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When is the last time you were actually accosted in your own home in Vancouver? Why are you so afraid? I think everyone who owns a firearm should answer that question first, really look inside themselves and find out what it is that has them so scared of their fellow citizens. I’ll be honest. I think people who feel a need to have guns in the home for protection - who are living in Vancouver, Washington, say, and not Baghdad - have some serious fear issues, and need therapy.

I had pangs after our home was burglarized, sure. But I don’t give in to that fear, the same way I let my 9 y.o. take risks like snowboarding and open-water snorkeling because I don’t let me fear overwhelm me and impede his growth and sense of competence.

When the risks of harm so far exceed the actual chance that a weapon will be used justifiably for protection, don’t you think that’s irrational?

And frankly, I don’t care how responsible you are as a gun owner: accidents happen, and kids are a helluva lot cleverer than we give them credit for. My nephew recently went through some very methodical, well-planned and carefully executed teen hijinx to get his hands on spray paint (which is illegal for minors to own in California). He planned it all so well, but still ended up getting arrested for the results because he has very little sense of consequences, like most kids.

When accidents/hijinx happen with spray paint, you get a pissed-off parent and/or community service. When accidents/hijinx happen with guns the results are tragic.

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But for every stupid tragedy like this that happens, there are many hundreds of responsible firearm owners that do not let their children have easy access to the firearms.

IMHO, you need to sit down and take a deep breath and start realizing that not all firearm owners are as stupid as those two parents were/are.

One of the biggest complaints against the Demo party is about their stand on firearms. I, along with most, if not all of my friends and acquaintances, are firearm owners. We have not let our firearms get into the hands of our children, nor do we randomly shoot people.

Why do you repeatably keep calling for all people to get rid of firearms? Do you realize that in Clark County, there is one deputy on patrol for every 2000 people living here? Do you realize how long it takes for police to show up when you have a person kicking in your door? Kisses and flowers will not stop a person who is entering your house to rob you and maybe harm you and your children. DO YOU UNDERSTAND THAT?

One of the major reasons that more homes aren’t broken into is because(heaven forbid) the punks out there don’t know who has a firearm and who doesn’t. Is it worth taking someones life when they break into a household? Well, ask the punks if/what value they put on their lives, don’t try and pass the guilt trip on the homeowner, who has every right to defend his home and family.

I know you won’t change your thinking on this, and I won’t either. But why won’t you admit that there are responsible firearm owners out here that are very, very responsible about the handling and care of firearms?

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