One unfortunate aspect of the Tucson tragedy is a reawakening of the right of non-law enforcement residents of Arizona to carry concealed weapons without regard to any training, permitting, or, most importantly, the carrier’s mental health.
It is beyond question that those among us who insist upon carrying a concealed weapon are paranoid and/or suffer from delusions of grandeur. They see criminals in every checkout line, they spend inordinate amounts of time worrying about home invasions, they think every pedestrian is a car-jacker. Worse, they envision themselves as heroes, quickly gunning down a criminal who dared commit a crime within their view, acting as judge, jury and executioner. They are eager for the adoration that befalls a genuine hero. They thrive on the possibility of this attention.
Unfortunately, 99.9 percent of them are just sick individuals whom we can only hope never decide to pull out their weapons and start blasting away.
Edward F. Murphy, MESA
Dale Whiting posted at 11:19 am on Fri, Jan 21, 2011.
Ed,
Your use of the word "reawaking' implies a prior "awakening." Do you have any evidence that we Arizonans were ever awake?
And having several friends who do shoot competitively and have from time to time carried concealed weapons, one having had his own close call with a threat to his life, I stop just short of calling my 2nd amendment nut friends "paranoid and/or suffer(ing) from delusions of grandeur."
And I would not place the level of those who are "paranoid and/or [do] suffer from delusions of grandeur" quite so high. Maybe 15%, as measured from the comments on this cite. Those who suffer the most are likely to be the most vocal.
But otherwise, points well taken.
LinMesa posted at 2:22 pm on Fri, Jan 21, 2011.
Well said, Mr. Murphy. It is so infrequently that we get to read an actual common sense comment.
Leon Ceniceros posted at 3:13 pm on Fri, Jan 21, 2011.
The same arguement can be made for "road rage". Do we give mental health examinations for driver's licenses? How about "driving while intoxicated"? Do we restrict liquor sales at bars and restaurants to "1 drink per person" the legal limit?. We now have the problem with people driving and dialing their cell phones and texting and the accidents, some deadly, that they cause is this reason to restrict their sale? Do we restrict the sale of every single common household item that can be used in making a bomb? Do we stop the sale of agricultural fertilizers that can be used to make a bomb like the one used in Oklahoma City? Look at the horrific shootings at Ft. Hood by an Army "psychiatrist.....a psychiatrist."...do we restrict our Military from access to weapons?. Do we give mental health tests to people who want to fly a plane?
Finally, do we want a free and open society with all the possible ramifications both good and bad that it entails...or do we want a closed, restrictive society? Every single life situation has possible downsides....no one is ever 100% safe anywhere in our World. Even one single word..a "SHOUT" in the wrong situation or place could cause panic and death. Do we stop people from talking? If a horrific situation such as what happened in Tucson was going on every day, all across America...then that would support the argument...but it doesn't happen every day or everywhere. Life is not "perfect"...Life is just Life.
Freethinker posted at 3:19 pm on Fri, Jan 21, 2011.
And how exactly do we determine this obsure "mental health"?
If two Congressmen got into a heated debated and both threatened to draw guns and shoot one another, would you declare either of them mentally unstable?
If so, you've just called the Founding Fathers mentally unhinged, as well as every sitting member of Congress for the first century of this country.
In case you didn't know, gun duels, even amongst heads of state, were LEGAL in this country.
So I guess the entire country needs a mental health evaluation!
Freethinker posted at 3:25 pm on Fri, Jan 21, 2011.
Edward F. Murphy wrote:
"It is beyond question that those among us who insist upon carrying a concealed weapon are paranoid and/or suffer from delusions of grandeur."
Wow, another ignorant bigot. I bet Mr. Murphy is a Christian, too.
My younger sister carried a concealed weapon for 4 years during her time at ASU. On one occasion carrying saved her from being robbed and rape, and on another occasion she was able to save another female student who was being attacked in her car in the parking lot.
Murphy also wrote:
"They thrive on the possibility of this attention."
What an ignorant, dishonest thing to say. Most hope they never, EVER have to use their weapon. I know I do.
And speaking of "paranoid and/or suffer from delusions of grandeur" - do you believe in a cosmic sky-father who created everything and watches us all the time?
Because THAT is the classic definition of paranoid and delusional.
Slabside posted at 4:23 pm on Sat, Jan 22, 2011.
If I've ever read post from a paranoid idiot it's this one. Mr. Murphy, please seek professional help.
k33j88 posted at 6:19 am on Sun, Jan 23, 2011.
Dr. Michael Savage wrote a book titled: Liberalism is a mental disorder. Do you Mr. Murphy fit the profile?
EmperorSmith posted at 12:02 pm on Sun, Jan 23, 2011.
Mister Murphy should of said it is his opinion. instead he put it forward like some false statement of fact.
EmperorSmith posted at 3:49 pm on Sun, Jan 23, 2011.
on carrying, I do not believe in brandishing, you pull the gun you fire it. Sort it out later.
Slabside posted at 1:55 am on Mon, Jan 24, 2011.
I agree Emp. Better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
Poorman posted at 4:07 pm on Mon, Jan 24, 2011.
Poster Slabside is on the money that Murphy should get some help,however he sshould have included poster Whiting also. On the otherhand maybe not,they might be beyond help at this point.