My letter to the representatives...

Sent this this morning to everybody on the representative list. (A thanks to the poster who compiled/updated it...)

Subject: The Mentality of a Mass Shooting
Dear Elected Official,

I understand this is a busy time of year for most people, so I'll keep this short and on point. Please read this carefully and at least consider this when the inevitable legislation comes to a vote.

The mentality of these mass shooters is very similar. Columbine, Sandy Hook, Aurora... all had a common theme. A mentally disturbed person trying to make a huge impression, craving posthumous notoriety, and perpetrated in a cowardly, bullying fashion. Perhaps as a reaction to their perceived "bullying" at the hands of whomever they were miffed at.

Consider for a moment, the way they commit these crimes. They pick "soft targets" which are large crowds of presumably unarmed people, and immediately either attempt to flee, or kill themselves upon the arrival of police. Think of how the mentality of a bully works - stand up to them, and they wilt! If one person in the crowd had suddenly returned fire, the entire dynamic changes in the shooter's mind. These are not trained soldiers - they are immature bullies acting in a cowardly fashion on what they think will be an easy attack. It is of little consequence whether the person firing at them is able to wound or stop them. The point is, the scenario would likely change quickly, and they would respond much the same as when the police arrive - ie fleeing, killing themselves, or clumsily attempting to return fire, focusing on the person shooting at them! This would give more people time to flee or attack the shooter, and while the casualties would still be there, they would be drastically reduced. It would no longer be akin to a video game of shooting fish in a barrel.

Mass killings perpetrated by disturbed, attention-hungry people will never be eliminated. Ban guns, and they will turn to bombs. Ban bombs, and they will turn to gas. Etc, etc.

Imagine you are a teacher huddled in the classroom, or a spouse shielding your loved one with your body, or a parent attempting to hide your children. Would you prefer to simply sit there and pray that the shooter skips over your area, or that your body is enough to shield your child? Or would you rather have the option of returning fire, perhaps killing or wounding the shooter, and at the very least give other people a chance to be saved while he's distracted? Yes, there is no perfect scenario here - bystanders may be wounded in the shootout, the killer may be enraged, and chaos will inevitably ensue. But it becomes a very different prospect from having a room full of people passively waiting to be executed, just praying that their child isn't next.

Can you imagine any of these shooters attacking a crowd in which they know even 25% of them are armed? They don't attack police stations, or gun shows, or military installations. They attack large groups of unarmed, helpless people.

Please do the right thing, and do not attempt to remove my ability to defend my family the next time this happens.

LAWS ONLY AFFECT PEOPLE WHO OBEY LAWS TO BEGIN WITH. Law-abiding citizens do not need further restrictions, and further laws will do nothing to curb the violence. At least give the "good guys" the option to defend their loved ones, and mitigate the next attack.

Sincerely,
(my name) - registered voter and uncompromising believer in the 2nd Amendment.