I guess at 78 I have reached the point in life that Don Meridith of NFL fame (on and off the field) referred to when the game he was announcing was out of hand, 'turn out the lights the party's over'
Having spent 27 years in a combination of Navy and Coast Guard service, lived in 8 states, + AK and HI before they were states. Have never carried (except on a post service job) nor felt threatened to the extent I needed a weapon.
What has happened to this country, I can't even speak the language, 'dude' (not intended as a put down) is no more part of my vocabulary than 'spiffy' is to most reading this.
All that said, I see much wisdom and common sense in the previous posts not to mention a lot of humor and some dandy quotes.
Yes I also think it is the "Rambo wannabes", those of "spazzer' fame who probably could not hit a barn wall from the inside. I guess it is just a macho, feeling their oats, type thing. That AK or M4 in their hands mowing down milk jugs and saplings just pumps them up to King Kong size.
As far as me shooting anyone, any intruder IN MY HOME at night will never intrude again am I fortunate enough to get in the first shot, no 'hands up', no 'get out', just BOOM. A 12GA load of #4 buck at 20 feet requires no follow up shot.
A daylight intrusion would be a different story depending on how much I felt threatened.
Ah well, I guess all I can say is I hope it never happens.
________________________Old Sin Casts a Long Shadow_