Opinion Talk

By Lee

April 4, 2008 11:46 AM | Link to this

Newsflash. Guns and knives and an assortment of other weapons are ALREADY on Marta. Only thing, it is the bad guys who are carrying.

All this does is allow someone who HAS A CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT to continue with his/her trip without risk of being thrown in jail for doing what is legal 10 feet away.

We can trust a CC permit holder to walk down the street but we can’t trust them to step onto a bus.

How stupid is that?

By James

April 4, 2008 11:51 AM | Link to this

O.K. folks - please try to use just a little common sense on this one before you comment. There are guns all over MARTA right now. Felons and wannabe felons are carrying them along with illegal knives. They don’t obey “Gun Free Zones”. They want your money and/or to do you harm. The “ONLY” thing this law does is make it legal for licensed carriers to have “their” weapon. The bad guys will not like this as it will keep them guessing. In fact, it will probably push crime away from MARTA and into any area where guns are still forbidden. The same thing applies to restaurants. Licensed handgun owners are probably the most reliable, restrained people on earth. They only want to have/use that weapon as a last resort. Final note: does anyone remember when there was ZERO security for getting on an airplane where alcohol was served? Do you ever recall (before the terroists came along) an incident on board an airplane? I don’t think so. It’s the perpetrators not the guns.

By Charles Farley

April 4, 2008 11:56 AM | Link to this

As if there aren’t guns on MARTA already. This bill only makes it legal for people who already carry a gun legally to ride the subway. It will have no effect at all on the numerous thugs who carry all kinds of weapons, including guns, onto the trains. But it’s not designed for them, they’re already covered by the law since they are breaking it. However, maybe if they think that the guy they’re planning to rob is armed, they’ll think more before risking their own life. Most thugs don’t look for a fair fight, they look only for conflicts where they have an overwhelming advantage. Because they need a successful robbery, they go after easy targets. They are afraid of anyone who could possibly resist them.

CF

By Dave

April 4, 2008 12:00 PM | Link to this

USA has highest rate of deaths by guns. Guns KILL way more than PROTECT every sinle year. ALl logic that says that gubs make the USA safer are faulty at best. Guns kill, they NEVER protect. Ban ALL guns and we’ll ALL be safer. Criminal gets caught with a gun. Life sentence. Who even WANTS that risk. Act now…. Marta and bars are NOT the wild west No vigilantis….

By songbird

April 4, 2008 12:27 PM | Link to this

There are so many critical issues facing this State, water, traffic, education, and the General Assembly wastes valuable time arguing this ridiculous issue. Morons all.

By GCO Member

April 4, 2008 12:49 PM | Link to this

Dave,

When you can get criminals to agree to a non-proliferation treaty, then your argument will carry some weight.

The founding fathers intended for us to have firearms in order to protect ourselves from not only criminals, but a tyrannical government.

By James

April 4, 2008 12:50 PM | Link to this

To Dave and Songbird: Please do us all a favor and move to another country where you will be safer, have more freedoms and be more happy. And when you get there please write and let us know where it is.

By O'Really

April 4, 2008 12:51 PM | Link to this

Dear Dave, Let’s see. We tried banning alcohol. That didn’t work—created more crime. We’ve tried banning drugs. That didn’t work—created more crime. So you think if we ban guns, all criminals are going to obey that ban just because the threat of a life sentence? I bet you’re the same type that argues that death sentences don’t prevent murders so we shouldn’t resort to them.

I can not see what is so hard to understand about the concept that “Gun laws only affect those who abide laws”

By Alex

April 4, 2008 12:57 PM | Link to this

Dave: The Department of Justice puts the number of defensive gun uses per year anywhere from 108,000 to 4.7Million. http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles/165476.pdf Read it for yourself. Now… what was that about guns never being used for protection? Answer back with facts or don’t answer at all.

By James

April 4, 2008 1:05 PM | Link to this

Alex: Thanks much for the information from the D.O.J. but you know I’m sure that liberals NEVER use FACTS. They just work on EMOTION including if you yell louder than the other person that makes you correct. It’s also called political extortion.

