"Stand Your Ground" Saved My Life

[Virgil Showlion]

It was time to act.

I'd been a victim one too many times. I was sick of it.

Bobby "Rex" Smith would never stop killing my pets, ravishing my wife, or assaulting my twin 5-year-old daughters. Three times was enough.

The first time it happened, the police arrived 28 minutes after I'd placed the initial 911 call. They were drunk. They laughed and walked away when I explained what Smith had done.

"Women need to be roughed up every once in a while," the older one told me. "Trust me."

Two months later, Smith broke into my house a second time. Against my better judgment, I called 911 again and the police responded after 45 minutes. I took them through the house, showed them the corpse of my dog beaten to death with a TV remote control, showed them my wife cowering in a pile of sheets.

"How can we be sure you didn't pay Bobby to kill your ugly dog and sleep with your wife?" One officer asked me.
"The mantle on your fireplace is six inches higher than the maximum allowed regulation height," said the other. "I'm afraid we're going to have to fine you for the violation."

When Smith returned a third time after another two months, I barricaded my family and myself in the master bedroom. I called police and begged them to show up before Smith could break through. In spite of the police showing up on time, they became preoccupied with an improperly parked car across the street. Smith eventually forced his way through the barricade and used my daughters like nunchucks to bludgeon our newest puppy to death, ravishing my wife as he did so.

Police arrived 20 minutes after he'd left. They took my statement and fined me $600.00 for the fire hazard posed by the barricade I'd constructed.

I'd had enough. I realized then that the police wouldn't help me. My wife, my daughters and I were on our own.

Fearing another 'visit' by Smith, I took drastic measures. I bought an old police cruiser and parked it in my driveway next to a rented S.W.A.T. team van. I played loud music and set up animatronic mannequins behind the curtains, just as I'd seen Macaulay Culkin do in "Home Alone". Defying police orders, I constructed a stronger, more defensible safe room hidden in the basement, where my family and I spent the nights waiting, praying, and trembling.

Smith did strike again, one month after his previous attack.

He arrived armed with a machete and enough plastic explosives to supply an arms depot. Over a period of three hours, I listened to controlled detonations tearing away at the walls of our safe room. As the last few feet of steel and mortar crumbled, I screamed at Smith, "Stay back! I have a gun! I'm armed and I will shoot you."

Smith wasn't deterred. A final blast breached the wall of the safe room and I saw him charge through the hole, his face twisted with rage and the machete held high over his head.

"I will shoot you!" I screamed.

Smith charged anyway.

Not wanting to kill him, I aimed for his left shin and fired. My bullet hit its mark. Smith fell to the ground with a cry of pain, writhed for a while, and then was still. When I went to check his pulse, I found none. The amount of blood seeping out of Smith's leg terrified me.

The events of the next few hours were a blur. I called the police and told them I'd shot a man. I performed CPR on Smith until they arrived four minutes later to arrest me. I was jailed and allowed to call an attorney. The courts charged me with the first degree murder of Bobby Smith. They accused me of luring him to my residence, trapping him, and executing him without warning or provocation. As I was escorted out of the courtroom, an angry mob demanding justice for "gentle Bobby" screamed and hissed at me.

My case was expedited to trial.

During the proceedings, as police expert witnesses lined up to testify on my "reckless and homicidal state of mind", I often glanced back at the people sitting in the gallery. One man in particular, Earnest Victor Tavish, seemed to harbour an exceptionally bitter contempt for me. The first time our eyes met, he mimed slitting his throat with his finger. A few days later, while I was passing by him, he spat and said, "I hope they lock you up in the deepest, darkest hole they can find and never let you out. I hope you choke to death on your self-defense claim. You make me sick."

But in spite of the animus surrounding me, a faint light of hope still gleamed. The judge instructed the jury that according to the state's "Stand Your Ground" laws, I could be exonerated for the crime if the jurors believed a reasonable threat of harm existed at the time I'd pulled the trigger.

Deliberations lasted for three days.

The court reconvened. My gut clenched as the jury foreman read out the verdict.

Not guilty.

There was pandemonium in the courthouse. My knees buckled and I fell back into my seat. My wife wept for joy, and my daughters cried out "Daddy! Oh, Daddy!" with inexpressible relief. Earnest Tavish meanwhile lunged into the courtroom aisle howling with rage.

