Brgds,
Jim

Thanks for covering this issue, and offering your perspective.

I’d like to comment on the way you contextualized this piece … that is, the debate regarding whether the right to carry arms trumps another’s right to feel safe.

At first glance, the answer is unequivocally “yes.” That is because the right to arms is specifically enumerated within the bill of rights, while the right to “feel safe” is not. But at second glance, this is simply a disingenuous framing of a debate that does not exist. There is no constitutional right to feel safe. Why not? First, it’s not fundamental, and second, it would be impossible to enforce against infringement.

Whether people are comfortable around guns is a very interesting a relevant social discussion. But this is not a question of two rights pitted against one another. As much as we all want to feel safe, it’s simply a frame of mind. The right you have is to think what you wish, and feel what you wish … but that compels no one, or the government, to ensure what you think or what you wish becomes reality for everyone.

Guns in the hands of lawful carry permit holders do more to defuse dangerous situations than cause problems.
For example, when my sister lived in Tennessee she advocated gun control, and she stated that she supported a total ban on handguns. When she moved to Atlanta with its high rate of violent crime her views changed, and she got her firearms carry permit, took up shooting as a sport, and became an excellent marksman. In two separate incidents attackers tried to force their way into her car while she was stopped at a traffic lights, and both times, she brandished her Glock and both times the attackers to fled.

“…and that most guns cause far more grief than good; and I wish they would all go away.”

Studies have found that citizens use firearms for self-defense between 150,000 and 3,052,717 times a year. The lowest estimate comes to about 410 times a day, and the highest estimate is 8,363 times a day. Of course, firearms are used thousands of times a day for other lawful purposes like recreation shooting, sports and competition shooting, hunting and collecting.
http://www.saf.org/LawReviews/KleckAndGertz1.htm
Ms. Johns, if you had your way and all firearms went away, at least for law abiding citizens, than the 150,000 to 3,052,717 survivors of crimes would be victims.
Moreover, in the year 1900, years before a single so called “Commonsense gun control” law was enacted the U.S. murder rate was 1.2 per 100.000. Today after all those gun control laws were put on the books the murder rate is 5.4 per 100,000. Obviously, they were doing some things right in 1900, and gun control was not one of them.

“I’ll still take my chances with what I know about being cautious, aware, informed (about things like posture and eye contact etc) for self-protection, and believe I’m a lot safer (and less likely to kill or maim someone who didn’t deserve it) armed with those than with a gun.”

Being armed does not preclude you from being cautious, aware, informed (about things like posture and eye contact etc) for self-protection or even using a non-lethal weapon if attacked, but so many times non of those precautions fail. As with my sister, the vast majority of cases where firearms are used for self-defense the gun is never fired, and criminal is either captured or flees. Firearms are like fire extinguishers and first aid kits. It is much better to have it and not need it than it is to need it and not have it.

I carry a gun legally everyday. No one knows I have it, I have never hurt a sole with it, nor do I intend or want to. I am well trained, and I take the responsibility with the seriousness it deserves.

BTW, Glocks do not use clips, they use magazines.
A clip is what is used to put on the “Ban Guns” name tag.
I find it interesting, people always wish someone has a gun when they are in danger.

When seconds count, the police are just minutes away. And remember, they have no legal obligation to protect you.