I became an NRA member and donated an additional amount of money soon after the Parkland shooting because the media frenzy surrounding the event. Although it is very unlikely for me to ever own a gun, I want there to be a legal placeholder for me should I ever feel one is truly needed. When I was ten years old and living in New York City with my mom, she said she was attacked by knifepoint. She said she disarmed the attacker and stabbed him. This is plausable because she was very much a tomboy growing up, physically strong, and just did not take spit from anyone. She is one of my most admired Leftists. As I mentioned before, she was involved in the creation of the movie series Our Vanishing Wilderness and it was shown on PBS and to Congress. We immediately moved from New York to a cheap (and rough) neighborhood in Oakland, California. While in Oakland, I noticed a gun sitting in her purse. When I asked her about it, she said it was for protection. She was a heavy drinker and I was not comfortable with her having it. No incident ever arose with the gun, thank god. After a traumatic event, people often feel powerless, not in control of their lives. In my mom’s case, as a single parent, the gun appeared to give her some peace of mind. I support the right to bear arms as a fundamental freedom in a sometimes dangerous world.
Civilian training is very basic, unfortunately. Hell, to get a concealed carry permit, half the time all you need to do is fire one bullet from a gun the instructor has loaded at a target he points you to. It's stupid. Many people who own firearms buy them and forget about them. They think they can just pick them up one day and go into action without training and it'll be effective. This is total bunk. Owning a firearm is a commitment to regular training, regular use and regular cleaning (to maintain the weapon). It's not about being cool or some dumbass thing like that. I train, several times a month, with ex soliders who have particular skillsets in different types of armed combat. There is an open range where we're all members, and we can get the range marshal to allow us to set up all sorts of scenarios that allow for different practice sessions - CQB, long range (500 yd +) firing, etc. and we all use our own weapons most of the time. Afterwards, we spend quite a bit of time cleaning and then storing our firearms. Incidentally, no one talks about over throwing the government, or wishing they could shoot a criminal or other asshole commentary some morons on this board believe. My wife wanted to get a gun, so I nodded thoughtfully and agreed to take her to the range and train her. The moment the gun got in her hand, she teared up and was afraid of it. She fired one round and was weeping. I said no way to her. Until she can show confidence and consistency in firearm use, she is a liability to everyone around her and herself. She can stick with the stun gun she carries.