I spent several years behind a MG as well.

It would be nice if that somehow translated into not being attacked and derided as a small-dicked psycho with loner tendencies.

I never grew up around guns. Shot my first on P.I. at 18. I learned how to use them over the next few years, along with acquiring a deep reverence for the responsibility that comes with them along the way.

When I got out, I bought the civilian legal equivalent of my old M4 carbine. I took up target shooting in my free time. It reminded me of the times I spent serving with some of the finest young men a fellow would ever get a chance to know. It gave me a hobby. I liked being able to go back to practicing a skill I prided myself on.

I consider myself a responsible gun owner. I have a sturdy safe, I never leave a loaded gun laying about, I educate others and especially children on the importance of gun safety, and I never use them to threaten or intimidate others.

The tragic events of yesterday left a gaping hole in the heart of many Americans. That hole has surely consumed the whole of the family and friends of the victims in Connecticut.

This country needs to have a good, honest talk about measures to prevent tragedies like this from happening. What it doesn't need are the personal attacks on goodhearted people that have done wrong.

I'm not sure we can do that though. The last 24 hours have shown me that people on a site as progressive as DU are not above calling for the summary execution, disfigurement, or imprisonment of gun owners. People like me that put on their pants in the morning the same way you do, one leg at a time.

I like it here. Its a cool site. I enjoy a nice political discussion about issues relevant to me.

What I don't like is being marginalized as some POS psycho that revels in the deaths of babies and doesn't care for the well being of others.

I didn't mean to ramble on. I just got caught up in what's been going through my head the last few days. I think we've all lost our heads a bit.

I'm going to log out and come back in a week when this mess has calmed down. It's all too much right now.

We need you here.

I will also be checking out of TV for the week.
I will not leave DU.

Stick around.

for the reasons you state. I did not watch any news on TV all day today. Will not watch any Sunday morning yak fests either. Maybe by Wednesday or Thursday there will be some facts and answers established.