Aren't we glad we don't live on the East coast!

I guess it would be better explained by the number of cops killed in the line of duty, by a gun, in countries like England and Mexico; criminals who are willing to break most laws, including gun laws. Just ask yourself this do you think he was delivering a subpoena to Mother Theresa? Of course not. Imagine the poor cop in a Mexican, drug lord controlled, town trying to deliver a subpoena! Most of our gun crimes spur from one source, drugs, just as in Mexico. Want to save lives, get people to stop buying from these criminals who push poison.

My thought on that is legalize marijuana, hash......not things like crack or heroin though.  It would do at least 2 things....one we could tax it and make lots of money to fix these damn roads, and 2 it would stop allot of the cartels and drug wars.....I'm just saying :)

Edie

      The only problem with that, and I am not in anyway getting into the legalization/not legalization debate by this comment, is that the problem is more than just the drug itself. The problem lies with the underground illegal markets of the world. If all drugs were legal there would still be something that criminally minded people will kill to smuggle in order to make huge profits. We need to address the root as well as the routes of this problem by closing down the funding and transportation suppliers of such groups. Namely unscrupulous bankers and shippers. Whether it's guns, alcohol, drugs, knock-off designer items, hi-jack kidnapping or even human traficing, criminals will find a product to distribute for a quick cheap profit. They can't engage in these things without a banking source and a distribution source.
      The solution is for nations to not allow the transfers of monies across international lines. If the money leaves a country it should become valueless. All cash exchanges should be done electronically. You can't buy 1000 kilos of heroin on the Master Charge without an electronic trail to your door. Next nations should not just raid and arrest ships at sea smuggling, but simply scuttle and sink them. The risk of loosing a $100 million dollar ship at sea to Davy Jone's locker would cut big smuggling overnight. The same holds true for over the road smuggling vehicles and air planes. The parent companies, that allow illegal smuggling to occur, or those that facilitate the funding of such smuggling, should be shut down and their assets seized, regardless of whether they claim not to have known what they were shipping or financing. The assets of their stock owners should also be seized. They will then police themselves, or be put out of business.

I wish we had a way to get guns out of the bad guys and stupid peoples hands, but that will never happen.  So a few years ago I decided I wanted to protect myself, but I wanted to do it right and learn as much as I could and keep my practicing up so that I didn't have an accident.  I wish more people would do that.

I applaud your husband, I've always said that the one job I would never do is be a cop, too many stupid people out there that don't respect the law and those who uphold it.  I'll pray that he stays safe and never does have to pull his gun in his career. 

Edie

Yes the homicide rate is lower.
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However the bad guys. ambush the cops to get there guns, so they can go out and kill more than just the militia.

Good Morning - up and at em early this morning fo rme kids were up at 8:30 i'm spoiled and used to them sleeping in until 9:30 it's ok though I went to bed earlier than normal thankfully. Today I need to clean the house and head to the library to study we have had my step daughter since Wed and she's here until tuesday and so things are a big more loud and crazy over here this week.

Q: I am for them, my aunt is in the  national womens hall of fame for shootingI have grown up around shooting. Hubby and I actually need to go to the shooting range to practice with our Smith and Wesson I've never shot a handgun before I've always shot rifles and muzzleloaders. But finding a time without the kids is tough to go.

Morning Eddie,
           As a Life and Endowment Member of the NRA as well as the owner of an hunting ranch in Wyoming, I guess my position on guns would seem obvious, but it is not. While I feel that every law abiding citizen should have the right to bare arms, along with that right comes great responsibility. If one isn't willing to accept that responsibility, then they should not own firearms. That having been said, the best example of why we need guns if found in England and Australia. Both countries have banned all private ownership of firearms in the home. Today they are the number one and two nations for hot home invasions. (Where the criminal breaks in fully knowing that the residents are in the home). Bobbies of London, who were once proud of never having to carry guns, are now issued Uzi sub-machine guns.
        Even if you do not own a gun, you benefit from those who do. Criminals in gun ownership states are all too aware that breaking into a home with the residents present could cost them their lives. Interestingly too they also know that states with the castle doctrine are not good states for home invasions as the break in statistics show. Michigan is a castle doctrine state.
        Likewise street criminals know that states with shall issue CCWs are not good states for street muggings. NYC, Chicago, and DC residents have all told me about annually expecting to be mugged on the street and some keep a "muggers wallet", with a few bucks in it, to give to the mugger. This does not happen in Michigan, even in our cities. Street muggers fear being payed in lead instead of gold in a state where 10% of the population has a CCW.

 Today I love Michigan winter.  It's OK when it's not snowing right?  I can't imagine dealing with 20" of snow today... no thank you!

Had some protein coffee a while ago and just had oatmeal with blackberries for breakfast.  Been doodling this morning -- I need to get this little project done in less than 2 weeks so trying to get as much of my mini doodle book filled.  (In case none of that makes sense... I'm teaching a drawing class.)  Later today I need to go out and run some errands.  Pick up my leather coat from the cleaners (the one I spilled protein shake all over).  Gotta visit my mom/dad for a bit today.  Then mostly homework the rest of the day.  

QOTD -- Guns are fine.  I don't own one and don't really have a desire to.  But I'm not opposed to those who do own them. 

Pam

I had a s/f vanilla latte from McD's this morning ... first time, after reading about it here ... very good, definitely get that again! 

QOTD:  I have never owned/fired a gun, but I am not at all opposed to those who choose to carry one legally.  It is a right covered under our constitution that should remain protected.  I actually think it would be cool to go to a firing range and become proficient, but when raising our kids, the idea of having a gun in the house made me very nervous.  Now that they are older, the idea of having a gun for protection appeals to me . . .  I live in "farm" country and hunting is big around here, so nearly everyone has a gun. 

Hey Edie.  We actually have sun up here today.  It's beautiful, but cold and windy.
Tried to drink the Alpine caramel hot cider this morning, but I just don't like it, so I only drank half of it.  Then I had a piece of lite toast with cheese on it.  I'm thinking of making a hot chai tea (now that I love).
I too have my concealed weapons permit and have a Lady S&W .38+P.  It's called an Air Weight because it's so light.  Model #642   2" barrel.  My husband has his Federal Firearms License so we've got guns!  We also belong to the gun range up here in the north and can shoot for free on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesdays.  It's fun, but the bullets can run into $$$$.  We've got enough to keep us busy for a while tho.
QOTD:  I agree.  I can't really see me carrying in my purse much, but it's nice to have in the house when I'm alone.  I'm not afraid to be alone at all, but it's just another security for me.  If they took away all the guns from us that legally have them, only the bad guys would have them!
Have a great sunny day all.
Jan