Young lady I have not ever stated that you did advocate banning guns. You accuse others of leaping off the cliff into the abyss of assumption, yet you've done that very thing with my post, have you not? If you disagree, please direct me to my post that I stated that you advocate banning guns.

 

With that now out of the way, is your answer to my second question: No?

 

And like swamp, I also question the appropriateness and legality of the man partially unholstering his weapon when you got off the bus. Actually his action may have been legal justification for you to shoot him if you were carrying. I know that I would think that my life was in imminent danger if I saw someone unholstering his weapon as a result of me accidently bumping into him.

 

Having said that, the last statistics I saw indicated there were very, very few improper shootings by people licensed to carry, but there were many, many instances where the person licensed to carry may have saved his or her life or the lives of others.

 

Are these not your words?

And a follow up question: do you think it appropriate to ban any activity that could be considered to be intimidating to another?

 

I may have misinterpreted your intent, as I have no voice inflection to go on, but the way it was worded, it was as if you were asking me if I felt it would be appropriate to ban any activity, as if I had said that I felt we should ban guns because they're indimidating to others. I apologize if that wasn't the intent, but that's the way I read it. I didn't feel I was leaping to a conclusion.

 

As to the legality of the guys actions, I have no idea. I still wonder why he seemed angry at me for what was an accident on both our parts. I'm also still wondering why I apologized, even though there was no ill intent on my part. I didn't assume he meant to walk into me either. And yes, I was shocked by the whole incident and his reactions, even over and above his action with the gun.

 

I don't own a gun, but not because I'm "anti-gun". I simply have no logical use for a gun. Even if one could convince me that I needed one for safety reasons, the logical part of me realizes it would spend a lot of time in my home, unloaded, and thus useless in any home invasion. If it weren't there, it would be in the bottom of my purse, unloaded, so that I didn't actually shoot myself in some way similar to the way I seem to randomly call people from my phone in my purse.

 

To go back and answer your first question in the posts we're "discussing" at this point....I'm not intimidated by a weapon, whether it be a gun, a baseball bat, a chain or a paper clip. I'm intimidated by people who have the intent to use it. If I saw a guy walking down the street with a baseball bat either lying on his shoulder or at his side, I wouldn't be intimidated. If I saw the same guy walking down the street, make eye contact with me then brandishing the bat, I'd be intimidated.

 

I don't see where anything needs to be banned. But I suppose it's OK for me to introduce some questions about what is an appropriate setting for weapons. Is walking down the street one of those? It could be. But, I would say that depends on where you're going. In my neighborhood at 6pm on a Tuesday evening with tons of people about, I think the liklihood that one will encounter the kind of situation that would require a gun for protection is statistically very low. In fact, I'm near certain of it. Granted, a few blocks north at about 4:30am COULD be an issue, but I reviewed the crime reports of the last year in my zip code, and the statistical analysis I've made shows it's more likely someone will vandalize garages in an alley, steal your car stereo or be drunk and disorderly than assaulted. Although, there were some accounts of assaults. But again, the timing was well into the wee hours.

 

Although it wasn't you that said what I'll address next, I intend this to be my last post in this thread. To the poster who felt I must think of myself in some inflated way because I would think that the bus stop guy might want to shoot me, you couldn't be more wrong. I won't go into that any further, but I will tell you...you couldn't be more wrong.

 

leatherneck, I do want to end on a positive note. Although I know you intended it in a scolding, debasing way, meant to put me in my place, I actually appreciate that you called me young lady.

Edited August 20, 200917 yr by rockmom

Are these not your words?

 

 

I may have misinterpreted your intent, as I have no voice inflection to go on, but the way it was worded, it was as if you were asking me if I felt it would be appropriate to ban any activity, as if I had said that I felt we should ban guns because they're indimidating to others. I apologize if that wasn't the intent, but that's the way I read it. I didn't feel I was leaping to a conclusion.

 

As to the legality of the guys actions, I have no idea. I still wonder why he seemed angry at me for what was an accident on both our parts. I'm also still wondering why I apologized, even though there was no ill intent on my part. I didn't assume he meant to walk into me either. And yes, I was shocked by the whole incident and his reactions, even over and above his action with the gun.

 

I don't own a gun, but not because I'm "anti-gun". I simply have no logical use for a gun. Even if one could convince me that I needed one for safety reasons, the logical part of me realizes it would spend a lot of time either in my home, unloaded, and thus useless in any home invasion. If it weren't there, it would be in the bottom of my purse, unloaded, so that I didn't actually shoot myself in someway similar to the way I seem to randomly call people from my phone in my purse.