"Murderer!" He screamed as two court officers struggled to restrain him. "You lured an innocent man to your house. You executed him in cold blood. Murderer! Murderer!"

But in spite of Tavish's fury, the jury had spoken and I was a free man. "Stand Your Ground" laws had saved my life. They had saved my family. They are what allows me to write this to you now.

So please, I implore you, when you consider the merits and the flaws of this legislation, remember my story. Remember what "Stand Your Ground" laws did for this humble husband and father of two.

Peace be with You and Yours,



John Q. Hypothetical

(because if you can't find actual SYG news articles to make your monthly quota of anti-SYG threads, you can always make stuff up)

[Deleted]

REM's "Stand" saved mine! 

[EVT1]

Well at least if you are going to make up a scenario have it at least plausible and related to reality- don't just satirize the whole debate.

  

[Deleted]

Let R.E.M. soothe you soul, dem. 

[Tennesseer]

Good job Virgil.

Now do one reflecting this post and all the other repeated mentions of moderator pets and fake posters:

So what else in new? I seriously doubt any of these posters who are such Obama supporters really have jobs anyway. Sound more like those who have had things handed to them by the sweat of others labors and maybe getting some of taxpayer dollars anyway. How do we really know they actually work? Some of them pretend or imply to be one gender when they really are another. Then get all offended when someone calls them a man or a women when they really are the other. So cagey, so clever, it reeks of something sneaky and underhanded. So I'm totally doubting they work to begin with because someone who works hard to get by in this world isn't the kind who is willing to let others sit home and watch Jerry on their tax dollars.

You are creative Virgil. I expect nothing but the best from you.

[Virgil Showlion]

May 13, 2014 8:42:06 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Well at least if you are going to make up a scenario have it at least plausible and related to reality- don't just satirize the whole debate.

  

So... the supposition that somebody here would consider setting up a beer keg and shooting anyone who approached it to be "self defense" isn't satire in your opinion?

May 13, 2014 8:52:58 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Good job Virgil.

Now do one reflecting this post and all the other repeated mentions of moderator pets and fake posters:

So what else in new? I seriously doubt any of these posters who are such Obama supporters really have jobs anyway. Sound more like those who have had things handed to them by the sweat of others labors and maybe getting some of taxpayer dollars anyway. How do we really know they actually work? Some of them pretend or imply to be one gender when they really are another. Then get all offended when someone calls them a man or a women when they really are the other. So cagey, so clever, it reeks of something sneaky and underhanded. So I'm totally doubting they work to begin with because someone who works hard to get by in this world isn't the kind who is willing to let others sit home and watch Jerry on their tax dollars.

You are creative Virgil. I expect nothing but the best from you.

Maria Downy returned from her third job utterly exhausted. Exhaustion had become a way of life since the explosion at a poorly-regulated oil refinery had demolished her family's home, putting her husband into a coma and leaving her eldest daughter with no legs and severe brain trauma...

[djAdvocate]

May 13, 2014 8:52:58 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Good job Virgil.

Now do one reflecting this post and all the other repeated mentions of moderator pets and fake posters:

So what else in new? I seriously doubt any of these posters who are such Obama supporters really have jobs anyway. Sound more like those who have had things handed to them by the sweat of others labors and maybe getting some of taxpayer dollars anyway. How do we really know they actually work? Some of them pretend or imply to be one gender when they really are another. Then get all offended when someone calls them a man or a women when they really are the other. So cagey, so clever, it reeks of something sneaky and underhanded. So I'm totally doubting they work to begin with because someone who works hard to get by in this world isn't the kind who is willing to let others sit home and watch Jerry on their tax dollars.

where the hell did you get that?

[mmhmm]

May 13, 2014 11:12:19 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

May 13, 2014 8:52:58 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Good job Virgil.

Now do one reflecting this post and all the other repeated mentions of moderator pets and fake posters:

where the hell did you get that?

If my memory serves me correctly, that's one of zib's posts, dj, from awhile back.

[djAdvocate]

May 13, 2014 11:27:59 GMT -5 mmhmm said:

May 13, 2014 11:12:19 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

where the hell did you get that?

If my memory serves me correctly, that's one of zib's posts, dj, from awhile back.

groan (bangs head on desk). 

[Tennesseer]

May 13, 2014 10:55:21 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

May 13, 2014 8:52:58 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Good job Virgil.

Now do one reflecting this post and all the other repeated mentions of moderator pets and fake posters:

You are creative Virgil. I expect nothing but the best from you.

Maria Downy returned from her third job utterly exhausted. Exhaustion had become a way of life since the explosion at a poorly-regulated oil refinery had demolished her family's home, putting her husband into a coma and leaving her eldest daughter with no legs and severe brain trauma...

Virgil - I bet if "Maria Downy" was a poster here, she would never complain about you having pet poster(s).

[djAdvocate]

May 13, 2014 12:04:07 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

May 13, 2014 10:55:21 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Maria Downy returned from her third job utterly exhausted. Exhaustion had become a way of life since the explosion at a poorly-regulated oil refinery had demolished her family's home, putting her husband into a coma and leaving her eldest daughter with no legs and severe brain trauma...

Virgil - I bet if "Maria Downy" was a poster here, she would never complain about you having pet poster(s).

i wonder how many other people think like Cliven Bundy: that everyone that voted for Obama is a shiftless, probably black, welfare cheat.  seems like there are a lot of them out there.  what is in it for them?  does it make them feel better about themselves to believe that they are the makers and everyone else are the takers?  i don't get it.  really!  i really don't.

[EVT1]

May 13, 2014 10:55:21 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

May 13, 2014 8:42:06 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Well at least if you are going to make up a scenario have it at least plausible and related to reality- don't just satirize the whole debate.

  

So... the supposition that somebody here would consider setting up a beer keg and shooting anyone who approached it to be "self defense" isn't satire in your opinion?

May 13, 2014 8:52:58 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

 

Absolutely not- leaving a purse out for bait with an open garage door, using surveillance to know when said bait was taken and coming in for the kill is no different at all that hiding in the rafters with a rifle over a keg of beer. 

I just added the other tactic of the other murderer to enhance the illusion that the homeowner was not home by moving the vehicles- could have populated the driveway with old newspapers and had mail coming out of the box and turned all of the lights out- rather than just a select few-maybe sat in the dark with night vision goggles.

Doesn't matter- the same nuts would back the homeowners.  That was my point- that if you are OK with this kind of behavior you are part of the gun problem.

I could satirize that position if you like   South Park already did SYG with World War Zimmerman.  I can't top that.

[Virgil Showlion]

May 13, 2014 20:07:50 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

May 13, 2014 10:55:21 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

So... the supposition that somebody here would consider setting up a beer keg and shooting anyone who approached it to be "self defense" isn't satire in your opinion?

 

Absolutely not- leaving a purse out for bait with an open garage door, using surveillance to know when said bait was taken and coming in for the kill is no different at all that hiding in the rafters with a rifle over a keg of beer. 

I just added the other tactic of the other murderer to enhance the illusion that the homeowner was not home by moving the vehicles- could have populated the driveway with old newspapers and had mail coming out of the box and turned all of the lights out- rather than just a select few-maybe sat in the dark with night vision goggles.

Doesn't matter- the same nuts would back the homeowners.  That was my point- that if you are OK with this kind of behavior you are part of the gun problem.

I could satirize that position if you like   South Park already did SYG with World War Zimmerman.  I can't top that.

Has somebody on the board said they'd consider setting up a purse in an open garage and gunning down would-be burglars to be justifiable homicide, or is that just some fantasy you thought up?

[EVT1]

May 13, 2014 21:45:25 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

May 13, 2014 20:07:50 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Absolutely not- leaving a purse out for bait with an open garage door, using surveillance to know when said bait was taken and coming in for the kill is no different at all that hiding in the rafters with a rifle over a keg of beer. 

I just added the other tactic of the other murderer to enhance the illusion that the homeowner was not home by moving the vehicles- could have populated the driveway with old newspapers and had mail coming out of the box and turned all of the lights out- rather than just a select few-maybe sat in the dark with night vision goggles.

Doesn't matter- the same nuts would back the homeowners.  That was my point- that if you are OK with this kind of behavior you are part of the gun problem.

I could satirize that position if you like   South Park already did SYG with World War Zimmerman.  I can't top that.

Has somebody on the board said they'd consider setting up a purse in an open garage and gunning down would-be burglars to be justifiable homicide, or is that just some fantasy you thought up?

Are you dense?  That is what exactly fucking happened!!!!

Reread the story:

www.coloradonewsday.com/news/regional/56577-german-exchange-student-shot-dead-by-homeowner-was-garage-hopping-after-learning-it-from-local-kids.html

I don't even see a real choice here for anyone with an ounce of humanity- either you think it is OK to kill people over a bunch of fucking junk you can't take with you or you do not.  My point is well made- so if you want to make it anti-gun or anti-gun owner have a field day with it- you and Zib can just shoot scary people on sight and sleep tight after your murders.  I am going to call you out when you fuck up- fair enough?  Doubt your Canadian ass even has a gun   You are part French-  sale on rifles never fired dropped once

[Virgil Showlion]

May 13, 2014 22:22:28 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

May 13, 2014 21:45:25 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

Has somebody on the board said they'd consider setting up a purse in an open garage and gunning down would-be burglars to be justifiable homicide, or is that just some fantasy you thought up?

Are you dense?  That is what exactly fucking happened!!!!

Reread the story:

www.coloradonewsday.com/news/regional/56577-german-exchange-student-shot-dead-by-homeowner-was-garage-hopping-after-learning-it-from-local-kids.html

I don't even see a real choice here for anyone with an ounce of humanity- either you think it is OK to kill people over a bunch of fucking junk you can't take with you or you do not.  My point is well made- so if you want to make it anti-gun or anti-gun owner have a field day with it- you and Zib can just shoot scary people on sight and sleep tight after your murders.  I am going to call you out when you fuck up- fair enough?  Doubt your Canadian ass even has a gun   You are part French-  sale on rifles never fired dropped once

I know about the article.

Kindly re-read my question, paying special attention to the first six words.

[truthbound]

Why are you arguing with a gun hater? And why would you not pop the keg?

[djAdvocate]

May 14, 2014 3:46:22 GMT -5 truthbound said:

Why are you arguing with a gun hater? And why would you not pop the keg?

again, truth- why would someone who hates guns own so many of them?
in fact, why would they own ANY?

[EVT1]

May 14, 2014 10:37:07 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

May 14, 2014 3:46:22 GMT -5 truthbound said:

Why are you arguing with a gun hater? And why would you not pop the keg?

again, truth- why would someone who hates guns own so many of them?
in fact, why would they own ANY?

Some people cannot handle criticism so it is easier to attempt to discredit the person.

If I didn't like my weapons I could really cash in- and really half of them I keep because they have been in the family for a long time and will remain that way.

[mmhmm]

May 14, 2014 11:31:56 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

May 14, 2014 10:37:07 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

again, truth- why would someone who hates guns own so many of them?
in fact, why would they own ANY?

Some people cannot handle criticism so it is easier to attempt to discredit the person.

If I didn't like my weapons I could really cash in- and really half of them I keep because they have been in the family for a long time and will remain that way.

Some people sorta enjoy trolling, too.  They do it to rile people up.  They're best handled by ignoring them.

[djAdvocate]

May 14, 2014 11:31:56 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

May 14, 2014 10:37:07 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

again, truth- why would someone who hates guns own so many of them?
in fact, why would they own ANY?

Some people cannot handle criticism so it is easier to attempt to discredit the person.

If I didn't like my weapons I could really cash in- and really half of them I keep because they have been in the family for a long time and will remain that way.

here is what i don't get: the NRA doesn't speak for me.  guns don't speak for me.  so, the criticism of guns or gun safety is not criticism of me, either.  the only way i get to that point is if we are somehow trying to defend what happened in the case of this old lady (and other cases like this).  does ANYONE think this was the right result?  apparently, some people do.

[Deleted]

Lizzie Borden was just standing her ground too. 

[Virgil Showlion]

May 14, 2014 11:31:56 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

May 14, 2014 10:37:07 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

again, truth- why would someone who hates guns own so many of them?
in fact, why would they own ANY?

Some people cannot handle criticism so it is easier to attempt to discredit the person.

If I didn't like my weapons I could really cash in- and really half of them I keep because they have been in the family for a long time and will remain that way.

You still haven't pointed out who it was who approved of the purse-in-a-garage trap. You'll have to help me out, because I scoured that thread from start to finish and couldn't find a single endorsement.

Surely such endorsements must exist, given they're the basis for your "Beer keg trap" thread and your supposition that "the same nuts would back the homeowners". Surely you're not just debating straw men.

[EVT1]

May 14, 2014 18:01:07 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

May 14, 2014 11:31:56 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

Some people cannot handle criticism so it is easier to attempt to discredit the person.

If I didn't like my weapons I could really cash in- and really half of them I keep because they have been in the family for a long time and will remain that way.

You still haven't pointed out who it was who approved of the purse-in-a-garage trap. You'll have to help me out, because I scoured that thread from start to finish and couldn't find a single endorsement.

Surely such endorsements must exist, given they're the basis for your "Beer keg trap" thread and your supposition that "the same nuts would back the homeowners". Surely you're not just debating straw men.

I don't know if someone on this thread did or not- but if you read the story there are plenty of people defending the shooting, sayanora scumbag, etc.  I probably posted the thread to see if anyone thought it was acceptable- apparently we are a more civilized group than the general internet if no one defended it. And that's good- it isn't really something that can be defended except by people that place more value on property than life. 

[Virgil Showlion]

May 14, 2014 22:41:04 GMT -5 EVT1 said:

May 14, 2014 18:01:07 GMT -5 Virgil Showlion said:

You still haven't pointed out who it was who approved of the purse-in-a-garage trap. You'll have to help me out, because I scoured that thread from start to finish and couldn't find a single endorsement.

Surely such endorsements must exist, given they're the basis for your "Beer keg trap" thread and your supposition that "the same nuts would back the homeowners". Surely you're not just debating straw men.

I don't know if someone on this thread did or not- but if you read the story there are plenty of people defending the shooting, sayanora scumbag, etc.  I probably posted the thread to see if anyone thought it was acceptable- apparently we are a more civilized group than the general internet if no one defended it. And that's good- it isn't really something that can be defended except by people that place more value on property than life. 

So don't get upset about my "SYG Saved My Life" parody. I'm sure that somewhere out there on the Internetz is a whole community of people who believe that even the extraordinary circumstances in the OP wouldn't justify my shooting gentle Bobby Smith.

[steff]

May 14, 2014 10:37:07 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

May 14, 2014 3:46:22 GMT -5 truthbound said:

Why are you arguing with a gun hater? And why would you not pop the keg?

again, truth- why would someone who hates guns own so many of them?
in fact, why would they own ANY?

I hate guns, I believe in a certain level of gun control and yes, we own guns.  Hubby is a hunter & I have 2 guns that were my grandfather & great grandfathers.  Hubby's younger brother was shot accidently by a friend when he was 13, he survived, but it made hubby rabid about gun safety.  If he wasn't as concerned about gun safety as he is, I probably would have made a big fight about having any guns at all.   I also am rabid about family heirlooms & having them stay in the family.  When I was offered the guns, I didn't really think twice about saying yes in the moment.  I did have an "oh shit, what have I just done, I HATE guns" moment on the way home. 

[djAdvocate]

May 14, 2014 23:59:12 GMT -5 steff said:

May 14, 2014 10:37:07 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

again, truth- why would someone who hates guns own so many of them?
in fact, why would they own ANY?

I hate guns, I believe in a certain level of gun control and yes, we own guns. 

ok, this is not a position that i even remotely had considered.  i try not to involve myself with anything i hate.

[steff]

May 15, 2014 0:20:45 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

May 14, 2014 23:59:12 GMT -5 steff said:

I hate guns, I believe in a certain level of gun control and yes, we own guns. 

ok, this is not a position that i even remotely had considered.  i try not to involve myself with anything i hate.

My hubby is a hunter.  The first few years, he kept his guns at a friends house at my request.  Later on we bought a gun safe.  But like I said, if he hadn't been on top of gun security/safety, I probably would have put up a bigger stink over it all.   I don't believe anyone should take away everyone's guns, but they should be secure, safe, & away from any accidental/intentional child contact.  I believe in a waiting period, back ground checks & limits on how much of an arsenal someone can build up.  I'm against selling online & at gun shows.  I would probably start throwing in a mental health background check considering the school shootings.  I'm against open carry and conceal carry.  I question the need of huge clips of ammo & military style automatic rifles.  but I understand that there is an entire group of folks that hunt for food & need guns.  I understand a business owner in a bad area needing to protect their property.  I understand the need some folks have about protecting their homes.  but I think there's a limit to what that kind of protection entails. 

I was born & raised in Texas (now in Georgia), pretty much everyone had a gun of some sort when I was growing up.  But there was a level of restraint, common sense, and respect of guns that isn't there now.  They weren't to show off, you didn't have to whip it out to prove a point, you didn't brag about it, you didn't brag about how many stupid teenagers you could wipe out, it wasn't the measure of your manhood, or your patriotism. 

I'll also add that my dinky little town was named the safest in our state this year.  Because there wasn't a single instance of violence or crime involving a firearm.  There were no rapes, armed robberies, murders, or shootings.  I don't think it is because everyone here is carrying a gun on their belt, because they aren't.  it's not because we have no "poor" part of town, because we do.  2 towns over is the meth capitol of our state.  it's because we have a very large police force for our very small town.  In fact, it's what we're known for.  We have more cops than 3 surrounding towns combined. We have 2 street lights & 15 cop cars/1 drug dog.   I get drive thrus on my street 3-5 times a day/night.  The cops stop & talk to the teens like people, not criminals.  I believe in relying on my police before I'm gonna pull out a gun. 

Oh, and yes, I'm a flaming Liberal Democrat.   In a red state.  My vote/my views/my beliefs mean crapola here. 

[truthbound]

May 14, 2014 10:37:07 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

May 14, 2014 3:46:22 GMT -5 truthbound said:

Why are you arguing with a gun hater? And why would you not pop the keg?

again, truth- why would someone who hates guns own so many of them?
in fact, why would they own ANY?

They wouldn't. Case and point.

[djAdvocate]

May 15, 2014 4:50:20 GMT -5 truthbound said:

May 14, 2014 10:37:07 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

again, truth- why would someone who hates guns own so many of them?
in fact, why would they own ANY?

They wouldn't. Case and point.

i see.  so, still confused.  are you claiming EVT is lying about his guns, or about hating them?

[djAdvocate]

May 15, 2014 1:11:33 GMT -5 steff said:

May 15, 2014 0:20:45 GMT -5 djAdvocate said:

ok, this is not a position that i even remotely had considered.  i try not to involve myself with anything i hate.

My hubby is a hunter.  The first few years, he kept his guns at a friends house at my request.  Later on we bought a gun safe.  But like I said, if he hadn't been on top of gun security/safety, I probably would have put up a bigger stink over it all.   I don't believe anyone should take away everyone's guns, but they should be secure, safe, & away from any accidental/intentional child contact.  I believe in a waiting period, back ground checks & limits on how much of an arsenal someone can build up.  I'm against selling online & at gun shows.  I would probably start throwing in a mental health background check considering the school shootings.  I'm against open carry and conceal carry.  I question the need of huge clips of ammo & military style automatic rifles.  but I understand that there is an entire group of folks that hunt for food & need guns.  I understand a business owner in a bad area needing to protect their property.  I understand the need some folks have about protecting their homes.  but I think there's a limit to what that kind of protection entails. 

I was born & raised in Texas (now in Georgia), pretty much everyone had a gun of some sort when I was growing up.  But there was a level of restraint, common sense, and respect of guns that isn't there now.  They weren't to show off, you didn't have to whip it out to prove a point, you didn't brag about it, you didn't brag about how many stupid teenagers you could wipe out, it wasn't the measure of your manhood, or your patriotism. 

I'll also add that my dinky little town was named the safest in our state this year.  Because there wasn't a single instance of violence or crime involving a firearm.  There were no rapes, armed robberies, murders, or shootings.  I don't think it is because everyone here is carrying a gun on their belt, because they aren't.  it's not because we have no "poor" part of town, because we do.  2 towns over is the meth capitol of our state.  it's because we have a very large police force for our very small town.  In fact, it's what we're known for.  We have more cops than 3 surrounding towns combined. We have 2 street lights & 15 cop cars/1 drug dog.   I get drive thrus on my street 3-5 times a day/night.  The cops stop & talk to the teens like people, not criminals.  I believe in relying on my police before I'm gonna pull out a gun. 

Oh, and yes, I'm a flaming Liberal Democrat.   In a red state.  My vote/my views/my beliefs mean crapola here. 

sounds like you and EVT are a lot alike.....other than the hating part.....