Guns: What are they good for???

Ok... In the interest of full disclosure, I should mention I have an ever decreasing circle of friends. It's easier for me to stop talking to someone than to start.

A couple of years ago I stopped talking to a friend who had 'knife needs'. He was a gun owner and managed the game store for about 20 years or so. After talking to him for a couple of years, I decided to review my 'guns are EVIL period end of discussion' and decided that perhaps guns were ok, provided like driver license gun licenses were only allowed to competent people. I have NEVER fully accepted the idea that EVERYONE can have a gun, as suggested by the second amendment. As far as I'm concerned the second amendment was written at a time when there was NO police force, when your nearest neighbor could be more then a day away and there were 'savages' who could attack you.
Heck there's a law here in Ma saying that you have to bring your rifle to church on Sunday... and I've always thought of that as- well that's in case 'savages' attack or a militia needs to be formed.
These days however, the police can be contacted 24/7 by a phone or CELL phone... So even if you're walking alone in a park at night (which is a stupid idea), there's a good chance you can get a guy/girl with a gun in no time flat... and that officer would be TRAINNED with a gun (then again... well not gonna mention the BPD competence in this post).

This guy was a good friend for years- he gave me a job at the game store when I was going to grad school... and when I graduated he suggested I apply for Staples, where he was working) to make ends meet while I look for a library job...
I stopped talking to him when Cheney shot a guy while hunting. I sought out this friend because I wanted to hear his take. I was hoping that he would take the right take, that Cheney was a bozo who didn't deserve a gun. Instead this friend stood up for Cheney, saying accidents happen. At that point I was like; give me your gun, you've failed your gun IQ test. I didn't say this but I rethought the idea that there were intelligent people who WANTED guns. Perhaps guns are a catch 22, if you want one, you shouldn't be allowed to have one.

What makes me blog about this is of course the Va. shooting... and the POLITICAL spin. Yeah- what makes me sicker then a kid shooting up a bunch of other kids is that W's first reaction to this is to point out that HE is pro guns. While saying this is sad... W. (and the white house) were quick to step up to the plate and remind people that they believe in the second amendment.
Actually what really made me mad and gag was this exchange on Fox (of course)

GIBSON: So, theoretically, in this lecture hall where all 31 were killed, there could have been someone with a carry permit carrying their gun to shoot the shooter?
NAPOLITANO: No, because the same people that just dropped the ball, as Bo just described, that allowed 32 additional people to die, also said: "Virginia lets you carry a gun at a gas station or a bank or a stadium, but not on a college campus, where you may protect kids." So nobody has guns there except the college campus police. The professors --
GIBSON: And the criminal.
NAPOLITANO: And the criminal. Professors don't have guns, and the students don't have guns, even though they could lawfully carry them as soon as they get off campus.

This exchange made me sick because I’m sure if I did a bit of research I would find that guns are much more likely used to shot someone in anger then defense, and that a homeowner is much more likely to shoot a loved one ‘by accident’ then a intruder. How can we say that we are ‘civilized’ and yet allow a tool whose ONLY use is to hurt slash kill.
Oh and I just read the gun laws in Va. I laughed until I cried.

Buying and owning a gun in Virginia does not require a permit, but without a gun permit only one handgun purchase a month is allowed, and there is no waiting period to acquire the gun.
The law is broad enough to allow people to buy assault guns and magazines without limit, including such guns as AK-47s and Uzis, the Brady report points out on its website.

( Va laws mentioned here in a story about the shooting)