The word “love”, like the word “friend”, is too often misused or over-used in an effort to convey a point or express a feeling. How many real, true friends do you have? If you have 2, you are extremely fortunate. Mrs. Alcazar is a wonderful writer and conveys the difference perfectly. You (should) “love” your children, your spouse, and your family. While I REALLY LIKE all of my firearms, to quote Mrs. Alcazar, …“that doesn’t come anywhere close to love … not for an inanimate object.” People like peanut M&M’s or whatever Smallswell should realize that perhaps we gun owners have firearms or “guns” (another way over and mis-used word, IMO) because we love our children - and are willing to use them to protect our family and children as any parent worth the dust from which they came should. I am not the eloquent writer Mrs. Alcazar is and do not nearly qualify to edit her article but I would like to respectfully add what I feel was omitted from the last line; “… and my right, my ability, and my OBLIGATION to protect them.” I value human life and the last thing I want is to be put in a situation where I have to take one. However, if that happens, my pistol along with my commitment to saving the lives of my family will give us the best chance we can get to continue living ours. I hate it for the person intent on taking it because when it comes to me or them - screw them. Shoulda picked someone else. I will not provoke or initiate violence on anyone and I will not sit idly by and allow it to be initiated on me to become just another victim who wouldn’t fight back. If I am to be categorized as written above then so be it. Our country’s “raging epidemic of violence” brings me no joy. The only joy or goodness that I see resulting from it is when an initiator of said violence receives his just comeuppance and thereby becomes no longer part of the problem. Does that make me “prefer fear, death, suicide, brutality, and hostility over peace, life, health, kindness, and solidarity?” No because I am not the one causing the epidemic of violence. I have tools to protect my family and home. If we lived in a world where we none had to worry about violence or evil knocking at our door then maybe we wouldn’t need firearms to help protect us. Until that time comes, I will use whatever I have available to me to ensure the safety and well-being of myself and family. Right this minute, it’s Colt, Walther, Smith & Wesson, and Beretta to name a few.
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