\
I don’t think that I need to shoot a gun to understand anything. I have no desire to ever hold a gun in my hands. That’s just me. It’s fantastic that women, men and even children are being properly trained.
\

\
I’ve left comments open because I don’t want to rob anyone of their opinion, but I don’t think I am ignorant because I haven’t shot a gun.

\
That is fine. I sincerely hope that no bad events happen in your life that changes your mind.
\

\
However if you are going to opine statements,” I think more restrictions need to be placed on guns.\’94 you should learn about what you are talking about.
\

\
Hobbyists tend to object when people advocate a restriction on their hobby when those people are not knowledgeable about their hobby. That is why several people have posted invitations to you so you can experience the hobby yourself.
\

\
I personally have been an active horsewoman for decades. I have competed at cross-country, hunt races, and fox hunting and just pleasure trail riding. Throughout those decades we have had to defend our sport against those who feel it is cruel to horses and cruel to hunt foxes. It is extremely aggravating to encounter the hubris of advocates who try to restrict a sport that you love, when those advocates are ignorant about the sport.
\

\
People often have opinions about items that they are ignorant. However if they are going to write about their opinion, then they should educate themselves about the subject. Your opinion can be important, that is why we have tried to present a different viewpoint and allow you the ability to learn about the subject you wrote about.
\

\
It has been nice talking to you.

\
Are you going to take up Steven invitation to learn about what you write about? Most women really like shooting when the learn it.

\

\
CNN usally doesn’t give gun owners a fair shake in their reports. I’m impressed they covered this.

\
I would agree with others that it is commendable that you have not only left yourself open to opposing opinions, but you also reply respectfully. Thank you, for that.
\

\
There are volumes of statistics regarding armed citizens. All of them point to what has already been stated here.
\

\
If you were truely concerned for your well being when a fellow student disagrees with you, that person not having a gun would not make you safer. What would stop them from picking up a chair and beating you with it?
\

\
There are several websites that I think would be helpful to you.
\

\
This one is from a woman’s perspective.
\
http://www.corneredcat.com/
\

\
This one has a lot of posters available with men and women, and why they “feel” the need to be armed.
\
http://www.a-human-right.com/
\

\
This is where I have received excellent training. They really shine when it comes to people that have never even fired a gun, especially women. You could ask my wife. When I sheepishly informed them that I forgot to explain to my wife how the gun works, they said, “Great!”. By the way, they teach in Illinois.
\
http://www.midwesttraininggroup.net/
\

\
I would also like to offer myself, as one who lives in the suburbs of Chicago, as willing to take you to the range. My treat. We would start with Firearm Safety, before touching a firearm.
\

\
In spite of what you read in newspapers, guns do not, “go off”. They do not discharge. They are not designed to kill people, and there is no such thing as “Cop Killer” ammunition.
\

\
For several years, Chicago was murder capital of america. That, with having very strict gun laws in place. In fact, those places having the most strict gun restrictions, have the most violent crime.

\
I understand that you are uncomfortable with a dangerous item such as a gun. Ignorance leads one to feel timid in picking up a gun because with careless handling an unintentional discharge can happen. The problem that in many areas of the country there is no training on handling of firearms when people are young. Do you recall how you felt the first time you were behind the wheel when you first started driving? It was real scary to be in control of such a powerful tool, which with incorrect pressure on the gas could immediate result in an accident. But with training and patience of the person who taught you, you got more comfortable and became a competent driver. Think of what the feeling was of the person who sat next to you when you first got behind the wheel. They were probably terrified, but restrained them self because it was necessary for you to learn how to handle a 3000 lb automobile.
\

\
I brought this analogy up because the fear and timidity is similar when first you learn to handle a gun. You mentioned how the females have similar opinions to you than the males. That is from training. More males have been trained to handle firearms and are more confident in their ability to handle them responsibly. Like training teenagers to drive, in order for students to handle a firearm they should be trained. But though that was more common to have that training in high schools more than 30 years ago, it is almost non-existent today.
\