By Alex

April 4, 2008 1:10 PM | Link to this

Songbird: I happen to think that me getting put in jail for 20 years and having to pay a $10,000 fine because I came within a “reasonable distance” of a bus stop IS a critical issue. Georgia’s carry laws are the most restrictive in the entire nation and the reason behind that is they were written by white supremacists over a 100 years ago in an effort to disarm freed black slaves. Why is it that repealing Jim Crow laws is not a critical issue?

By Fedup

April 4, 2008 1:15 PM | Link to this

Regarding Dave’s comment about locking up everyone for life if they commit a crime with a gun…if you think we the taxpayers will struggle paying for Hillary’s “universal” health care, wait until we pay for Dave’s “universal” prison care. You’re talking about adding 1.4 million gun wielding criminals to prisons annually where they will stay forever. Maybe you can talk to your not quite sane buddy Ted Turner about letting the government have all of his millions of acres to build prisons on. Note to Dave, prisons are gun free zones too, prisoners die there every day from violence.

By dryvalleyboy

April 4, 2008 1:16 PM | Link to this

The majority of anti-gun folks make their decision based on emotion rather than logic (see Dave and songbirds responses).It’s an offense punishable by 20 years in prison if you have a gun at a bus stop.Laws such as this only punish law abiding citizens.Criminals ignore this and any other anti-gun laws,possibly because they are CRIMINALS!!!

By john

April 4, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this

What a load of crap. If you are afraid of MARTA and feel it is unsafe don’t ride it. Those of you who claim to know about guns/knives on MARTA are ridiculous. Did you take a poll? These are baseless assumptions which show your prejudice towards the Atlanta residents that frequently use MARTA.

By MrLiberty

April 4, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this

All restrictive gun laws are founded on the principle that criminals will obey laws. Please explain to me the logic in supporting that premise.

The US Supreme Court has already ruled that the police have no mandate to protect me as an individual. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution tell me that I have a god-given right to my life. I therefore have a god-given right to protect my life. Dave and others - you do not have a right to take my life, not do you have the right to take away my means of protecting it.

By ND

April 4, 2008 1:39 PM | Link to this

Banning drugs has worked just fine. Why shouldn’t banning guns work too?

Oh wait, never mind.

Every American over 21 should be required to know how to operate a gun. If they then don’t want to exercise their 2nd amendment right that’s their decision.

By cory

April 4, 2008 1:42 PM | Link to this

Is having a concealed gun on marta supposed to stop crime it won’t jus like having guns at home doesn’t stop home invasions but at least you can defend yourself if you happen to pull the trigger quicker than the bad guy and hopefully no stray bullets will anybody else.

By Reality

April 4, 2008 1:44 PM | Link to this

Does this mean that MARTA will expand out into the frightened burbs now?

By GriffinMBABulldawg

April 4, 2008 1:45 PM | Link to this

Dave clearly buys his undergarments in the lady’s section.

I’m glad to see the legislature standing up for our rights led by my State Senator John Douglas. I hope Governor Perdue signs it.

Many great blog comments supporting the legislation.

By ATL

April 4, 2008 1:49 PM | Link to this

Actually, I have witnessed a handgun on MARTA. This was a couple of years during rush hour when one rider pull a gun out of the pocket of another rider on a fairly crowded East-West line train.

I exited the train at the next station and reported the incident (actually a number of us exited the train very quickly but few stuck around to deal with the police!)

Anyway, I’m back to riding the train after a single day absence and I’m sure that there are guns around me every day.

By demwit

April 4, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this

I slways carry my weapon under my left armpit.

That big gun you see bulging out of my pocket is used only for fun..

By ron

April 4, 2008 2:05 PM | Link to this

People that take the time to obtain a concealed weapons permit are not going to be a problem when they carry on Marta.Or in church,or the park,or anywhere.These people are law abiding citizens.They are not,never were,and aren’t going to be, the problem

By MC

April 4, 2008 2:09 PM | Link to this

Why is this legislation being pushed by people who don’t ride MARTA?

By Looking forward to it

April 4, 2008 2:20 PM | Link to this

I can see it now… freaked out suburbanites firing at will on buses and trains all over town every time some “inner city dude” looks at them weird. This is going to be fun! This city and state are a mess and this will just add fuel to the fire. So fire away!