 

To go back and answer your first question in the posts we're "discussing" at this point....I'm not intimidated by a weapon, whether it be a gun, a baseball bat, a chain or a paper clip. I'm intimidated by people who have the intent to use it. If I saw a guy walking down the street with a baseball bat either lying on his shoulder or at his side, I wouldn't be intimidated. If I saw the same guy walking down the street, make eye contact with me then brandishingthe bat, I'd be intimidated.

 

I don't see where anything needs to be banned. But I suppose it's OK for me to introduce some questions about what is an appropriate setting for weapons. Is walking down the street one of those? It could be. But, I would say that depends on where you're going. In my neighborhood at 6pm on a Tuesday evening with tons of people about, I think the liklihood that one will encounter the kind of situation that would require a gun for protection is statistically very low. In fact, I'm near certain of it. Granted, a few blocks north at about 4:30am COULD be an issue, but I reviewed the crime reports of the last year in my zip code, and the statistical analysis I've made shows it's more likely someone will vandalize garages in an alley, steal your car stereo or be drunk and disorderly than assaulted. Although, there were some accounts of assaults. But again, the timing was well into the wee hours.

 

Although it wasn't you that said what I'll address next, I intend this to be my last post in this thread. To the poster who felt I must think of my self in some inflated way because I would think that the bus stop guy might want to shoot me, you couldn't be more wrong. I won't go into that any further, but I will tell you...you couldn't be more wrong.

 

leatherneck, I do want to end on a positive note. Although I know you intended it in a scolding, debasing way, meant to put me in my place, I actually appreciate that you called me young lady.

 

You did totally assume the wrong intent of my post that you quoted. Apology accepted. Let's move on.

 

 

But before we do () there you go again with another dip in the "Assumption Abyss". I did not intend the phrase "young lady" in any such way. I've met you and you are indeed a young lady. Furthermore, if you could walk through my law office, you'd learn that I regularly refer to every female in the firm as young lady. I consider it being polite. They appreciate it.

 

Now let's move on.

What if RM had brandished a gun simultaneously? If simply walking into RM made him feel threatened enough to reach for his gun, what would he have done if RM had reached for one, too?

 

BTW...I do support the 2nd amendment. I also support the 1st amendment. However, just because I CAN say something doesn't mean that I SHOULD. Likewise, just because I CAN bring a gun into a situation doesn't mean that I SHOULD.

What if RM had brandished a gun simultaneously? If simply walking into RM made him feel threatened enough to reach for his gun, what would he have done if RM had reached for one, too?

 

BTW...I do support the 2nd amendment. I also support the 1st amendment. However, just because I CAN say something doesn't mean that I SHOULD. Likewise, just because I CAN bring a gun into a situation doesn't mean that I SHOULD.

 

I believe the situation in question needs many more details for me to comment on. I agree with your general points wholeheartedly though.:thumb:

Forgive me for saying this as I mean no offense, but you're a smarter guy than that. That can get you killed.

 

So are you insinuating that if he went to pull his weapon, Habib doesn't have the right to defend himself and fight back? And if Habib does defend himself thinking that this guy is about to shoot him, the person with the firearm has the right to shoot Habib? I'm no expert on the law, but I don't think you are allowed to shoot someone who attacks you with their fists...

Guys, I have to agree with rockmom, in her bus bumping situation.

 

1. The guy should have never shown that he had a weapon, much less gesture as if to pull it, I don't care what his motivations were. By law, you're not supposed to use a weapon unless your life is in imminent danger. Bumping someone getting onto or off of a bus is definitely no indication of that.

 

2. You are never to brandish a weapon, either. By starting to pull it, that's what he did and that is against the law in most states.

 

The guy obviously had no training in the proper way to handle guns. That made him dangerous, as far as I'm concerned. RM, I would have been scared, too.

 

:thumb::thumb::thumb:

See, now you're acting as if he drew his weapon and pointed it now. All the guy did was grab his gun for a second not knowing what was going on, not even all the way mind you. So by that, he's giving gun owners a bad name as well as himself?

Yes, he definitely gives gun owners a bad name by not using a handgun properly. IF you don't think that is an inappropriate way to handle a weapon then I NEVER want to be around you handling a gun. And I may live in Rockmom Town now; but I come from a place where everyone owns a gun with no issues. I could type a lot more on this but swamp sums up the dangers and improper use pretty good right here:

 

Guys, I have to agree with rockmom, in her bus bumping situation.

 

1. The guy should have never shown that he had a weapon, much less gesture as if to pull it, I don't care what his motivations were. By law, you're not supposed to use a weapon unless your life is in imminent danger. Bumping someone getting onto or off of a bus is definitely no indication of that.

