Well-
1) 1/2 drunk at a party in my youth, by a couple of pissed off kids with stolen pieces, shooting at things in the house. Stolen guns, not supposed to have them to begin with.
2) I spent a short amount of time shacking up in a duplex on Rainier Ave ( a slum area, don't ask why) next to section 8 housing, new years eve, years ago. A*hole immigriant in the next building with a 22 LR steps out and starts shooting at our bottles around us. Problem was, bottle was about 2 feet right where I was sitting. We were noisy. Wasn't supposed to have them again.
I have 2 friends who have been executed in robberies, (2 guys, adults) who may have had a fighting chance had they been armed.
Have another friend killed in a car jacking just after Christmas, 92. They wanted his wheels, and he didn't have a gun.
A zillion stories of relatives involved in disputes in parent's native country where a firearm could've saved your ass. Or did.
I know someone will retort "well if they banned them...."
All I can say is, --too late. Pandora's box has been opened. They're everywhere. Legislation alone will not remove them from our posession. And if they attempt to succeed, the powers that want to see this country fail will smuggle them in.
If you honestly feel you're safe, well good for you. If you passed me on the street, you wouldn't know that I was carrying. I'm responsible, I pay my taxes, and I don't look for trouble. YOU WOULD NEVER KNOW I CARRIED. But, like in the case of my friend Ty, what happens if trouble finds me? Can I reasonably expect my tax dollars (paying a cop) to protect me? It's my ass out there, and the only person who loses is me, so why shouln't I protect it? It's ignorant to think the government is obligated to protect you, even more ignorant to count on human morality for your welfare.
DISCLAIMER: I don't necessiarly agree with this author's end conclustion, but, it's an interesting slant -
http://www.jpfo.org/Survive.htm
rjp
(who has been trained for years on how to handle a firearm)