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Monday, April 16, 2007 12:00 AM

I'm almost 21. Should I buy some guns?

Like my father, I love and respect guns. But I'm conflicted.
By Cary Tennis

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  • Sunday, April 15, 2007 08:43 PM

    The elephant in the room

    The problem I have with guns is this: I read somewhere that if, in a three-act play, a gun is shown to the audience in Act I, you can pretty much guarantee it'll be used in Act III.

    I don't think guns or their owners are inherently evil, but as Albert Maslow said, "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." I'm afraid that one day something will happen to me that I will convince myself can only be resolved with this particular trump card... but if I haven't got it, I can't use it.

    A gun, to me, is all potential-- and crying out to be used. Making sure it is only used sensibly strikes me as more trouble than it's worth to own it.

    —mhellman Read mhellman's other letters

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