[rcooled]

I just read thru all the posts here and would like to make a few comments. But first, let me say that I fully support our 2nd amendment right to own firearms...and yes, even body armor. I am also ex-military and have experience with a variety of weapons, including .45 caliber sidearms, M14 & M16 rifles, .30 & .50 caliber machine guns and even shoulder-fired rocket launchers.

That being said, I don't think that relaxing CCW laws and then encouraging everyone to carry a handgun is the best solution to the mass shooting problem. How much collateral damage would be inflicted if you had a dozen marginally-trained citizens drawing guns and attempting to fire upon a crazed shooter in a high target area? First off, many would attempt shots from too great a distance and the chances of killing or wounding even more innocent people would be high. Second: An effective response in a highly-charged, stressful situation like a mass shooting rampage requires specialized training for just such a scenario. How many of those who carry a weapon actually participate regularly in such training? And going to the range and burning up a few boxes of ammo once in a while doesn't count here. Not one of the mass shootings in this country has been stopped by an ordinary citizen with a gun...not even the one involving Congresswoman Giffords in the open-carry state of Arizona. I also don't think that these psychos only turn the gun on themselves when confronted with resistance. I believe this is part of their plan going in.

I completely agree that guns are not the real problem in these mass shooting incidents. Mental health, or the lack of it, is the issue here. There are just far too many crazy people running around loose in this world. Banning, or strictly limiting the ability to buy guns will not solve anything...there are way more than enough guns out there already. As mentioned before, culling the crazies out of society would be far more effective in preventing these horrible crimes. But how do you do it? The lawyers would be having a field day suing teachers, employers, ministers, relatives, acquaintances and anyone else who sought to have someone carted off to the loony bin whose sanity could somehow be proven in a court of law. Who would stick their neck out to make such an accusation if you risked losing your home, your business, or your life savings if proven wrong?

A reality check is in order for anyone thinks that citizens owning a gun, or even many guns, will prevent a military takeover of this country. Using only handguns and rifles to go up against a very large and well-organized fighting force, with all the newest and best weapons technology at it's disposal, is seriously flawed thinking.

And finally, stop thinking that if the govt. wants to prevent you from owning a gun, that a ban on owning a Porsche will be next. Let's face it, a gun's primary purpose is to kill something...people included, in the case of handguns. A car's primary purpose is something entirely different. This is an apples-to-oranges comparison and really does nothing to help the pro 2nd amendment argument.