I know this was directed at Palmer and not me, but I like you too and I don't understand the moral, if there was one, to your story. If he had pulled a knife on the wife in front of the kids it wouldn't be better or worse. Are you going to ban blades next? Nobody really "needs" a lot of things, but we still have the right to own them.
Please understand I'm not attacking you; I'm just being frank.
1st, just because it's a right in the US doesn't mean that it's logical or intelligent.
The only job of a handgun is to kill. A knife is a tool useful for many other things. Any argument for firearms which cites other items as potentially deadly holds ZERO water. Gun owners almost always try to take the focus off the issues with firearms and insert "but xxx can also kill someone" or "it's our right". Mind you, it's a "right" that can be taken away, thus making it a privilege, and not actually a right. The same as the ability to drive a motor vehicle or vote. The debate is over firearms, not bubble gum, dynamite, thongs, or anything else.
My point is that crazy assholes can get their hands on guns and carry them around in their pockets. Sure, a knife CAN kill someone, but try taking out a dozen people from 50 feet away with one. Guns are deadly and can deal death in numbers in a manner which very few other commercially available items can, and that's their ONLY purpose. There are nearly zero instances of a civilian using a handgun or assault rifle effectively in order to stop a crime or defend themselves. Guns are turned against their owners in crisis situations more often than being used with any sort of positive effect. I just see ZERO reason for any civilian to own one and nobody has ever been able to give me a good reason to second guess my stance.
Also, before anyone gets to use this defense, the "but people like your (ex) friend are the reason to carry a gun" concept is immediately squashed when handguns aren't available. That's akin to fighting fire with fire, and there's no need to if there isn't a fire to contend with in the first place.
You're right about the difference between right and privilege, but I believe that comparisons to other items DO hold water. In the hands of a nut job, a vehicle is a deadly weapon capable of killing many people in a short period of time. The solution is not to take all vehicles off the road. The fact that other civilians have a low rate of effective use of their firearms in emergencies echos my earlier statement that owning a gun is an awesome responsibility. Proper training and safe handling procedures are critically important for any person.
You mention keeping guns out of the hands of civilians, but do you really have so much faith in another "trained" non-civilian man with a gun to protect your family if they're under attack? Sure, you take all of the precautions you can to avoid this like living in a safer area and avoiding confrontation, but sometimes shit happens. I'd like to be armed with a plan just in case.
Oh, and "when handguns aren't available" They're already here and available, nothing is going to change that. If there's a law banning them then we'll lose our guns and then who will have them? People like your friend that don't respect the law and human life. I prefer to maintain my right to be armed and defend myself against such criminals.
My apologies for derailing the thread and telling the world what's on my mind, but I wanted a chance to respond.
Here are my pickups. Angry Birds trilogy Trilogy is the one that's already wrapped. The bastards on ebay sold it as brand new, but it arrived unsealed.
