Qole, I like your water bottle examples.

Where's the harm in checking drink bottles to see if their seal has been broken or not?

If broken, where's the harm in a sniff test to make sure it's okay? etc etc etc.

Yeah, I know: we have time to remove our laptops from bags, take our shoes off and half-disrobe if it's cold weather, but no time for bottle checks! Just throw 'em away. You'll all be safer if we do.

No, I didn't; I said that, if it happens, your gun won't protect you. You'll most likely be out of the house.

Maybe you could mount a turret and couple it to a motion detector...

Speaking from personal experience, Mr. Bond?

This just in--

DIFFERENCE DISCOVERED BETWEEN UNLIKELY AND IMPOSSIBLE

Information scientists today have confirmed that recent experiments bear out a long-held supposition: there is a measureable difference between the nebulous probability known as Unlikely and the more extreme variant identified as Impossible.

"It's true," asserted Dr. X. Factor, a reputable number guy. "We have pinpointed Unlikely as somewhere between .005% to as high as 1%. This isn't the same as Impossible."

Indeed, laboratories worldwide have replicated the results and the news has spread through the statistical community like wildfire. Entire graduate theses are being shredded en masse, clogging landfill operations and causing an uproar in the confetti industry.

"So many of our carefully crafted hypotheses have turned out to be nothing more than rank hyperbole instead," lamented one anonymous Yale student. "Who knew?"

Others are not so convinced.

"These results come from tests performed on laboratory mice, who were given tasks with outcomes judged by humans to be either Unlikely or Impossible," retorted Professor I. R. Lesser. "If tests on humans produce the same results, I'll accept them... until then, I'm skeptical."

Yes. Because it's already supposed to be a rarity my house should even be broken into... but I have a wife that doesn't work and is home for the 9 hours I'm not...

And I very rarely ever leave the house after work except maybe for dinner once a week as a family, if that. (Usually can't afford it.. even weekends.)

So ... It's already supposed to be unlikely I should be robbed to begin with.

And then of that unlikely.. You're adding the other relatively short time that there is nobody at my house..

And calling that a most likely??? ... Eh.. Sure. That makes sense.

And then.. if I am home.. My handgun is always in either a quick-access touch-combo safe by my bed.. or on my hip.. and my AR is already ready; just inside a locked rifle case.

Yes... You're right.. very unlikely my guns will help me in the rare occasion my house is robbed, with an alarm system, during the 1 hour that I am not home, per week.

ETA: Cute Tex.. You first get mad at me for using Hyberboles and extremes, coupled with sarcasm and blanket statements.. And then you return with complete sarcasm that seems to attack my sarcastic remark to begin with.

I've discovered I simply don't understand your posts. I'm thinking you're suffering the same problems with regards to mine.

The collapse of the confetti industry has completely destroyed the economy of the city of Shreddi, in southern Italy, you insensitive clod.

Don't shoot blame the messenger!!!

I have never gotten mad at any of your posts. That would be silly.

And you can have some tongue-in-cheek fun with this topic, but I can't???

I hate double standards... [note: no anger is expressed in the preceeding statement, despite the politically-incorrect usage of the word "hate". This may or may not be a hate crime and is being investigated by the proper authorities. Your cooperation and patience is appreciated. -Echelon]

It's good to see that we agree.

Thieves won't be bothered with your house; the house down the street, however, which is empty a lot of the time, or those neighbours who have a garage with a lock that can be easily jimmied... Or that guy who locks his bike with a chain lock to the sign post...

I'm also glad to hear that you are careful with your guns, keeping them locked up. That's very responsible of you.

LOL qole...

My stepdad keeps the outdoor lights of their house off at all times. I told him that was crazy-- the result is a LOT of shadows around their windows and doors from heavy shrubbery and large trees.

He's convinced that thieves are attracted to brightly-lit dwellings because they can see the stuff to steal.

My powers of persuasion are failing on him, too.

Fair enough.. Like I said.. I seem to be having a more than unusual time understanding half of your posts. Or even your actual point of view, regarding this topic, which I'm sure you've expressed.. it's just.. obviously above my intellect

And qole: Yes. I am responsible with my firearms (at least IMHO). I spend extra money (which is why I'm broke) buying the touch-key safe's instead of the turn dial cheap safe's because pushing a few buttons in succession is much easier, and faster, than trying to turn a dial - and yet still secure enough to keep my 6 y/o out. I have kids in my house. Do I think it's a good idea to keep a gun locked up when there is kids around?? Of course. Do I think the government should mandate what I do inside my house? Of course not.

So while I may agree with you that people should be responsible with firearms.. I don't agree the government should restrict and define what exactly that means. Only I know my kids, only you know yours.. and sometimes we don't even know our own kids.. but the decision on what age, and when, a kid should be able to access the gun is a decision for the parent. Not the .gov. I've read several stories of 12-14 year old kids saving their house, and in some cases, their siblings, from intruders with their parents guns.

Again.. just another area where the Parents need to be in charge.. not you, not me, and definitely not the Gubberment - like Benson said.

I keep my safe's bolted to something, to minimize the risk you pointed out.. and I check every last firearm every time I get home. If I ever find one missing (let's be honest, I can't guarantee my guns 100% of the time anymore than you can guarantee me safety without my guns 100% of the time).. You'd be right to believe my sorry back-side will be on the phone to police providing detailed descriptions of it and the serial numbers to it (yes.. have those too.)