"Guns Everywhere" in GA

[cory]

Like LRR, I have no problem with decent, armed, polite people.

I have always had mixed feelings about everyone carrying firearms in crowded places. There have always been people who want to commit suicide in a spectacular way. "Going Postal" is one example. "Suicide by Police" is another. Since they are planning to die anyway, the fact that other people are armed has no deterrent effect. On the other hand, armed citizens may be able to incapacitate the shooter and reduce the number of those injured.

As another example, this time everyone at a crowded sports stadium has an Uzi. One guy who has a violent temper when drunk has had too many beers and suddenly decides to start blazing away. He is likely to kill or injure a bunch of people before being incapacitated. If a number of citizens return fire, it is likely that even more spectators will be hit. The answer to the adage: "know what is behind your target before you shoot" is: "people, lots of them." If this out of control drunk grabs someone to use as a human shield and continues shooting, you will be faced with the classic dilemma of whether to shoot through the hostage to stop the carnage or not.

The angry drunk did not come to the stadium with the intent to shoot people. Nevertheless, he just happened to have access to a firearm when he lost his temper and judgement. If he did not have immediate access to a firearm, he might get into a nasty fistfight, but that is all. Chances are that he would have cooled down and regained his judgement by the time he had left the stadium, walked to his car, retrieved his firearm and walked back to the stadium.

I honestly do know whether 2A rights overrule everything else in these situations.

I consider the above cases to be very different than entering a deserted parking deck after work or walking down a city street at night.

I also believe that it is stupid to have guards who are unable to fire their weapons. Hell, my sister is a guard at a small museum and she carries a revolver.

Nincomp everything changes once someone puts a gun to your face.

These speculations are a product of people's imagination with non real world data to back them up. However, there is recent real world date to the contrary.

Look at the Colorado Movie Theater. That guy had every intention of going "Postal" and taking every one with him in his grand suicidal plot. However, as soon as someone (police officers) pointed their guns at him he surrendered and confessed to everything else he had planned.

Look at the mall shooting (Oregon I believe). The guy was shooting at anyone he get within his sights until a man pulled out his concealed weapon and got the scumbag in his sights. He never had to fire his weapon risking catching more innocent people in the crossfire. The scumbag pointed his weapon at his head and ended his life once he realized that gun was pointed at him.

Having or the real threat of having a gun pointed at your head will directly impact someones decision making. Recent history clearly demonstrates this.