By Jimbo

April 4, 2008 2:31 PM | Link to this

Dave, you want to stop demonizing my hobby?

Also, that’s patently untrue. More people are injured by guns than they save maybe, but the lowest number of incidents in a year where guns prevented crimes was 38,000. There aren’t that many gun deaths total in the whole country. Banning things in this country doesn’t work. Prohibition and the war on drugs is proof of that. My favorite thing is that you don’t show any number, no proof, not even the bogus padded crap the special interest groups (admittedly on both sides) throw at us. If you’re so desperate to save lives how about you cure cancer, or ban bacon.. heart disease kills 600,000 people a year while guns manage around 30,000. I admit movies and TV make guns seem scary but that bagel you had for breakfast is a hell of a lot more likely to kill you.

By James

April 4, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

“The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference - they deserve a place of honor with all that’s good” George Washington

“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom.” John F. Kennedy

By slinkymalinky

April 4, 2008 2:36 PM | Link to this

I’m going to stop carring my black backpack just in case, don’t want those rednecks, loaded for bear, to confuse me for a terrorist..

By RCH

April 4, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this

John If you don’t believe that there are thugs that carry guns and knives on MARTA, why are there so many MARTA police who themselves are armed. WAKE UP!!!!

By ChipM

April 4, 2008 2:58 PM | Link to this

Why aren’t these licensed holders who will supposedly open fire “every time some ‘inner city dude’ looks at them weird” already opening fire in places other than MARTA?

What is different about MARTA that makes it okay for someone to carry on the street outside the MARTA station, but not on the train?

By freidenker

April 4, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

MrLiberty, the Declaration of Independence is not the law of the land AND god is nowhere in the Constitution. you need to leave god out of this as Sonny should leave god out of sunday sales. otherwise, you’re correct.

By el Greco

April 4, 2008 3:20 PM | Link to this

Hey, Dave: Guns kill people like spoons made Rosie O’Donnell fat.

By NY-BABY

April 4, 2008 3:27 PM | Link to this

I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH ANYONE OWNING A GUN. LEGALLY!!! I JUST TURNED 21, AND ON MY BIRTHDAY I BOUGHT ONE. THIS WORLD IS GETTING CRAZY, SO I INTEND ON PROTECTING MY LIFE AND MY FAMILY. HOWEVER, I DO AGREE THAT EVERYONE WHO IS PERMITTED TO GET A CCP (CONCEALED CARRY PERMIT) M.U.S.T TAKE A GUN SAFETY CLASS REGULATED BY THE GOVERNMENT. ALSO, TO ALL CRIMINALS…EXPECT TO CATCH A SLUG IS YOU CHOOSE THAT LIFE. I WORK WITH A 65 YR OLD WOMAN WHO CARRIES A GLOCK…YOU NEVER KNOW…

By CJ

April 4, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

What is the point of legalizing guns on MARTA when they’ve never screen for them anyway? It’s an open-door policy and you can bring any crap you want onto a MARTA train. If they actually had security, they would have caught things that are far worse than guns and knives, I’m sure. Can someone explain what was gained by allowing guns on MARTA?

By Earl

April 4, 2008 3:34 PM | Link to this

The guy with the braids and the baggy pants with his hooded sweatshirt that rides MARTA looking for his next victim may not agree with me, but I won’t set a foot on MARTA without my GLOCK or my Kimmer. Keep ‘em locked and loaded.

By SD

April 4, 2008 3:36 PM | Link to this

Dave, we are not talking your bars, the gay bars. You guys hit each other with your purses. We are talking real men.

By GaLiberal

April 4, 2008 3:38 PM | Link to this

By ChipM @ 2:58 PM said: What is different about MARTA that makes it okay for someone to carry on the street outside the MARTA station, but not on the train?

Well, Chip since you asked. You see on a street you can run away from some nutjob with a John Wayne complex puts out their gun and open fire. People see gun, people run away. You can’t do that on a train. You’re stuck inside a large tin can. So when the redneck carrying a concealed weapon starts blasting away more people are in the line of fire. Not to mention the panic that will result and people getting injured or killed when everyone stampedes for the doors.

