Well said Michelle, now please spread it around.

“Having conceded that the state cannot protect you, it offends many of us that elements within the state deny us the opportunity to protect ourselves.”

Too true Cap’n, at least we don’t have that problem down here in Texas.

My Dad shot a burglar in the ass as he was walking out the front door with an armload of stuff, and held his partner at gunpoint till the police arrived. Mom was backing him up with the twelve gage. The cops thanked them and shook their hands, and they also got a positive write up in the local paper!

The very vast majority of law-abiding gun owners south of the border know that the ability to use deadly force comes with great responsibility and a profound restraint in exercising that ability. I also suggest that many, if not all of us, believe it is a natural right to defend oneself and one’s family/friends. As Lex so eloquently addresses this, there are those in the state that would constrain or completely block that right. They would have it the only right you can have is to be a victim and their right to “feel” good about eliminating handguns and assault rifles trumps your right to protect yourself. Those who carry a concealed firearm must completely understand the ROE (both legal and moral) if and when this deadly force can be used.
Also like Lex, those folks I know who carry, and there are more than a few, are gentlemen and ladies, self-confident and not given to any inclination to prove anything to anyone, sort of like those who are masters of any particular martial art. Then again, those are the types of people I like to associate with.
Lastly, I again want to give my heartfelt condolences to CrewDawg and all the others going thru this tragedy. Prayer line is engaged.