Are we too paranoid?

[Shorinryu Sensei]

Wow..that's really VERY interesting..and also says something too! Thanks for that info.

[Shorinryu Sensei]

shorinryu sensei sounds a bit paranoid.... Where I live every gang member on the corner has a gun, so am I a paranoid freak to have one to? I dont think so just prepared.

 

Did I miss something here? I'm paranoid? I'm not walking around with a "blade" or a "piece" and worrying about every time I walk out my front door whether or not I'm going to get shot.

 

If every gang member in your neighborhood has a gun..then move to another neighborhjood and let them have that one.

 

I've seen a few storys in the news the past couple of years, where a neighborhood has banded together for the common good..turned in dope dealers and gang members, etc, and basically took back their neighborhood! To me, that sounds like the good 'ol American spirit at work.

 

Granted, where I live is totally different than gang enfested big citys, but I have no qualms at all about going out at night and rapping on some kids vibrating car window next door and asking him to turn down his stereo at 3am because it's keeping me awake. Plus there's another, little known institution that's developed over the years that many people never think of. It's called...the POLICE! Use them people..that's what they're there for, and what we pay them to do. Let THEM carry the guns and deal with street punks...because that's all they are...punks!

 

Dang...I need to start working on myu Readers digest condensed version skills...my posts are getting just to darn long!

[shotokanwarrior]

Now who is watching to much tv... Its all that simple

[tommarker]

Shorin-Ryu Sensei,

 

No, of course you haven't killed anyone, nor did I expect you to have.

 

I think that a majority of those who feel the need to carry a concealed weapon for self-defense have spent a long time asking tough questions of themselves. In a modern sense, I truly feel that the study of firearms is a martial art: one that requires the same amount of dedication and study as its Asian counterparts.

 

A lot of people cling to the arguement that allowing concealed weapons will bring back some sort of lawless "Old West" style of crime and punishment where the gunslinger shoots first, asks questions later and blood fills our streets. However, the data just doesn't support this claim. Further, I think such talk only serves to insult those who would seek to exercise this right as being irrational or paranoid. Just as it would insult you to be told that since you are a kodanja, you're likely to murder someone with your bare hands for a trivial reason.

 

I live in Ohio, a state which is currently embroiled in a battle to allow concealed carry. One of only six states that prohibit such a method. A sticking point is that the Highway Patrol doesn't want permit holders to be able to keep their gun on their person while driving. Their advice to those facing a carjacking: "just drive away."

 

People who say that you can run away, drive away, or completely avoid a confrontation through clean living, awareness, etc... Well of COURSE I'd love to be able to do that when possible. This isn't always possible. I want to have that option available to me, since I most likely won't have that police protection when I so desperately need it.

[JerryLove]

Are we becoming such a paranoid society, that we, as trainers and practioners of the martial arts, feel that that training isn't sufficient to protect ourselves and our loved ones, that we have to carry a weapon with us at all times, just in case we need it?

 

Are we becoming such a paranoid society that we, as people, need to devote years to studying fighting arts in otder to protect ourselves?

 

You've chosen an arpitrary standard; and your conclusion (that carring a firearm means someone is paranoid) is absurd. On what do you base your argument against carrying one? That you are not likely to need it? OK, then why put airbags in cars?

yet with all this firepower within easy access, I don't know one person here (and I know a LOT of people) that carrys anything more dangerous than a small folding pocket knife [...] we still have murders every year, and there is currently at least one, possibly two serial rapists at large in this area.

 

Homes get broken into, cars are stolen or vandalized, and this area is one of the largest meth producers in the NorthWestern USA.

So you point out that your community does not walk around armed; and then tell us how bad the crime and drugs are.... and this should convince me that I want to imitate you how?

But do we personally arm ourselves every time we walk out of our doors?

Let me ask you, if every sound adult carried a firearm, do you think you would still have 2 serial rapists?

Late at night, as you're walking home a man comes out of the shadows and demands your wallet/purse. He is displaying a knife or gun in plain sight. What do you do?

 

There is no where near enough information there. "It depends".

