Two days before Newtown, we had a shooter at one of our local malls. Everyone I talk to is nervous to go out to the malls right now. I work for the State, and I worry about nuts coming into our building and firing off shots. There is a young man who claims to have a CCW and he allegedly drew a bead on the mall shooter, claims to have made eye contact but he didn't shoot because there were other people near by. Then the story goes on to say that after that the shooter killed himself. I say this is 'allegedly' because law enforcement has given some conflicting reports. Regardless, if he did or didn't, the mall is posted as a Gun Free Zone...so that didn't stop a CCW carrier. I don't think these assassins chose gun free zones for that reason, they go where they KNOW they're going to be able to cause mass casualties. Another thing I try to point out is that very, very few people posess the absolute control that a tactically trained person has. All these shooters wear body armor, therefore it'd require a sniper kill shot to the head to take them out. Good luck getting some weekend paper target shooter to make a shot like that, much less someone who rarely, if ever draws a weapon. We all like to think we will be in command if an emergency crisis occurs, but it's just not in our nature! Having to kill someone is not something the majority of citizens has ever had to comprehend in real time. And to have the ability to identify a danger and act? Yeah right. My very first instinct would be to take cover and run, get to a safe place and then, and only then, take offensive measures. I think everyone who thinks they should walk around with a gun on their person try this experiment. Go into a public place with a friend, one that is well populated. Instead of your gun, have a rubber band shooter or some other non-lethal 'gun'. Have your friend shout out KITTY CAT! and turn to point to a 3rd person who is wearing a clown wig and has a similar 'gun'. That person is a shooter. Now, whip out your 'gun' and 'shoot' the shooter. Of course, it's going to be at a random point in time, you're in on this...but you don't know when or where it'll happen. Now, lets time your reaction and see if you actually hit the target and/or were YOU or someone else hit. A non-lethal exercise to gauge just what a Dirty Harry you are. I hate that people need to have a gun in the home for protection, but in some cases it is needed, if you live in a rural area where law enforcement is far away. In that case, I'd certainly hope you have a couple of big, loud dogs as an early warning system. But if you have a gun in the home, why does it have to be a weapon capable of shooting more than 6 bullets at a time? Really, if you're in a situation where an intruder has a semi-auto-chances are you're already going to kiss your hind end goodbye.

I was one of the people who were going up to Perry County, Pa. to shield the family who lost 7 children in a house fire. We canceled at the last minute, the State Police said they had information that the WBC wouldn't be there as they were protesting a Marines funeral in New York. I realize these people have the right to free speech, I also think when we were granted free speech our forefathers didn't have something like this in mind. It is my opinion that this isn't a church as such, it is a cult.

Rosa, I have nothing buy admiration, respect & gratefulness, for our military men & women. They are doing an extremely difficult job in a wretched place - & all for people they've never seen - me & my family! And everyone elses'! It breaks my heart & makes me mad as H--- when hateful people open their mouths & spew their garbage. I pray that the soldiers & particularly their families have deaf ears to all that. I think of children who are living without a parent while they are off fighting for us. What must they be feeling when they are subjected to such horrible words & actions?? It's unfortunate that those of us who DO support the military aren't heard from thro the media like the hate mongers are. What I wouldn't do to see their mouths glued shut! Thanks for bringing this to our attention. And the plug for Quilts of Valor - an awesome ministry to our military! I've wanted to get involved w/that project, but never get around to it. :( Now would be a good time to follow thro. If you don't see me post something about starting a quilt for QOV in the next week or so --- call me on it! I can sometimes get spurred to action w/a little accountability! Thanks again for sharing, Cindy

I don't know diddly about this group and frankly don't really want to know much more than what I looked up when this topic came before me. Many churches are nothing more than attention-seeking cults. Religion is an interesting thing to a curious person such as myself. People kill, in the name of religion. Yet they usually preach to not kill. People force their religion onto others, yet preach to not so do. Religion is modified for the times, convenience and otherwise. (One day it's a sin to eat meat, then all of a sudden, have a burger.) More often than not I see truly religious people as quiet types. It's the people who feel a need to shout PRAISE THE LORD, HALLELUJAH and otherwise often are simply seeking publicity and attention and in my experience usually are insecure in their own religious beliefs. And while the PTL shouters also allegedly preach live & let live, they're often the first to be suspicious if someone should shout PRAISE ALLAH! A small minority of Muslims are terrorists in the name of their religion. A small minority of Christians are equally terroristic in the name of their religion. This isn't really any different than the blowhard who threatened the Koran burning. Or is it the same one? If not, same type. He still won. He got the attention sought, raised funds and attention for the cause, not unlike this group or many others. Misquoting the Bible, the Koran or any other "good book" is common practice in the religious zealots and runs the gamut from the terrorist to the holy rollers. Quote to achieve your point, interpret it as you can to make it fit your position and justify it as "it's in the _____ (book)". Curiously they lose sight of how many times these books have been re-written, nor do many even know who wrote them. To me there's two things that are wrong at a funeral. 1) Protesting. What's it accomplish other than satisfy a need for notoriety? However, equally as wrong is 2) To make someone out to be something they weren't. If Hitler were being buried today, many would be chanting about his loving family and he was a "human being", bla bla bla. I don't think you need to attack a person in the box, but it *is* totally un-Christian to sit and lie and glorify them too just because they're dead. (And before a couple of you go off the deep end, I'm not addressing this toward Elizabeth Edwards! Sheesh!) The sad fact is that they won, without firing a shot so to speak. They seek attention and are getting it from all the newspapers, TV/radio stations, websites and even commentaries in forums, blogs and so forth. And to top it off, taxpayers pay for their actions! Their church pays zippo in taxes right? Victory #2.