One major problem with guns is that they allow for very fast, very easy, potentially lethal escalation of a situation.
We see this all the time — the domestic dispute that gets out of hand, the suicidal impulse that has an effective solution in reach, the cop who feels endangered, all those kinds of scenarios. Having a handgun makes it so easy to turn to it when the adrenaline kicks in or something else happens to impair judgment.
Like, for example, when you’re in a crazy tug-of-war over a school notebook when shopping for supplies for the young-uns.
In this case, the gun wasn’t fired, but that the gun was even pulled (by a woman with a concealed weapons permit) shows the danger.
I don’t have an easy answer here. Just the observation that while easy access to lethal firepower means you can potentially protect yourself in case of imminent danger, a lot depends on having solid judgment about what constitutes danger and what’s an appropriate response. With great power comes great responsibility, as the man said. And because humans sometimes act stoooopid (as demonstrated by getting into a tussle over a freaking school notebook), the consequences of such power when misapplied can so easily become tragic.
Woman pulls gun in fight over school supplies
A woman pulled out a gun during a fight over a notebook at a Walmart in Novi, Mich. on Aug. 28.
I've always thought Black Friday shopping in the US to be a murderous experience. I didn't realize there's a high risk that it can literally be one!
Tragically what is happening is … remember the science project from elementary school, mixing vinegar with baking soda … this is what happens when the compromise of character take's effect. Personality is the strongest exhibition of the character of our society, saying that what we are witnessing from Vegas to Walmart … at the core of the character our society is there really any difference. As much as it's been spoke of his wealth and intellect to here the discount line for a note pad
I'd like to know why the notebook was worth a fight. And what happened next. Internet journalism isn't fake news, it's one-sixteenth-baked news.
I find myself wondering ever more often about all the unanswered questions left behind by these efforts.
On your commentary: I can think of plenty of occasions where fear or anger (particularly from being disrespected) have prompted me to draw my pistol from my shoulder holster and jam it into someone's face. As I have never owned either of those items, I haven't. Over the years, unrestrained, I might have blown off ten heads at least.
+Travis Bird Yeah, the video is short on details, but illustrates the key one: in no universe that I care to live in is a school notebook worth a physical tussle, let alone pulling a gun.
The attached Slate story has more details, and looking at other TV news and newspaper sites, that's about the extent of the news. It's unclear if the prosector's office chose to file charges or not. No journalistic follow-up that I was able to see.
But, again, even with "hair-pulling" and the like at stake, the idea of pulling out a gun to break up a struggle over a school notebook — with bystanders (including children) all around — is lunacy, and demonstrates the point that easy access to lethal force can lead to tragedy (potential, not actual, in this case).
http://www.slate.com/blogs/the_slatest/2017/09/02/woman_pulls_out_gun_in_michigan_walmart_during_back_to_school_fight_over.html
+su ann lim I practice No Buy Friday on that day.
+Dave Hill Thanks, Dave. The video on the link shows that the gunslinger carried off the contentious stationery and purchased it.
+Travis Bird Yup.
I guess that Michigan has some very lax concealed carry laws based on that video.
Also, Wall-mart.
Much depends on what follow up action happens. The gun license issued to such a person should be revoked and she should be behind bars for escalating the situation like this.