Do you put a dollar amount on what your life is worth? Isn't it easier just to give the thief your wallet, report it stolen to the police, cancel your credit cards, replace those cute pictures of your children, and get on with your life?

 

You don't shoot someone to protect your wallet (I hope), you do it because you think he's gonna take more than your wallet.

Personally, I think people are watching WAY to much TV and movies, and are getting WAY to paranoid about being attacked and being killed by an attacker with a weapon. Sure, it happens and we see it in the news..but how often?

 

What is the cut-off? 1%? 5%? 10%?

Unless you're Superman, no person on this planet is perfectly safe, and never will be. But if we promote the carrying of weapons on this and other forums, especially to our youth, then aren't we spreading paranoia and fear?

 

Do we do the same advocating wearing seatbelts?

[Shorinryu Sensei]

JerryLove, as usual (and typical), you are arguing solely for the sake of argument, and I will NOT respond to senseless comments about nit-picky crap just for the sake of argument.

 

I posted the thread for discussion purposes and stated MY personal opinions. You are welcome to yours of course, pro or con, but as I've stated to you on PREVIOUS THREADS, and I will state yet again on this one...I will not respond to senseless, meaningless arguments made by you just because you like to argue. As I recall, a moderator in the last one made a comment to the same effect..that you argue just for the sake of arguing.

 

What relavence do seatbelts and airbags have on this subject? NONE! They are a totally different subject and situation entirely.

 

How stupid is it to suggest EVERYBODY carry a gun! Are you that desperate to argue any point that you would suggest that??? God help us if you ever run for public office!!!

 

Get a life JerryLove. I refuse to spar with you until you come up with something worth saying.

[JerryLove]

And you, as usual, when confronted by the hypocracy of your post resort to ad-hominym attacks on the poster to cover your inability to address the problems in your incorrect position.

 

I posted why your support for your personal opinions was ill-informed and incorrect. You are in MY opinion, wrong; and I've supported why. Your dismissal of my argument as "senseless" is [also in my opinion] merely an excuse to avoid having to actually support your position.

 

What relvence do seatbelts have? I made that clear but you ignored it. You have asserted that one must be paranoid to carry a firearm because you would not likely need it to protect yourself. A seatbelt is another device you will not likely need to protect yourself, but one you choose to wear without asserting that it requires you be paranoid of a crash.

 

As to my suggestion that most everyone carry a firarm; there are in-fact jouristictins (Kennesaw, Georgia comes to mind) which require homeowners to own firearms. It has worked quite well at lowering crime. It's hardly a new idea.

 

The fact that you are willfully ignorant of these facts or the fallacy of your own position is not very surprising if you respond to all opinions they way you respond to mine.

[SBN Doug]

Stop.

 

Everyone has been making valid points on this issue. Points I've heard before, when Texas was debating the concealed handgun law.

 

However, I suggest everyone re-read their own posts before clicking the "submit" button and make sure all the "you"s and "your"s are taken out. the only way a subject like this will be discussed civilly is if your posts are restricted to "I"s.

 

[Shorinryu Sensei]

EDIT: My apoligies to KSN Doug and to those reading my posts. If I'm out of line, please post it here or PM me. I didn't see your post Doug, until I'd already submitted this response.

 

-----------------------------------------------------

 

This is the last response I'll ever make to you JerryLove, so I hope you'll enjoy it.

 

If you'll notice on ANY other thread, people respond with their opinions without attacking a persons position or thoughts. They might say "I disagree, and here's why", but you on the other hand DEMAND proof and support for a persons opinion. It's my stated opinion, nothing more, nothing less..and proof for a persons opinion is not a requirement of this board.

 

I was looking forward to some good discussion by others, not ARGUMENTS...as I've stated before, you seem to enjoy.

 

If you don't like my posts, or threads that I start, then don't read or don't respond to them. Your attempts to get me angry by goading me won't work, and henceforth I am chosing to ignore you and anything you have to say in regards to my postings.[/b]

[JerryLove]

KSN Doug,

 

I was unaware that Texas had a debate on CCW. How did that turn out? I've always viewed Texas as more right-wing that Florida, and our [FL] CCW laws are pretty well accepted. I'm surprised to hear that CCW is/was contested in TX.