This is just another example of how the stupid Rethuglicons are running the state into the ground. They’ve pass laws allowing guns in city and county parks. They passed laws the put our children in prison for consensual sex. They’ve gutted what little consumer protection laws there were in favor of big businesses. I’ll remember in November.

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And allowing guns on public transit and in restaurants is living proof.

By Gofigure

April 4, 2008 3:53 PM | Link to this

I made a post a while back about the problems with guns, drugs, and violence in Atlanta. Let’s review:

Are hot soccer moms participating in crack deals gone bad? No-not any that I’m aware of.

Are 60 year old physics professors car jacking Escalades downtown? No-not any that I’m aware of.

Are 45 year old well educated stock brokers shooting people at night clubs? No-not any that I’m aware of.

So, who is doing this? Again, just watch the first 5-10 minutes of the 8am, Noon, 6pm, and 11pm news (your channel your choice). You can figure it out from there.

A favorite comedian of mine (God rest his soul) Mitch Hedburg had a bit that where he compares Bears to Frogs. It holds true for riding MARTA and comparing the above groups. It goes something like:

I do not have to hang my sandwiches from a tree as a frog knows they are for me. Besides, he’d rather have a fly and my sandwiches do not zig zag.

I do not get worried when a frog comes hopping at me.

I don’t have to squeeze honey from a plastic frog.

You’ll never hear anyone say: “RUN, here comes that frog!”

I say, we all need to start calling it like it is. People need to feel safe. If a weapon makes them feel safe, then so be it! When I’ve ridden MARTA, I never worried or kept vigilant when an 80 year old lady with a walker gets on. I have however worried when a group of young urbanites get on cussing, playing music with foul language on their phones, over-dressed for the season, staring (what tha F are they staring at?), aciting the fool, grillz, stinking, high, drunk, etc. I could go on and on. When thugs get it through their heads that being a poor, thuggy, welfare, babies momas, loser isn’t cool, then maybe society will change. It’s also up to their cultures to stop griping about the past and start practicing what they “preach”. Being educated and proper is where it’s at.

By RCH

April 4, 2008 3:58 PM | Link to this

Galiberal

Please reference one case of this ever happening. I have had a CCP for almost 30 years and have never once pulled my weapon in anger, nor meet anyone that has. I was trained to use the firearm only as a last resort with the emanate loss of life. Please stick to the facts

By Eric

April 4, 2008 4:01 PM | Link to this

To legalize guns on MARTA is an invitation to paranoia and disaster. I would not want to sit or stand next to an untrained citizen with a firearm. People already forget to turn off their cell phone, so I doubt they’ll be able to control a gun either. I’m very nervous about this. In fact, I won’t take MARTA anymore if this legislation is passed.

By Eric

April 4, 2008 4:07 PM | Link to this

To legalize guns on MARTA is an invitation to paranoia and disaster. I would not want to sit or stand next to an untrained citizen with a firearm. People already forget to turn off their cell phone, so I doubt they’ll be able to control a gun either. I’m very nervous about this. In fact, I won’t take MARTA anymore if this legislation is passed.

By KPH

April 4, 2008 4:08 PM | Link to this

It,s not just that you may need your gun on the train but you may need it going to the train or after you get off of it. So therefore HB 89 protects us wherever we are going not just while on MARTA. Dont worry people us LAW ABIDING concealed permit toters have been there all along you just didnt notice it and you wont now unless we have to reveal ourselves and God help the idiot that makes us do so.

By KPH

April 4, 2008 4:17 PM | Link to this

That’s fine Eric just walk and I hope you dont get mugged or worse and if so you had better hope someone like me is there to protect you because that is more likely than a police officer being there when the crime occurs. You see punk thugs look aroung for the police before they commit a crime but they wont notice that I have on weapon on me.

By Fat Tony

April 4, 2008 4:19 PM | Link to this

Thugs and criminals prey on the weak (or outnumbered), stupid, and unarmed because it’s easy and it’s safe. The desire for easy comes from their distinct lack of work ethic. Why work for your money when it’s easy to take it. If a work ethic existed, they’d have a job and a chance for a better life. It’s also not overly complicated. You just hang around until a victim arrives, then take what they have, by force as needed. No higher order of thinking is necessary, unlike at a job.

