Binghamton, New York

Another shooter on a rampage. I must wonder if lives could have been saved, were there an armed citizen in the group of hostages. That also makes me wonder if I were in that situation, what would I do? Of course, not being there I will never know what I would have done or would do if confronted by such a situation.

Wait. Are people in that state allowed to carry weapons? I am hearing mixed counts on the dead. Oh, how I wish my bitter half would not turn the news on in the morning!!

zadaconnaway wrote:

if I were in that situation, what would I do?

Bend over and kis...actually, Zada I should not joke. It is such a horrible thing to think about, and I suspect there will be no easy answers. Seems that there is much being said about the recession, unemployment and financial stressors that people are reacting too.

In my case, I would wish I had a gun, not that that actually solves anything really. A story here about a woman being evicted from her apartment in an assisted living complex, who pulled a gun and shot the manager. I used to be manager of health and safety for the organization that owns the building. http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20090401/BC_shooting_090401/20090401/

Wouldn't it be nice - honesly - if we could all play nicely in the sandbox. Maybe I'll just go and play my ukulele

That is a sad tale, Pam.

Yes, it would be nice, but that would only happen in a perfect world. In that perfect world, there would be no tire irons, no guns, no knives and no bricks. We would also have no hands to strangle each other. I realize that even a 'rattail' comb' can be used as a weapon.

We are doomed to wipe each other out in one fashion or another. I am just grateful that it is still legal to 'pack heat' in this country. At least for now.

Whatever would we do without guns?

We'd kill each other with knives, hatchets, machetes and many other weapons, including our bare hands!

Zada, having been in too many firefights and too many confrontations for my liking I can assure you that unless your gun was out and aimed at the Binghampton shooter you would stand no chance. On top of having the drop on you, he was wearing a bulletproof vest. Even if you managed to get off a shot under stressful conditions, could you be certain of hitting him in the head? It isn't as easy as it sounds.

If someone has a gun in hand but it's pointed in the air or at the ground, you might stand a chance, although it would be a slim one unless the other party failed to see you move. There is an old infantry maxim: "He who shoots first lives longest." The person who shoots first is the one whose gun is aimed at you when yours is not aimed at him. Along with that, people who have never been in a firefight may fail to realize how stressful it can be even to those accustomed to it. For someone who isn't, well . . .

If the assailant sees you have a gun, you're the first one he will shoot. Carrying a gun doesn't make you more safe, but more vulnerable. If you carry a gun, the purpose should be to use it first, as Dick said. Otherwise.....

For myself, I think I would be found cowering in the ladies room, behind a porcelain stool!! (or maybe in it!)

Seriously though, if one were hidden and bided their time, they might be able to stop it. The person has only one set of eyes and depending on how big the room or rooms were...