake their way through a psych evaluation, but I'd rather lean towards the side of caution.
As for bars in Texas, well, my uncle is a resident. Folks walk up to the bar and lean their shotguns up against it while ordering a beer and it's legal. Yikes.
And for those of you who think that shooting scummers in the leg is a good idea, it's not the easiest target to hit. If you're going to point a gun at someone, don't shoot to wound. Don't shoot to kill. Shoot to STOP.
As for protecting the home: I agree one thousand percent. Someone I don't know comes into MY house, where MY family lives, I'm doing whatever I have to to protect my family. If it comes down to deadly force INSIDE my home, then so be it. Deadly force should only be used when there is definitely a threat of serious injury or death to you or someone else.
I'm actually enjoying this discussion. Next!