They also have a strong desire to be safe. That is why they travel in packs (safety in numbers) and generally arm themselves. When isolated and unarmed, they are cowards. As an ex-cop, I’ve seen it first-hand many times.

Their safety and well being is much more important than the victim. It’s all about them. Victims are simply there for their sustenance. It’s like being invited to dinner by a family of lions. Not good. You are nothing more than their next meal.

The ability for law abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons in a wider range of locations throws off this existing balance. All of a sudden, the predators do not have a safe and easy hunting ground. They must now work harder for their sustenance and be at greater risk while doing so. They get scared. Maybe lose some of their pack. It makes them feel weaker.

Eventually, they will move to someplace where they can maintain a level of ease and safety that is more comfortable to them. Probably some college campus where concealed weapons are not allowed. Lots of good hunting for them there.

By samuel

April 4, 2008 4:20 PM | Link to this

To RCH and Earl. Every major transit system in the world has a police force. They usually dont spend a lot of time on the trains or buses because there is very little violent crime on public transit anywhere in the world. I would love to see you guys riding New York’s subway, or the Chicago El, or the London Underground or the Paris Metro. You would not know what to do with yourselves.

By Jimbo

April 4, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this

I love how many of the comments by folks against this legislation could start with “Hey, I watch movies! I’ve seen television! I know how people with guns are!”

They don’t use any hard numbers, they don’t show any conclusive proof, or an identifiable trend that can link legally armed citizens with increases in crime.

They throw slurs and judgments and assumptions and gnash their teeth and tear at their hair but the problem isn’t the gun. It’s unfamiliarity with guns. Nine out of ten people I’ve met who are against guns have never fired one. They’ve never been around one, their main knowledge comes from movies or television or the sensationalist media coverage. They don’t realize there are quite literally millions of us, all around them every day. So, when I talk to one of these folks in person I offer to take them to the range, if they’re open to it, and let them try them out. 3 out of 4 take me up on it and after the experience not one ever questioned my gun ownership ever again. Most of them were enthusiastic about going to the range again and about half bought their own gun. I don’t throw slurs (very often, though I do get irritable at being called a redneck baby eating moronic child murdering people hating violence loving etc etc etc) and I don’t say that everyone should own a gun. That’s a personal decision and I’m against legislating the ability of other people to pursue life, liberty, or happiness. It really shows the type of people out there and their blind ignorance to the truth of the matter when they freak out about something that’s actually quite minor in the grand web of risks to their person. Like I said, the bagel they had for breakfast is orders of magnitude more likely to kill them than any gun. Hell, if a gun does kill them there’s a greater than 50% chance they did it to themselves (over half of all gun deaths in this country are usually the result of a suicide) so calm down.. read a little.. enjoy some number.. get all the facts and then make an educated decision before you spout off about how I’m out to get you with my EVIL EVIL GUN!

By Brian8655

April 4, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this

“By Dave April 4, 2008 12:00 PM USA has highest rate of deaths by guns. Guns KILL way more than PROTECT every sinle year. ALl logic that says that gubs make the USA safer are faulty at best. Guns kill, they NEVER protect. Ban ALL guns and we’ll ALL be safer. Criminal gets caught with a gun. Life sentence. Who even WANTS that risk. Act now…. Marta and bars are NOT the wild west No vigilantis….”

That’s the solution, just ban them. Make a law banning all guns and consistently enforce that law. Problem solved. There will be no more gun related crimes or deaths. Bans have worked wonders for this country in the past. Take prohibition for example; there were vast benefits to that, with the main one being the expansion of organized crime. ( Some would debate that the expansion of organized crime was not as significant as the birth of a sport where a bunch of rednecks drive around in circles for hours at a time, but that’s a conversation for another day. :) )

I don’t understand how anyone can believe that a total gun ban would make anything better. Cocaine and marijuana have been banned in this country for how long? I want you to think of how many people you know that smoke pot. Now, think about how many people you would have to call if you really wanted to get a hold of some illegal drugs. I bet most people reading this know someone, that knows someone who can get drugs. 2 or 3 phone calls is all it would take. You would think that it would be harder to get a hold of it, since it’s banned and all. I had friends in college that smoked pot daily. They smoked, because at 20 years old it was easier to get pot that it was to buy beer. A banned substance was easier to get a hold of than a “controlled” substance. That should be enough to show that ban don’t work. Look at history.

