But the fact remains, you cannot lump all firearm owners as being irresponsible. It may sound good, but it’s not the truth, other wise millions of people would be in jail.

Everyone to their own opinion, I am not going to argue over this, too much to do in life.

Anyway, Slim, hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas.

Let’s get to the facts (real, not imagined). These numbers are variously from the Police Foundation in DC, the ATF and the FBI:

• There are about 192 million privately-owned firearms in the U.S., of which 65 million are handguns. About 39% (far from 9 out of 10) of households have guns.

• About 30,000 people are killed by firearms each year in the U.S., of which about 39% are murders, 57% are suicides and 2% are accidents (the balance are unknown).

• In 2005, there were only 143 justifiable homicides (out of approximately 30,000 firearm deaths) in the U.S. That means that only 0.5% of deaths were self-defense shootings. Maybe we should have 99.5% fewer guns in the country, too, if only 0.5% are being used in self-defense.

• An abused woman is 6 times more likely to be murdered if there is a handgun in the home.

• The presence of a gun in the home triples the risk of a homicide in the home, and quintuples the risk of a suicide.

• 8-10 children (under 19) are killed with guns EVERY DAY in the U.S.

Now, why is it that we need these things again? What other “tool” do we allow to be owned so widely that is so dangerous to innocent people when used for its intended purpose? Only cigarettes come to mind, and with the exception of second-hand smoke, the ones who end up dead aren’t innocent bystanders.

And as to your comment that, “IMO it is stupid to brag about how many firearms you may or may not have,” you contradicted that by saying, “a city in Georgia passed a ordnance that required all homeowners to have a firearm in their home… Makes a person wonder, doesn’t it.”

So, which is it - should you advertise that you own a gun, or not?

And re: that “city in Georgia,” I lived in Georgia for a long time, and Kennesaw is the most racist, redneck town you’d never want to visit. I’m sure whatever burglaries were avoided there have just been pushed to the next town over. Poverty and crime don’t disappear just because you own a gun.

I wish I could find the article so I could link to it, but it stated that close to 9 out of 10 households have firearms. Most people who have firearms are not irresponsible people, and are law abiding citizens. They have those weapons for many different reasons. But the biggest reason is to protect their family’s when some scum breaks in. The police cannot be everywhere at once, and hidding in a closet may not help you.

Also, a city in Georgia passed a ordnance that required all homeowners to have a firearm in their home. Crime dropped over 40% there. Makes a person wonder, doesn’t it. Also, I have bet $100 to anti-guns people that guns do not kill. I offered to have a loaded pistol on a table between us, pointing at me, and we both sit and wait for it to shoot me. They have never taken the bet. And no, it’s not a stupid saying that guns don’t kill, people do. Firearms are a very deadly tool, used wrongly, and you have a tragedy. Same as any tool that is used wrongly, it’s a accident waiting to happen.

People have the right in this country to have/have not firearms in their homes. And yes, that person you mentioned having more guns than TV’s most likely irresponsible, or has a mental problem. IMO it is stupid to brag about how many firearms you may or may not have. That alone, and in it’s self is a open invitation for problems.

Arguing for or against firearms serves no purpose, as either side will not change their opinion. And I also feel sorry for the family, and before I make any judgments, I would like to know the full story of facts.

If Mr. Osbrink had been wielding a baseball bat or a hammer, his wife would still be alive. Those “tools” rarely kill by accident. Bats, hammers and cars, and even kitchen knives, are things that may kill, but that is not their intended purpose. Guns are made to kill, and they kill with speed and great efficiency. They are deadly weapons - the household equivalent of WMDs - and too dangerous to be so commonly (and casually) owned.

I know a man who has a tv in every room in his very large house, and brags that he has more guns than he has teevees. None of them are rifles - they are all handguns or assault weapons. Too often, he is the very sort of person who wants to own guns (the same people who buy bumper nuts) - as toys, status symbols, testosterone boosters, whatever. This is not reasonable or rational in a civilized society.

I feel terrible for what Mr. Osbrink and his family must be going through. But that does not change the fact that guns play a violent and unnecessary role in our society. If it were not for my heartbroken outrage that these things happen at all in this country, I would not have written this post.

Who said individuals were militias, except for you? I never mentioned it in my post, perhaps you may want to re-read it. You are correct when you say it is instantly deadly. So is a knife, a 4,000 lb auto, a properly swung baseball bat, etc, etc. The list can go on.

Because a few individuals are irresponsible, (read stupid) when handling a firearm, you think either more laws are needed, or they should be done away with. Do you know how many laws are on the books about firearms? Why aren’t all of them being enforced?

DID you know yesterday, 92,879,868 gun owners did not kill anyone? Yes, I made that figure up, but it does serve a point. It is evident that the deputy was not to smart in his handling of the gun. Not every firearm owner is irresponsible, but the bleeding hearts just can’t see that.

In fact, please show me where a gun has killed someone. People kill, the weapon they use is just a tool. Why aren’t you all upset about knives? That’s what OJ used to kill two people. Drunk drivers kill, why aren’t you all upset about people having cars in their driveways? It’s the same damn thing, so get over the problem you have that some people may/maynot have guns in their homes. No one is forcing you to have one, it’s a matter of choice.