Aubrey, what do you mean by "piqued"? Do you mean you were curious and interested - or irritated and resentful?

Of course you have the right to say anything you want. While I have no interest in silencing you, you have silenced yourself. You imply that you have some kind of "experience" that informs your views, but you are not willing to share that experience.

My views are also informed by experience. The experience of seeing what people around me did when a man held a gun to MY head. Even the idea of some do-gooder with a gun anywhere near me during that kind of incident terrifies me. I live in rural America. I own guns and I shoot.

Of course, guns is a heated subject. Children are being slaughtered. Please exercise your rights, say anything you want, buy as many guns as you want and carry a gun anywhere you want. No one can stop you. That said, I honestly believe that anyone who is irritated or resentful during a discussion like this, has no business owning a gun.