If you are like me you were raised around guns - and responsible gun stewardship. My dad spent some time as a DI and was absolutely no nonsense when it came to firearms training. We were taught an appreciation for, and a respect of guns.
With that orientation it came as somewhat of a surprise to me to see the casual disregard that some have with guns. Yes, you can kill yourself with a hammer, but it is a thousand times easier to do it with a gun (or a chopsaw for that matter). It is a tool but a tool that commands attention and common sense.
Years ago I was camping with a group of friends - some close, some casual. We were having a great and relaxing time drinking, fishing, drinking, playing musical instruments, drinking... On the 2nd night one guy who I did not know got his back up about something or another. He wasn't closely associated to anyone that I knew of, and I suspect that he was feeling vulnerable. So he decided to send a message to the group of his virility and general awesomeness by yarding out a handgun and waving it around. Ignoring the advice to put it away and settle down, he got increasingly belligerent.
So five or six of us pulled out own weapons - which came as a huge surprise to this guy - and disarmed him. We hog-tied him in the back of his pickup and drive him down to the ranger station, leaving him in the parking lot. The next day we got a visit from the rangers who had gotten an earful from pancho villa after he sobered up a bit, and wanted to know what was up. We surrendered his gun to the rangers and explained how he had threatened the group and wasn't a very nice camp-buddy. They laughed and warned the guy to leave and not come back.
Some people are azzholes. You can usually tell them from a mile off and avoid them. Some times you must confront them. This guy would have been a jerk whether he had had a gun, a tank, or just his big mouth. I don't know this Belcher guy but I would bet that, if one were to have paid attention, they would have seen the tells.
My heart goes out to the baby girl orphaned by all of this, and to the families that are now struggling to come to grips with their loss.
bob corksoaker can kiss my ass.