[alexander_busek]

I object to enhanced penalties for using a gun in a crime. Mere possession of a firearm should not be penalized. It demonizes firearms, and implies they are evil in themselves.

I am as pro-2A as anyone on this board, and yet I disagree with you.

Firearms are not evil incarnate - they are merely tools.

But these tools amplify the effective evilness of an evil person using them.

If I get into a verbal altercation with someone over, e.g., a parking space, and if the other party threatens to shoot spitballs at me if I don't accede to his demands, it has a whole different quality than if he threatens to blow my head off with a firearm.

Regards,

[marktwain]

Your example is not the same at all. In your example the firearm was used to threaten you.

Would it be different if the person threatened you with a different weapons, such as a flame thrower or a crossbow?

[null and void]

Once upon a time, I found a parking place in San Fransisco. before I got out of my car a very obviously gay guy was at my window, saying he needed that space, he was moving, he'd been waiting across the street for that space to open, and I got to it before he could get there.

I was ready to ignore him.

Then the SOB said "Please".

"Dammit!" says I, "You used the magic word, you had to use the magic word, you can have the space, get your car in position."

*sigh*