OK, please indulge the ramble, it has some good points, I think.... I think dogs are wonderful, too, but people can mess with dogs, esp if they are planning to get to you. When I lived in Kingman, my ex and I had a retail gun business at our house (converted garage.) All legal, etc. (Taught the CCW classes) One day we noticed someone had tried to pry the deadbolt on the door. About a week later, our gorgeous, well-trained and friendly/ protective Rottweiller, who "owned" the house and back yard, fell sick and died from anti-freeze poinsoning. We are sure the two are connected....take out the dog so they could gain entrance from a less secure window in back. But, who is STUPID enough to try a burglary at a gun shop? (unless it would have been when we were not there, hence take out the dog.) We really loved that dog, we were heartbroken. We then got another Rottie and 2 Great Danes. And kept our guns. REALLY stupid to try and breakin when we are home!! So, I am Pro-Dog and Pro-Defensive/Sportsman Gun Ownership, as long as the person is properly trained. Keep in mind that many many more people are killed each year by people "mis-using" vehicles than by people "mis-using" guns. Ban vehicles? Nah..... In Feb of 2001, I was alone at home at night when someone tried to break into my backdoor. My dog growled (she is old, and a pussy cat, even if black and 100#) to alert me. She wouldn't know how to attack a person. I called 911, the police, who didn't respond. As I took a defensive position by my kitchen counter, the creep popped my back door open and entered. I shouted....GET OUT, I HAVE A GUN! and he left. I had to call the police back 30 minutes later (why so long? I was frozen in shock, thinking he was coming back. Police said they were "busy"). uh huh. Don't EVER count on the cops being there when you really need them. If I hadn't had a gun to defend myself, and confidently knew how to safely use it, I would have been assaulted, raped or worse. So, yes, I carry a concealed weapon for my protection. Too many crazies and criminals out there. Trisha Prescott On Wed, 04 September 2002, Scott Wood wrote: > > At 08:54 PM 9/4/2002 -0700, you wrote: > >Don't get me wrong...I support a persons right to own and carry a > >firearm(I don't trust myself with a gun). I just personally prefer > the > >protection of double GSD (AKA a 75 and an 85 lb(and growing) german > >shepherd) They can be the most loving creatures, but if you threaten > >me...you'll never know what happened. Plus they make great trail > buddies > >and cache hunters! > >C:) > > Dogs are great, especially to protect the home when you are not there, > but > the reality is that there are times that a dog is as vulnerable as a > person. > > I remember being on a hike when I was a boy scout. The scout master > had a > dog and we ended up getting on the same path as what turned out being > a > sick cougar. Sadly the cougar got the best of the poor dog, but the > scout > master got the best of the cougar with his Winchester 30-30 lever > action. > > Given the option, I prefer to have both. > > > In liberty, > > Scott > > wood@myblueheaven.com > www.myblueheaven.com > > _______________________________________________ > Az-Geocaching mailing list > listserv@azgeocaching.com > http://listserv.azgeocaching.com/mailman/listinfo/az-geocaching > > Arizona's Geocaching Resource > http://www.azgeocaching.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Although no one can go back and make a brand new start, Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~