Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!cca!ima!inmet!dwp From: dwp@inmet.UUCP Newsgroups: net.general Subject: Re: Orphaned Response - (nf) Message-ID: <298@inmet.UUCP> Date: Sat, 3-Sep-83 05:49:55 EDT Article-I.D.: inmet.298 Posted: Sat Sep 3 05:49:55 1983 Date-Received: Sun, 4-Sep-83 14:09:22 EDT Lines: 19 #R:hou5a:-38700:inmet:4100013:000:952 inmet!dwp Sep 2 16:39:00 1983 It's easy to say the old lady shouldn't have a gun, but it's not so easy to demonstrate an alternative that leaves her unharmed and unrobbed. In "civilized" countries, where the police don't carry guns, like Japan, old ladies don't worry about losing their money or their life to some punk every time they walk outside. I do not approve of carrying handguns, but I can understand it when I consider what she has to face. Some can afford to live and work where street crime is not a constant threat, but not everyone is so lucky. Old people in particular are up against a wall, and I can understand the fear that might make a grandmother carry a gun. Yes, she threatened the lives of others in the Port Authority when she waved a gun around there, but how many of of THEM cared enough to do anything when she was in trouble. It was a poor choice on her part to choose a gun, but the alternative is giving up without a struggle to violence.