My own feelings on the matter are much like yours actually--almost identical. Perhaps I should have been more forceful in my original post? Did you see what I own? That I have a license to carry. That I do carry. I also have a 12 ga Remington 870 if anyone should break into my home as well as an AR-15. My liberal friends and I disagree about this issue (as well as many others). I am most definitely NOT your typical academic. I was trying to "contrast" my own views with theirs--and obviously didn't do a very good job--at least in your eyes...