How would you respond?

[JohnKSa]

This was Presbyterian Hospital of Greenville.

D'oh!

If I'd read your post carefully, I would have realized that... And I would have already known that it wasn't posted since I've been there a couple of times. Oh well.

that has GOT to be one of the best I have ever heard!!!

First of all, I was lying. In SW6946's situation I probably wouldn't say that, I'd probably say something inscrutable like: "Oh yeah... Well... Hmm..."

Second, I'll probably forget it before I get a chance to use it... ;)

[Venus Pax]

I've been milling over this a bit since the incident with step-sister and brother-in-law.

"Yeah, Venus Pax, but don't you depend on God to protect you?"
My answer: "Yes, I depend on God to protect me. I also depend on Him to provide my every need, but that doesn't mean I refuse to work."

"Could you really shoot a human being?"
My answer: "Could a human being really rape or murder me, or do so to a loved one? I have an obligation to protect myself and my family."

"Why are you fearful?"
My answer: "I really don't experience much fear. I do feel more empowered to protect myself if it ever comes to that."

"You've never needed one before!" (My favorite.)
My answer: "And I hope I never do. I've never used that flood insurance that I pay for each year. So am I really throwing my money away? I hope I never need it either." (Most friends and relatives know that my house was kit by a tornado a few years back, and that I used homeowners' insurance money to repair it.)

"Ewww. Guns are scary. I don't really like guns. Those things can just go off."
My answer: "Properly functioning and well-maintained guns don't just go off. Someone has to pull the trigger. Always keep it pointed away from people (unless you're defending yourself), and don't put your finger on the trigger unless you're firing it. Guns are inanimate objects. They can't do anything without a person to operate them."

"What if a kid gets ahold of it?"
My answer: "I recommend one of the touch-combination safes for handguns. This is best mounted to a permanent surface that is accessible during the night by a responsible person. With the touch combination, you can access the gun quickly in the dark, yet the odds of a child getting into it are slim to none.
And you're right--children cause accidents with guns each year. It's important to teach them gun safety. Many people take their children to the gun range, let them watch Mom or Dad shoot watermelons (they explode when hit with that tiny bullet), and then they shoot the guns themselves with their parents' supervision. They also learn safety rules. This also keeps the gun from being forbidden fruit, and causing the child to want to access it behind the parent's back. My dad gave me a BB gun when I was 8, and he taught me gun safety. We had a lot of great times together shooting guns, and I've turned out to be a good citizen."

"If everybody quit carrying guns everywhere, we would be a peaceful society."
My answer: "I doubt it. When someone has evil in his/her heart, that person will look for trouble. Guns are always available on the black market, just as drugs are. The difference would be that the criminally-minded could wreak havoc with little fear of retaliation from an armed citizen. That thought scares me.
Also, countries that have outlawed guns have seen their crime rate soar. Do we really want that here?"

There are many other arguments I've been reading up on, but those are a few of my rebuttals.
I normally crack a lot of jokes, so I plan to use those with people that know me well enough for me to do so.
I like the comeback to "Well, I've never needed a gun." as "It's a good thing, since I'm not always with you." Of course, you need to say it with a grin and ONLY to a person that would chuckle at it, yet get the point.

[longtooth]

Good job VP.

[kw5kw]

"If everybody quit carrying guns everywhere, we would be a peaceful society."
My answer: "I doubt it. When someone has evil in his/her heart, that person will look for trouble. Guns are always available on the black market, just as drugs are. The difference would be that the criminally-minded could wreak havoc with little fear of retaliation from an armed citizen. That thought scares me.
Also, countries that have outlawed guns have seen their crime rate soar. Do we really want that here?"

.

I like this point!
We tried to out law liquor and what happened.
Drugs are illegal, but yet, people still do drugs. And to pay for them they steal and rob. This violent crimes they do with illegal guns because they're criminals! Criminals don't care about laws or they wouldn't be criminals in the first place! They don't go by the rules, they will not register a gun! They will not get a license--mainly because they can't get one in the first place.

You watch shows like Law and Order, well, they're based (in part) on true events. Yeah, they're made more apealing for television viewers, but the main events are picked from headlines.

Well, just watching that, you know that criminals have guns, just as Bonnie and Clyde had guns and Dillinger, and Capone...etc.

I'm out to protect myself from that punk who comes knocking on my door who wants to blow me away--just because he wants to.

Well if that kid had come to my door... It just might be him that's made the mistake of a lifetime instead of me; who opened the door thinking that a 16 year old wouldn't hurt me. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... f821e.html

Or maybe that it wouldn't be me who got shot while pumping gas. http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent ... 87de5.html


Sorry, I got carried away.
Russ

[carlson1]

Funny how family knows best on how to push our buttons. I can't wait to hear the comments when they see my sidearm (if they do)

A soft answer turns aside anger, sometimes no answer is even better.
Rubbing him raw with accurate, but biting comments like "Well, for years I have never needed my: Seat belts, airbags, homeowner's insurance, family lawyer, savings account, etc. is just not right.
Ya just can't pop off a snide remark and improve the situation.

~Bill

There is my answer! My guns have never taken a life, they are for only saving lives.

[sparx]

"Yeah, Venus Pax, but don't you depend on God to protect you?"
My answer: "Yes, I depend on God to protect me. I also depend on Him to provide my every need, but that doesn't mean I refuse to work."

As it is said, God helps those that help themselves.