I have no qualms shooting in self defense. In my 57 years, I came close one time. A guy pulled a knife on me one evening when I was tending bar. I withdrew the handgun from beneath the bar and took aim. He fled, because in the "stone-paper-scissors" of real life, gun screws knife. Would I have shot him if he had come any close? Oh, hell yes. If it's my life or someone else's that is trying to threaten me, it's hoo-rah for me all the way.

I have taken a gun downstairs a couple of times to investigate a funny banging in the basement, which turned out to be a (1) raccoon and a (2) possum. In both instances they merely got the broom escort out of the house.


I cannot see killing something or someone that presents no danger and that is not trying to kill or seriously injure me. Not even a possum. I wouldn't kill for property either unless it was a survival situation. But when it's my life or the life of the person who is trying to take mine, hey, they've already demonstrated that they don't value life all that greatly, so they really shouldn't care if I shoot them.