The question here is wether what's desired is a society in which order is maintained by citizens being afraid of each other, or by trusting each other ...

If the former: anarchy?

Good question you brought up here.Human behavior is different from each other and we all act and behave in various emotions and personalities.No one actually knows what the answer is regarding this violence what is happening in our society today.

I think everyone knows what side I'm on in this debate . I'm alone, mostly on this forum.

But, if I were allowed to carry when I was teaching I would not have carried while teaching. And I taught in a town that had a large gang presence for its size. I've mentioned before, that I was very cognisant of the appropriatness of the people in our building .

But where I lived was certainly in an area that had its problems. I lived there 16 years. Had my cars broke in twice. My car tag stolen twice in separate incidents, and my radio antenna broken off once. I called 911 twice in two incidents, one when I heard gunshots fired nearby and another when I noticed the dumpster in my alley was ablaze.

Another time, I was visited bythe police at 11:00PM wanting me to vacate my house for three hours for my safety, as they had a guy holed up next door and were vacating the rest of the block while they delt with him.

Also, I taught a photo class which we met in my home a couple ties each semester. One time two of my students were on the police tactical entrance team. When they came that evening they pointed out about 8 homes in my neighborhood where they had entered.

So I lived in an interesting partf Dodge City. But in all, I to along rather well with my neighbors. Many of whom were from Mexico.i normally called it the "international" district.

Statistically, speaking, I believe our schools are safe. Even tho they get the big headlines, and politicos and so called news spouters make a living hyping them up, Violence at our schools has been going dwn.

Dave

Humm;

The wild wild west , they wore guns exposed and they shot each other constantly - So having everyone arm will not stop crimes at all just create even more.

Concealed weapons;
Well you gotta ask yourself one question if you are a Perp (Do I feel lucky today).

Anyway it is kinda a moot point , on a one to one basses because the prep would already have the drop on you , so going for a concealed weapon would just mean a bullet to your head. However like this classroom massacre (providing) the teacher was not shot first he/she could have the time to pull out a concealed weapon ? ?

Again, the question really is: is the person I'm looking at a potential "perp" or just another citizen? ; Wether the society we want is one in which we're all suspicious of each other (and therefore need to be armed to the teeth just in case) or wether we trust each other ...

A pretty sad state of affairs if the determination is that everyone needs to be armed ...

Actually, a pretty sad state of affairs that that's even a consideration.

At some point, mythology catches up with you.

No question. It used to be the latter which were much easier times, something happened unfortunately. It's different times we live in. That's so cliché but in this case it's so true, but not for the better. It's the current climate we must learn to survive in while trying to make changes to bring trust back. If it is possible my guess is I'll never live to see much significant change but I guess we gotta try.

We've become a violent angry society. Or angry violent society, six-of-one, eh?

Back to our regularly scheduled beverage.

I don't get where you're going with that, and I didn't even have to look the word up this time.

I'm thinking of the mythology of American identity. We'e living the consequences of all that lone ranger gun slinging radically independent tough guy macho image.

I guess my response to that would be that we define the times we live in -- we're not passive observers but creators and shapers of our society. Surviving the current climate is as easy as choosing to trust one another -- which I believe a vast, vast majority of us already do -- and not capitulating to a gun-slinging minority's attempt to drag all of us into a Randian anarchy ...