Saltyk said:
But living like that denies your own freedom. To say that you wouldn't own a gun because it would inconvenience someone is both wrong and completely the opposite of what it means to be free. Should I not where a hat because it might obstruct someone's view? Should I not turn left because it inconveniences oncoming traffic? Maybe I shouldn't eat at a restaurant because it interferes with the cook's smoke break? I guess it would be best if I just stayed home or didn't exist.
(Yeah, there was a bit of hyperbole in those situations, but I don't see much difference in those and implying that legally carrying a gun for defensive purposes is not being considerate of others.)
Being considerate of others' feelings is a positive attribute, and I wish more people thought like that in more places (like say the internet), but when you suggest that restricting your own freedom will guarantee others you are being intellectually dishonest. If everyone does that, then no one is truly free. "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." That is a quote attributed to Benjamin Franklin. I think it is relevant both to the topic and this discussion between us.
On another note, we're talking about concealed carry, not open carry. These are completely different things. For example, a police officer would be classified as open carry. His gun is on his hip in full view of everyone. In concealed carry, the gun is hidden under clothes or in a purse, what have you. No one really knows that you have a gun on your person. How does having a gun that no one knows you have, harm them? Especially, when one purpose of having that gun would be to protect them.
Also, as an anime fan, I love Japan, but that doesn't mean I agree with all it's culture. Though I think the world would be a better place if we stopped tryiong to convince everyone to think like we do, and just let them live. To an extent. That goes for the religious followers, atheists, vegans, and anyone else who thinks they know a better way.
Completely off topic, but I would love to travel to Tokyo. And I have friends that agree.
Well, I suppose you are right on the first point. However, if a weapon is concealed, it does allow for it an unknown quantity in public. I would like to know what damage, if any, has been done by people whipping out pistols in public altercations and thereby escalating a situation to fatality. And I personally would be frightened to live in a society where random people could be packing heat, so to speak.
Already, in other nations, people can often carry knives, and there are high rates of stabbings over the stupidest things. What would have been no more than a push and shove or fist fight, can now become lethal. As soon as weapons are involved, the stakes rise in lethality significantly. A bullet wound has a high percentage to, if not kill, maim or cause permanent damage. Clearly, as I stated, other citizens can carry knives. Australia has a frighteningly high rate of carry for them. It is of course, illegal, however, pocket knives may be exempt.
And people will argue that if a person is a killer or violent enough to become that way, they will break any laws prohibiting carry. However, I would wager that the majority of deaths like that were unintentional. A heated argument turns to fatality, especially if the minds of the participants are further clouded by substances. Of course, the rising rate of bar room "glassings" is maddening. I read recently that a father glassed his own son in the face.
Anyway, I'm off topic already. I don't beleive that firearms are needed in civilian life. The instances in which one might say, "thank God I had my pistol", are fewer than the instances when just simply having these guns in anonymous circulation is a risk in itself.
As for Japan, I sure hope that you didn't misunderstand me. The nation is indeed free, and people have as much freedom as any American, or Australian or whoever. But I dare say that they use it more responsibly and when it counts. There's a time and a place for everything. I admire that greatly, because, coming from a society where I had to constantly battle others over opinion, self-expression and way of life, I now live in a culture where I won't have to do so. In my time here (nearly 8 years), I've not had a single violent altercation, no drunks picking on me, no projectiles thrown from cars, no one in my face, no death stares, no thefts from my bag, no stolen items from my table when I leave for a few minutes. I could have a few of these, if I went down to the red light district and it would have been from the imported security used down there.
The culture is largely self-regulating, based on a deep trait of public and social awareness. Of course there's crime - criminals are criminals, killers are killers and so on. What I'm saying is that there are many ways, and they all work if the society as a whole supports it. In Australia, I couldn't tell you how many times I've run into trouble with fellow citizens for no reason other than they were bored, frustrated and out to do some damage. My American friends say the same about where they once lived.
Sorry, off topic for the most part.
