Used to be a member of the NRA, olddude. And it would be easy enough for me to look up the CURRENT gun laws in various states. I AM internet literate. I've engaged in this argument--from both sides--so many times it bores me to tears.

And you ARE getting a bit abusive here.

One of my aunts was married to a policeman who insisted that when he was working (night shift), she keep a gun in the drawer of the bedside table.

One night he got off early. She heard someone enter the house quietly, tip-toe up the stairs, and come into the bedroom. She sat there on the bed holding the gun with a two-hand hold as he had taught her. Had it not been for a street light glinting on the buttons of his uniform, she would have blown him away.

I can cite a number of REAL incidents, but I fully realize the futility of it.

There is this:   You don't have to use deadly force to stop someone else from using deadly force. All you need to do is STOP them before they can do so. A Taser or a can of Mace can do that quite effectively. A swift kick in the family jewels is also quite effective. It doesn't take much imagination to work out a whole variety of options.

But as I say, I fully realize the futility of what I'm saying.

Don Firth