imported post
Clearly I have some very very different opinions,thoughts, beliefsthan the majority of you.
Like everyone I think what happened at V-Tech was terrible.
Thatbeing said, I do not think the solution to the V-Tech'sof the world is an institution where they have the right to defend themselves.Like many of you I went away to college. School I went to was in Western PA, probably 1/10 the size ofV-Tech. The though of having armed 18-22 year olds is plain scary.
Let me ask all of you a simple question. How mature were you in college? Personally I think I was about average...which for someone in that age, someone in that environment (looking back) is pretty pathetic.
Unlike some of you I supposeI DO NOT believe a gun would make me safer - quite the contrary. Although you do not see it as often now, when I flew after Sept 11thI would seesoliders with guns as big as my leg...that never for a moment made (or makes) me feel safer!
Also, I live in Northern NJ, right across the river from Manhatten and commute tothe cityevery day for work. The way I get there is called the PATH - basically a train from NJ to NY. Every now and again you will see a ton of security around. A bombing overseas, some kind of threat, near Sept 11th, etc, etc. When those things happen you see cops withtheir full "armor" and guns everywhere. IDO NOT feel more secure by the show of force.
I know the way it works in this country. Pro-gun folks (you all for lack of a better term) consider gun-control a hot-button voting issue. I am forgun-control,howeverwhenI go to vote, there are several other issueshigher on thepriority listfor me.
Personally I think the right to own an potentially operate a firearm isnot a right, it is aPRIVLEDGE of mature adults, one that should not betaken or given lightly. Put another way...I think you should have to absolutely jump through hoops. To methe avg college student is not someone whofalls into that category.