I think kat brings up an interesting thought. In many parts of this country, (and I would imagine in others as well,) people who are raised with guns are, for the most part, taught or absorb a real sense of the lethal capablility of them. They also develop a respect for such issues of safety as a matter of course. This is not to say that such learning does not exist elsewhere, but I believe it is not so general in its application.

Kids in West Virginia (where, I am told, there are more guns per capita than anywhere else in the U.S.) grow up in homes where guns are omnipresent. Most absorb the knowledge I have mentioned. Another thing they soon get to know is that there are some things you just don't do because they know that finding themselves on the business end of a gun is a real possibility.

"'Scuse me while I go get my gun" is probably a rather commonly spoken phrase in such areas. And they sell almost as many bullets as they do cigarettes.

As for me, I tend to avoid confrontations in a land where "He took a notion" is a viable defense in a court of law ;-)

On the other hand, it should be noted that West Virginia has one of the nation's lowest interpersonal crime rates. I am thinking there is some kind of correlation here.

Personally, I believe in and support the total elimination of handguns and will not argue the point with anyone. But I feel equally as strongly that non-automatic rifles have a place in our world among those who can act responsibly. For my money, all the rest of the firearms should be available only to the armed forces (and I am not really all that sure about that!).

We could save a whole lot of grief here if we would all just go back to bows and arrows.