Bill, your post just above pretty much describes the situation with my friend, the one who almost shot another good friend and shortly thereafter, got himself arrested when "helpfully" interfered with police trying to make an arrest.

He gave me some very good instruction and training in target shooting, and then went on to instruct me in combat shooting. I have a couple of guns. One primarily for target shooting: a tournament grade .22 cal., big, looks like it should shoot laser beams. Purely for sport. And another one, a Walther PPK .380 cal. Looks like the one James Bond carries. Apart from popping away at empty soda pop cans, the only thing it's good for is carrying concealed and shooting people.

After I decided that my handgun instructor was too damned dangerous to be around, my firearms are locked in a drawer. With the small supply of ammo (a box of 50 rounds for each of them) locked in another drawer in a separate room.

My wife and I live in a secured apartment building, and there are friendly people all around. I do not feel that I need a gun for personal safety.

Of course there is always the possibility that I could encounter someone like James Holmes somewhere. But I think it's more likely that I could be seriously injured by some kid with his pants at half-mast going to beat hell down the sidewalk on a skateboard!

Don Firth

P. S. There was a bizarre incident a few weeks ago. Some witless wonder came walking up the street near where we live shooting a .38 cal. revolver at trees and into grassy embankments. Neighbors heard the shoots and called the police. They picked the guy up a block or two away.

He said he was just testing the gun to see if it worked all right. I didn't hear the outcome of the story, but I do know that there are some very severe penalties for discharging a firearm within the city limits. He's in very deep do-do!