sharibartling wrote:
This is a great subject. I think having a survival mentality at all times is #1. I can't expect my husband or the police to be with me everywhere all of the time. I took the NRA training for a cc license, joined a 6 week citizens academy through Larimer Country Sheriff's (Colorado) office that was very powerful and informative. I carry a gun but have respect for what it can do, you can't "unpull" the trigger. But always be aware of your surroundings, rely on your gut feelings,if it doesn't feel right, move.
Excellent advice and contrary to popular belief by the non-gun owners, most people that carry do know how to, and will avoid, a situation where they MAY need to use their weapon.
Times have changed so much. When I grew up the Police sponsored gun training classes to elementary school children. We learned gun safety and also how to shoot a .22 rifle. There were no gun accidents involving guns in the area where I grew up because kids were taught to respect guns as deadly weapons, and not toys. We all had BB guns and cap pistols and knew the difference, because the POLICE educated us. We learned as children to settle disputes in other ways, rather than with a firearm.
Today parents do not teach their children and those same parents have pressured the police against teaching anything about firearms. As far as most parents are concerned, guns are evil so when their precious child comes across one, which they will, it is inevitable that bad things will happen. Telling your child that something is evil is just encouraging them to find out for themselves. Educating them is your job and if more parents did that, most other people would not feel that they must protect themselves and their own loved ones.