 

2. You are never to brandish a weapon, either. By starting to pull it, that's what he did and that is against the law in most states.

 

The guy obviously had no training in the proper way to handle guns. That made him dangerous, as far as I'm concerned. RM, I would have been scared, too.

Guys, I have to agree with rockmom, in her bus bumping situation.

 

1. The guy should have never shown that he had a weapon, much less gesture as if to pull it, I don't care what his motivations were. By law, you're not supposed to use a weapon unless your life is in imminent danger. Bumping someone getting onto or off of a bus is definitely no indication of that.

 

2. You are never to brandish a weapon, either. By starting to pull it, that's what he did and that is against the law in most states.

 

The guy obviously had no training in the proper way to handle guns. That made him dangerous, as far as I'm concerned. RM, I would have been scared, too.

Again, too many assumptions about the guy has been made.

 

1. How "minor" of a "bump" was it? Could RM actually taken him by surprise than she actually thought?

 

2. Could RM's account be a little skewed? No, RM, I'm not calling you a liar. Is it possible that he didn't actually pull the gun half way, in the excitement she perceived it to be?

 

3. Has the guy been a victim before of a mugging or similar? From his perception, is it possible that going by something recently and being taken by surprise in this situation he, for a split second, felt his life could have been threatened?

 

We all have to remember there are always two accounts to EVERY story, two separate perceptions and two different sides. That's all I'm really saying here.

Yes, he definitely gives gun owners a bad name by not using a handgun properly. IF you don't think that is an inappropriate way to handle a weapon then I NEVER want to be around you handling a gun. And I may live in Rockmom Town now; but I come from a place where everyone owns a gun with no issues. I could type a lot more on this but swamp sums up the dangers and improper use pretty good right here:

Oh no. Now what will I do...

So are you insinuating that if he went to pull his weapon, Habib doesn't have the right to defend himself and fight back? And if Habib does defend himself thinking that this guy is about to shoot him, the person with the firearm has the right to shoot Habib? I'm no expert on the law, but I don't think you are allowed to shoot someone who attacks you with their fists...

No, I'm saying that that's the quickest way to get killed. Fists vs gun - gun wins. That's pretty much a no brainier.

Again, too many assumptions about the guy has been made.

 

1. How "minor" of a "bump" was it? Could RM actually taken him by surprise than she actually thought?

 

2. Could RM's account be a little skewed? No, RM, I'm not calling you a liar. Is it possible that he didn't actually pull the gun half way, in the excitement she perceived it to be?

 

3. Has the guy been a victim before of a mugging or similar? From his perception, is it possible that going by something recently and being taken by surprise in this situation he, for a split second, felt his life could have been threatened?

 

We all have to remember there are always two accounts to EVERY story, two separate perceptions and two different sides. That's all I'm really saying here.

 

I would expect nothing less from you than you assuming that I must be skewing the story and that you feel he must be the rational one.

 

I guess the fact that I was surprised means I must have exaggerated what I saw, while if he were surprised, he's perfectly justified in overreacting.

 

As I read what swamprat wrote, even if he'd only pulled the gun a quarter the way out, it still isn't kosher.

 

BTW, I'm not mistaken. You see, although I was surprised, I wasn't scared until I saw what was happening. I don't tend to be a "scared" person. I was definitely intimidated, I definitely felt threatened. I didn't panic, and I didn't run screaming from him. I took the time to apologize, and ask if he was OK. He had no words of apology or concern, only a glaring stare at me. Now, frankly, I don't expect that someone apologize for an accident, but it's not the first time I've bumped into someone. I'm trying to remember an instance where there wasn't at least SOME sort of verbal response. It's just a courteous reacation.

 

If I were going to exaggerate, I would have said the guy pointed the gun at me. I've made it clear that he didn't. But you see, it's not the gun that intimidates me, it's the fact that this guy's first instinct was to use the gun. I guess what some find laudable, others find worrisome.

Out of curiosity, how many here have actually had a gun pulled on them? I have, by a big weenie of a co-worker late at night in the office.

Good grief Charlie Brown, the assumptions and insinuations in this thread are maddening! Can't we all just get along?

Good grief Charlie Brown, the assumptions and insinuations in this thread are maddening! Can't we all just get along?

 

 

I should have stuck to my guns and left my last post to leatherneck as my last. I'm really going to do it this time. I promise.

 

I didn't mean to detract from your thread. My apolgies. :thumb:

No, I'm saying that that's the quickest way to get killed. Fists vs gun - gun wins. That's pretty much a no brainier.

 

Having a gun does not give you the right to shoot anyone, even if they throw a punch at you.