I'll start by saying I don't have a good answer, and that after reading this thread I understand the view point of all you "gun-toting wackos" a lot better. I do not own a gun. The few times I have shot, I've had a blast and am a surprisingly good shot. I have several family members and friends who own multiple guns, and I'd be lying if I said I didn't think they (the guns) were cool. I personally don't see the need to own one. I refuse to live in constant worry that someone is going to come in to my house. I've got a nice CRKT by my bed and a baseball bat behind my bedroom door. If that's not enough to scare off someone, they're going to win whether I'm packing or not, because I don't have it in me to shoot someone. Maybe that would change if I had kids, and maybe again if I ever (God forbid) had a break-in. I don't know.
Glen- I get your point, and it (and some of the others here) is the best articulated non-regulation argument I've heard so far. Perhaps I'm naive in thinking that times have changed and that 1776 was a different time, but I don't think I'll ever agree that you or anyone else walking down the street needs an assault rifle, and certainly not a grenade launcher. Let's all hope I'm not wrong. Where the line is, and who draws it is admittedly a very tricky task.
Joe- most of your points were great, but this:
...is like saying "most of the dropouts from Compton High School were not white". Well, duh. Most crimes are committed by guns that are easy for any street punk to get- that's almost an affirmation that gun laws do something right. I'd be really scared if those @$$holes were running around with M16s.
Thanks guys for another illuminating thread. I'll keep doing my shooting with two joysticks in hand. :gth