In a message dated 07/12/2000 8:42:42 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
type79@ix.netcom.com writes:
<< questions that always go through my mind when the
"defense of person and property" argument is raised.
What is the occurrence rate of residential break-ins in which the intruders
are
armed?
Of those break-ins, what is the rate of injuries, minor or fatal, to
occupants
of those homes?
Of those break-ins, what is the rate of successful defenses by armed home
owners?
Personally, I don't buy these "wild west" arguments. I would feel as
violated as
the next person if my home were burglarized, but I don't think the intruder
should be put to death for breaking and entering. >>
Jay,
All I can say to your side of the argument is that if I am the one whose
house is broken into the very last things I will want to contemplate is the
odds against it happening, or the odds that I may go through it unharmed.
The odd are I will never flip my midget. How often does that happen in the
US, but I do wear my seat belt and I am shopping for a roll bar.
I want to control as much as possible about the circumstances that may take
my life. The seat belts, the roll bar, the possible break in. I do not want
to leave it up to the grace of God, or the grace of some punk that breaks
into my house, as to whether I may or may not die.
As for the successful defense of a home, the percentage of those that did it
successfully are the ones living to tell about it. The mistaken shootings of
friends or family point more to a need for training (or safer neighborhoods
where no one need worry), rather than the removal of guns from the home.
Having said that, I personally do not keep a loaded gun in the house, or even
have quick access to a gun from my bedroom, but I do firmly believe in
anyone's right to do so.
And no, that does not extend to the right of of doper to keep a loaded stolen
gun within reach of a kid in a crack house.
Always good arguing with you Jay. Thanks,
R. Houston
PS..no I do not think an intruder should be put to death for breaking and
entering, but I would like every burgler or potential burgler in America to
worry that breaking into my house could cost him his life. Perhaps that is
why crime has shown a decrease in the 27 or so states with a "concealed
carry" law on the books. The old west virtue of an armed society is a polite
society.
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