I was watching DateLine tonight; one of the stories was about the brutal murder of two professors (husband and wife) by two teenagers a few years ago. I was familiar with the story, but what I wasn't familiar with was what had happened a night or two before the murders. Apparently, the two killers had gone to another house at night, after digging two graves in the woods nearby to dump the bodies. Only one stood at the door, telling the man inside that he'd had car trouble and needed to use the phone. The man inside parted the curtain on the door enough to let the stranger see that he was holding a gun. He then said he'd make the call for him. When he went to the phone, he discovered the line was dead; they had already cut it.

When questioned, the two youths said the deterrent to taking matters any further was seeing the gun. They abandoned the idea and went looking elsewhere. The professers they eventually murdered were unarmed and unsuspecting; a tragic story no matter how you look at it.

I realize I'm preaching to the choir here, but I found myself wondering what the anti's think when they see a story like this, especially considering the Self-Defense thread in this column? That, and the fact that the murders were committed with knives, not guns. It really makes me wonder whether the reality of it ever sinks in with people? That people taking measures to protect themselves is a right, not a crime... :confused:

Massad Ayoob wrote a column about this in whichever magazine he writes for. As I recall, he said the connection between the two events was first publicized by a reporter who researched the killings and wrote a book about it.

I'm surprised that Dateline would have included the first event (the guy scaring off the kids by being armed), but it is good they did so.

And I am afraid the answer to your question is...no, it rarely does sink in.

elb

I saw that too.

Not to misdirect your thread but Iwas watching "Cold Case Files" last night on CBS. It is about the only thing I like on the channel and usually enjoy it. The story was about a 12 year old girl accidentially killed in a drive by shooting 18 years before. The gun turns up and they follow it back to the earlier murder. Through out the whole thing every gun dealer or manufacturer is portrayed as an over the edge killer. They all have very little regard for the ones hurt by guns. The final scene is when the case is solved and the detective is in the evidence locker wistfully looking around at all the guns used in killings. It is never pointed out that people need to be involved before a gun can be used for anything.

Another OK show ruined by an inept political statement.

I saw the movie Batman: The Beginning a few weeks ago and felt that it had an anti-second amendment bent to it. Maybe I'm just too sensitive to the issue, but it seemed pretty obvious to me. Well, that's Hollywood for you. I seem to regret it everytime I pay money to see something they've produced.


Does that star-spangled banner yet wave over the land of the free and the home of the brave?