I'm surprised that so many physicians that took Hippocratic oaths to do no harm are so comfortable with having guns in their homes.
We like to talk about evidence based medicine. Is there evidence to show that having a gun in one's home makes one safer? Do we hear more stories of people who defend themselves from home intruders with their own firearms, then we do of crimes committed by stolen firearms? If a burglar can break into your home while youre asleep why can't he break in and steal your gun when you're gone?
I agree this story in Boston was tragic, but I'm more likely to die from a cause other than a home invasion given my lifestyle, eating habits, driving habits etc. So many more ominous threats exist, but some of you focus on having a gun to kill a "scumbag"
This Boston story resonates so strongly with you because the victims were wealthy white doctors, and the shooter was a black immigrant. When Dylan Roof killed all those people at church in South Carolina, did you all think of having guns inside your churches? I bet not.
Having a gun inside your home doesn't make sense. Is it any wonder that countries that outlaw personal guns have such low shooting rates??
Your post is all over the place. So, I'll answer you point by point.
1. In the USA having a gun in your home or, for that matter, in your possession, is a constitutional right protected by the second amendment. So, whether you believe a gun in the home is more dangerous than not having one doesn't alter the U.S. Constitution. If I choose to defend myself with a firearm that is my right.
2. Stealing stuff- If a burglar breaks into my home while I'm away then all he gets is "stuff" like my TV, watches and the Ruger GP100. No human life is endangered and the need for lethal force is not required. I'm not advocating for lethal force to protect stuff but rather for those you love as well as yourself. A burglar's intention may extend well beyond the desire to just take your stuff; he may take your life. Since we have no way of knowing the intentions of a person committing a felony in your home lethal force is justifiable.
3. Tragedy- I agree that the risk of a home invasion with loss of life is a rare event and one I don't ever expect to happen to me; but, I have my right via the second amendment to own and carry a firearm. I choose to exercise that right. Also, the fact is that a firearm may have saved lives in this tragedy as the alleged murderer would have likely fled the scene. Perhaps, there would only have been a robbery that day instead of two murders.
4. Race- it's irrelevant to the facts. A home intruder robbed and murdered 2 people. Whether the thief was white, black or brown wouldn't have changed how most of us dealt with the situation.
5. Dylan Roof- This comparison is way off base. Mr. Roof is a disturbed individual with racist ideology. The discussion in this thread is about robbery and home defense.
Whether it's radical muslim terrorists, nutcase white supremacist racists or just mentally disturbed individuals a free society with a second amendment must deal with tragedies. These mass killings are hate based crimes and not based on money. In addition, I believe a society with a second amendment like the USA should not have "gun free zones" as that only encourages the criminals while limiting the law abiding citizens (which most gun owners are).
6. Concealed Carry/Gun ownership- It's a fundamental right in the USA just like Free Speech. Would we be willing to give up our freedoms to live in a safer society? Who gets to decide what freedoms are worth keeping and which ones get abolished? No thank you. Despite the tragedies of a free society it's the best system ever created on Earth.
Peace to you all and I recommend a firearm for personal protection.
Thread just took a sharper than usual turn, that's all.
