actually, I agree. I do carry on a regular basis, never had to use a gun in self defense-hope never to use one in such a situation, but am ready to if need be, but if you go back and look at all the mass shootings since ww2-nearly every single one, I can think of, has been against soft targets, as in places like schools, and theatres, where theres no one around to shoot back. And I can think of several, one in colorado, that have been stopped by people with guns.
http://articles.cnn.com/2007-12-10/us/colorado.shootings_1_gunman-security-guard-casings?_s=PM:US
basically, gunman attacked a church, thinking it would be an easy target-and a security gaurd the church had hired, returned fire, wounding the man. Upon realizing he couldnt win he then committed suicide. More recently, there was a shooter in a mall in portland oregan-who was stopped by a CCW holder. He didnt even have to fire his gun, he just drew, and hesitated to fire because there were people in the background, but the shooter saw the gun pointed at him and backed off.
http://current.com/community/939928...pped-by-ccw-holder-media-lies-by-omission.htm
A gun, in the hands of a responsible citizen, is a very very, good tool for safety and security. I think as americans it is our right to be able to defend ourselves-I also believe that more people should. In the case of almost every single mass shooting, if someone had been there to shoot back, the shooting wouldnt be nearly as bad.
the answer isnt gun control, its gun education. There are a lot of people who dont know how to safely handle a gun, and just as many who are afraid of guns because they lack understanding of them. Why not offer gun safety in public schools? Im not suggesting we bring guns in and teach them how to shoot, but perhaps just a basic class teaching local and federal gun laws, what to do if you come across a gun, what guns can be used for, both good and bad. I think, if more people had a healthy understanding of how a gun works, that its only a tool, that when used safely, wont hurt anyone, fewer people would be afraid of them-and there would be fewer gun accidents, because there are a lot of people, gun owners included, that don't understand basic gun safety.