Mark Small

4) Ogden: “Not everyone who owns a gun is a ‘gun nut.’ Many of them legitimately own one for self-defense. It's easy to not own a gun when a person lives in a safe neighborhood. It's something else entirely when a person is living in a crime-infested neighborhood.” 12/24

Moi: a) Premise of this statement: gun is effective for self-defense. The NRA has claimed for years that guns prevent more crimes than are caused. Statistics for this position either could validate it - or not. 13/24

b) Interesting point on a neighborhood not “crime-infested”: what other means of crime prevention are extant? Have been tried? Are available, are far less expensive in cost of purchase or cost of effects? 14/24

5) Ogden: “Let's take for example, an elderly woman living on the southside of Chicago. She has had her house been broken into before, and even been beaten up by intruders, maybe even sexually assaulted. ... 15/24

The person lives every day in fear. Certainly not even the most left-wing politician (in their right mind) would say she not be able to legally have a gun to defend herself. Wait...Chicago used to have such a ridiculous law.” 16/24

Moi: a) The south side of Chicago got a bad rap from “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown.” The west and north sides have pockets, just as does every (and minor) major city. People on the east side are under water. 17/24

b) Unless the elderly woman of whom you speak has training in how to use a firearm, she could face greater harm from the weapon - are more people & loved ones harmed by handguns than there are crimes deterred? It would be nice to have studies. 18/24

c) In my interactions w/ppl involved in the burglary trade, they: 1) Avoid breaking into residences when someone is home - they want to take stuff with as little hassle as possible, but 2) Love handguns. 19/24