\

\
You fear correctly, that irresponsible young people would misuse a gun. Goofing around, etc. However the way to solve the problem of being irresponsible is training. We educate teenagers on being responsible sexually, i.e.: using condoms and birth control to limit sexual diseases and unwanted pregnancies. The same education and training should be offered to young people so they understand the responsible use of a firearm, same as the use of a car.
\

\
The emotional response of young people such as you is that you fear or are uncomfortable with guns. That can be resolved with training. But also many anti-gun people project their own feeling that they are not capable of controlling their emotions and rage if they have a gun available. Many people are not emotional mature or able to deal rationally with emotional conflict and tend to escalate that conflict. Self-control is necessary and without that, those people are less trustworthy of using a dangerous tool. However that problem of control is also addressed with training. The same age group you mentioned of 18-23 are trusted with more more dangerous tools of destruction in the military. The difference is that they are trained.
\

\
So in order to be more comfortable, take up third power offer of being taken to the range. People who enjoy shooting try very hard to make it an enjoyable experience. They usually have you handle a small caliber that is comfortable to your hand and that you can enjoy the thrill of hitting the target. Most women are actually pretty good and accurate to the surprise of many males. Shooting can be fun. The fun of shooting is the skill, not the idea to use that skill to hurt someone. You don\’92t have to feel that you must carry a gun, which is an inconvenience that most people do not want to handle. Those that wish to carry though and have had the CCW training and shoot regularly should be able to carry if they want to.
\

\
I am a lot older than you and have had the experience of children and training them to be competent and capable adults. I have been involved in Boy Scouts for over a decade and have had the privilege of helping them learn how to handle a variety of risks and skills. That also included rifle and shotgun experience to get them qualified to get their merit badges. The whole idea of school and college is that young people can be trained and schooled to handle themselves to be capable and competent adults. I also include that girls and women need to be trained how to avoid risky situations and how to get out of them if needed. All women should know some self-defense. That does not mean you need to carry a gun if you do not want. But you do need to learn to be a competent and capable young woman, to know how to defend and escape a dangerous situation.
\

\
I am not trying to say you are wrong, but to understand where your fear is coming from and how to learn skills so you do need to fear a tool or other younger people to use that tool responsibly. I have seen many idiotic and unwise behavior from people growing up, but I still trust them if schooled correctly to be competent adults that can also handle dangerous tools such as firearms. From my perspective that is a greater amount of trust to offer since I have brought up children to be adults and had personally experience of the foolishness of the young.
\

\
My children though have been trained to handle firearms correctly and if necessarily I would trust my life to them defending me if God Forbid that situation occurs.
\

\
Others have addressed the issue that unstable or criminal types of people exist and can endanger us. And yes many of those people can be competent with a firearm to our detriment. But the only way to defend against a bad person with a gun is with a good person with a gun. There are so many more good people in this country than bad. I will trust in the good people to defend themselves and perhaps me if they are allowed to carry a defensive weapon.

\
You said: “I find it so interesting that men are for this and women are against it.”
\

\
Let me be the first woman in your comments to prove this false. I enjoy shooting and will be getting my concealed carry license at the end of this month. There are many women who, like me, enjoy the idea of being able to defend ourselves. I have lots of links to many other “chicks with guns” on my blog, if you’d like to take a look…
\

\
But I understand your fear. I really do. The first time I ever shot a gun, I cried afterwards because it was so frightening for me. But I came to understand that there are rules for safe handling and that guns are just things. Inanimate objects. If a person is not normally prone to violent behavior, putting a gun in their hands is not going to make them more likely to commit crimes. For example, I’ve had arguments in my kitchen but I never pulled a knife on anyone, even though I had one within easy reach.
\

\
Perhaps you’d feel more comfortable around guns if you went to a range and tried shooting, even if it’s just one time?
\

\
I hope this and the other comments help you to understand how people on “the other side” of the gun debate think and feel. Good luck!
\

\
Breda