I'm not sure what conversation we're having, but it doesn't seem to be this one.
lain:
An active police presence, coupled with genuine neighborhood awareness will have an appreciable impact on preventing crime. To say they're NEVER there when you need them most is missing the point.
My singular point was the Colorado shooting isn't the poster child of "an armed citizenry could have prevented or limited this damage" address. If anything it's more likely to have resulted in an increase in carnage, given the particulars.
I'm not arguing against guns. I'm a Southerner who has any number of them. And I was reared in the traditions that make them a benefit to my household. Guns absent respect and the training to make their responsible use possible are a human tragedy waiting to happen. If we make people take boating safety courses and pass driver tests then the possession of a lethal instrument should come with similar restrictions. Mandate that and I'm fine with carrying in public.