No, Alex, I am not saying I have zero tolerance for handguns in America. I am actually exploring this issue to decide what my position is. I am looking at it from the perspective of the general health of the whole society, in addition to an individual's perceived right to protect himself with massive firepower, and am really still mulling it all over. As a former gun owner--someone who has experienced all the responsibilities and feelings around having a gun, and then decided that for myself I didn't want to have one--I think my position is fairly moderate.
When I have a little leisure time to poke around on the net, I will see if I can find some more specific statistics. That cool new search engine may help me. Did you try it? I think it is SO neat!!! Just ask it any question!!!
I do think that the radicalism of the N.R.A. at present may do their cause more harm than good eventually, but it is too soon to tell about that. There are not really that many Americans who support the militia movement. What did you think about Heston's comments, incidentally, and the other urls I gave you to read about the N.R.A.?
Anyway, I will post again to you on this issue, if you don't mind, whenever I have had time to do more research, so that it is sort of a very soft and gentle ongoing conversation, rather than a debate, and we can leave the soapbox backstage. Is that okay with you? |
