My take on it was " Since he was going to a place other than his home territory and pulling for the unpopular team he would be exposing himself to greater risk than if he was at home pulling for the popular team". Sometimes one has to gauge the situation and in that case the risk increases as many drunken game goers have attacked and killed people in the past after losing or even after not losing a game. I think he was attempting to mitigate the increased risk by carrying some protection. My shooting incident was after a sporting event in which several of the rowdy fans thought they might have a go at me after the game. To answer your question " I have NO reservations about taking a life when my life is in danger". If you put yourself in front of a bull your gonna get the horns every time.

Lets evolve a bit more and try to avoid these drunk folks instead of challenging them like some gradeschool playground altercation. Of the 40-60K+ fans at the game most are there to enjoy the game and not kill the opponent's fans. If you happen to locate and inflame the 10-20 there with more serious intentions then you need to take a long look into what you're doing wrong. Not many stadiums (or parking lots) are more dangerous than the Coliseum or the Orange bowl. Sure I saw some fights but never a gun and 99% of the time both parties were to blame.

You guys should really go to a soccer match in England if you want to see some sports violence.

Randy, dmoolnar, you completely missed the point.

1) I would never shoot someone just because I was wearing a jersey

2) I would never wear a Jeter jersey, because I am a lifelong Red Sox fan

3) It was a joke

Awww Its ok half of being a gun lover is arguing with non gun lovers.

:)

Jared and David,

I turned down three jobs last year after being laid off and out of work because of the socialist republic of California and their gun restrictions. I would not venture into many parts of LA without one and the "sky is not falling" with me as well.

I have been to LA, and very recently and would have felt a lot better having some protection with me. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and you guys feel that the cops will protect you and your family. I am positive that I can take care of myself and my family UNTIL the cops arrive in a better and safer fashion being armed as opposed to being unarmed and at the mercy of a criminal. I would rather be judged by 12 of my peers than carried by 6 of my friends.

As for the comment on common sense, it was really not needed. Nothing personal but respect my right to do and think as I please and I will do the same for you. Saying that a person lacks common sense because they carry a weapon is not needed. If this is true, then all the ladies in the world who carry mace or another protective spray in their purse all lack common sense as well because they carry a weapon to protect themselves on a daily basis.

Joe

My personal opionion is that that anyone that needs a gun to feel safe is a pretty weak individual. My mind is the only weapon i need.

I am not addressing this to any person specifically. I am voicing my opinion.

Jared,

That is a pretty wide brush you are using when discussing human strengths. Next time someone walks into your area with a shotgun or semi-auto pistol and starts threatening people, hope your will and mind are very creative.

Luby's resturant in Texas a few years back saw 23 innocent people killed in cold blood by a criminal with a gun. I assume that everyone of them were a "weak individual" as well? This was the start of the "carry laws" in our country and crime has gone down since.

Joe

Joe,

Having seen the police shoot and kill an armed suspect fleeing a bank robbery in my own backyard as a teenager, I am quite aware of what damage guns do.

Nevertheless, I stand by my statement.

MY mind is the only weapon I need to protect myself. If you choose to carry a firearm, that is your choice.

As much as I would like to have another Porsche fanatic living among us I'm glad you turned down the jobs. We have enough people migrating to California each year and I would prefer that the ones that do to leave their guns behind.

Like Jared I have ventured into most parts of LA unarmed with no drama or surprises. In high school I (Santa Barbara white kid) used to deliver machine parts for plating to some less desirable areas with the same result. Your "fear" of LA is mostly self inflicted and probably media hype induced. Sure if you're looking for trouble it can definitely be found in LA, or Santa Barbara, or Eden if you look hard enough.

Being able to do and speak as you please is great and all, but there is a time and place for everthing. Common sense helps us make this distinction.

First you must learn to use this (pointing to your head) before you learn to use that (pointing to your gun). - shameless Braveheart movie snip.

Part of living in Los Angeles is knowing how to carry yourself.

If you wander into a bad area and do not know how to conduct yourself, the locals will smell your fear and act accordingly.

If you wander into one of these areas with a gun, and the mentailty that you will defend yourself with lethal force... You are a dead man. plain and simple.

If you respect your surroundings and yourself, you will be fine. It is when people cop attitudes that bullets start flying.

Hell Joe, you're a pilot (drool, drool) so you've heard all the statistics about air travel. Nothing's more terrifying in my mind than going down in a commerciall airliner yet I will step on one again this Friday to fly home from DC. Now you're bringing up acts of mass murder which have a probability statistic of what - the lottery? Lets try and live in the real world or do you eat your burger with one hand on the trigger?

Agree with the statement about your feelings about yourself, however its not correct to say that someone is weak because they choose to be able to defend themselves and their family by using a weapon. A persons mind is a weapon and just as deadly as a gun at times.

You personally may not feel that you need a gun to handle any situation, while others may have been in situations where they do feel the need to be able to defend themselves and feel that having one in hand gives them an edge.

I want to be able to say to the guy with a gun pointed in my direction that this is a "lose lose situation" and its best that you find someone else to bother than raise my hands and get shot whilst giving over anything in my possession or worse.

Joe

Sounds like you all live in a zoo. Is LA really that bad? yikes! Ill keep the South.

Joe,

Have you ever had a gun pointed in your face? I have.

If it wasnt guns it would be swords and if not swords then clubs. Personally Id rather be shot.

Of course not Randy. Oops I mean, Yes, yes it is very bad here Randy. Stay where you are for gods sake :)

Randy,

soon we will be forking and spooning each other as well

Haha, how about that club with the big spikes on it. :eek: