[lksteve]

There are plenty of people who consider the gun as the source of bad force equations. These are the people who think that we’d be more civilized if all guns were removed from society,

i would opine that weapons, in general, and guns, in particular, make civilization possible...

just brief digression...life in Mogadishu wasn't all that violent (which is to say it was violent enough) until a decision was made at echelons way above me to disarm the locals...it was dangerous having all these armed folk about, or so the powers that be (not me) thought...so some taxpayers' money was spent and we started buying back guns (along with printing some really spiffy propaganda leaflets)...the folks that had their hearts set on peace came by in numbers sufficient enough to make the grown-ups happy that we had a successful program and that soon one could walk down the streets of Mogoville unthreatened...we had a hold-out in the JPOTF, the guy that did the prayer calls for Radio Rajo...he was did news, weather and was the DJ for what little music was played...he opined that he carried his weapon for protection, but at some length was convinced by our battalion commander to give up his gun...

i was the lucky SOB that got to put what was left of his body in a garbage bag (figuratively speaking) and return his remains to his family...he was killed for the grocery bag of Somali currency he was paid for his gun...

if i'm lyin', i'm dyin...