To Fight Or Not To Fight

The will to live exists in us all.

That instinct to survive, the need to go on no matter what. Yet, many of us are taught to turn the other cheek when faced with danger. To disbelieve the warnings when our instinct is screaming to us. To ignore the feeling when the hair on the back of our necks stands up. To say, "Oh, its just my imagination." Or to hide. To run away.

But sometimes you can't.

Your decision at some given point is whether to hide and hope the problem goes away, or hide with the intent to take action. It's either be a sheep, or a certain growling mouse in northeast Ohio with nothing to lose (except its life).

Sharp As A Marble comments on two recent blog postings. One, from Breda (whose cornered mouse surprised her), and another from Xavier, a registered nurse who discusses an incident that occurred at a WalMart. Both are illustrative of the challenges facing each of us, but particularly, our young people today.

I am reminded of a recent conversation. In the CCW classes I help teach in Central Ohio with PRO-Training, one of our NRA Training Counselors and I chatted during a break about what constitutes a "place" where a prudent person should consider carrying a firearm for self-protection. One of our instructors had noted to the class that it made sense if you had to enter an area known for having a higher crime rate you should strongly consider going armed. Of course, my philosophy -- and that of my teaching peers -- is that if you have no need to go to the so-called "higher crime area," don't!

But my discussion with the TC turned to how ANYWHERE can be a crime area. Not just "the bad areas," whatever that means. Everyone has a different perspective. Mr. Scumbag and his friends (or the "goblins," as we like to say online) don't typically stay on one side of a particular boundary line. The bad guys strike where there is opportunity -- day or night -- in so-called high- and low-crime neighborhoods. Going back to the discussion, we agreed that the better way to describe where to carry is "anywhere you need to be safe." And that is pretty much . . . well, everywhere!

That "need" to be safe extends to our colleges, university, shopping areas, etc. Tonight I was in the Arena District in downtown Columbus. Hundreds of thousands of people milling around the convention center and on city sidewalks -- all in town (well, I wasn't . . . I was headed to a restaurant) for the annual Arnold Fitness Expo, sponsored by a certain namesake former body builder and actor who now presides as governor over the state of California. Celebs in town, politicians, just regular men, women and children. I am told by a close friend whom I met for dinner downtown tonight that most of the venues were clearly open for CCW if a license holder is carrying. He saw no signs on doors prohibiting firearms. I didn't confirm this myself, but will take his word for it. If so, faced with a life-or-death crisis, people would have a chance.

Places like Tinley Park, and DeKalb. Places like Virginia Tech and Omaha. And Kirkwood, Missouri. Those people had no chance. They weren't permitted a chance -- by law. Because of ordinances or statutes designed to create zones where people "feel" safe, but not actually created with any thought to how they would actually BE safe . . .

"Our children should be given a chance . . . " Not my words, but the words of Sharp as he concludes his commentary.

Our children SHOULD be given a chance. Common sense. Don't you think?