By Jonny

April 4, 2008 5:08 PM | Link to this

Permits? I don’t need no stinking permits! I assert my natural right to protect myself where the police do not. Part of that is being armed.

My rationale is I would rather be judged by 12 than be 6 feet under.

By whistler

April 4, 2008 5:09 PM | Link to this

Cousin Earl,

Be careful how you stereotype. I am Black, braided hair and a legal concealed carrier and NRA member. Criminals come in all shapes, sizes and colors…good guys do too!

By Brian8655

April 4, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this

*”A brutal knife slashing incident on the Atlanta MARTA commuter train, points up the common Public Relations issue of crime for transit companies in large cities. The knife attack started with an argument about a shell game on an evening commuter train. Atlanta commuter Brian Critchfield witnessed and wrote about the attack in the Atlanta Journal Constitution of 11/22/05.

“A man in a tank top wanted to play but, apparently, wasn’t welcome in the game. Then there was a screaming match …People on the train began looking a little nervous. Suddenly, the two men were shoving each other and the man running the game pulled a knife and slashed the other’s arm. There was substantial blood and it was gruesome.

I tried to speak with the conductor via the intercom. I held the red button down and communicated in a clear voice that there was a knife fight on our car and provided the car number. My fearful wife, myself and several others then made a frantic crossing to the next car through the emergency door. The conductor never acknowledged my plea for help. It was at least three more minutes until we arrived at Lenox. No police were waiting at the station. The men got off and continued screaming at each other and chasing each other around. All the time, the conductor kept our train there with the doors open. The men, after two or three minutes of display, left the platform. The train doors closed and the train left. No MARTA or Atlanta police came to even take eye-witness statements. The conductor made no announcements. My wife has taken the train a couple of times since then. But she cannot help but think of that day when she was witness to a violent crime and no one came to her aid.”*

By Jimmy

April 4, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

welll after looking through this thread there is hope for this country….

I’m impresed by the posstive Gun comments here…real logic being applied as opposed to “feelings”

By woodie

April 4, 2008 5:35 PM | Link to this

Guns don’t kill anyone. Criminals kill. And they will continue to kill after the dummy’s in this country make guns illegal for citizens wishing to protect themselves and their families. The police cannot protect the ordinary citizen in a confrontation with a criminal. They come after the fact, along with the hearse. I hope you don’t trust your family’s lives on the police showing up cause it ain’t gonna happen. In fact my daughter called 911 and while 4 men were breaking down her door, the 911 operator said to call back if someone is hurt. 15 mins later the police showed up and apoligized. A neighbor scared them off with a gun.

By James

April 4, 2008 5:41 PM | Link to this

By freidenker

April 4, 2008 3:19 PM | Link to this

MrLiberty, the Declaration of Independence is not the law of the land AND god is nowhere in the Constitution. you need to leave god out of this as Sonny should leave god out of sunday sales. otherwise, you’re correct.

MR. FREIDENKER:

I AM NOT SURE HOW YOU GOT OF ON THIS SUBJECT BUT SINCE YOU DID MAY I CORRECT YOU. “SUNDAY” IS IN THE CONSTITUTION (AND BY INFERENCE THE CHRISTIAN WORSHIP DAY) AS A “DAY” THE PRESIDENT DOES NOT HAVE TO TAKE WHEN CONSIDERING A BILL SENT TO HIM BY CONGRESS (ARTICLE I, SECTION 7). CHECK IT OUT !

By mike

April 4, 2008 6:28 PM | Link to this

Guns are simply wrong. Period. Proliferating the availability of guns step-by-step will lead…where? Guns should be controlled. I have no problem with hunting or sport shooting, but do we need to have AK47s, etc. available for purchase at the local pawn shop or gun store? I don’t want to own a gun. Even though I was in the military and could probably still fire one. But, I don’t want to feel forced into some sense of self-protectionism because the little old lady sitting next to me on the airport van or MARTA gives me the evil eye either. This is simply NOT the direction we should go as a civilized people. And, furthermore, I’m fully aware of the right to bear arms, but something tells me that our Founding Fathers didn’t have any of this in mind at the time.