I am concerned that my guns will be taken away by a knee-jerk gun confiscation policy, and I really do feel I may need them to defend my home someday. After all, I am a resident of the United States of America, I live in a dangerous place populated by armed criminals and paranoids. I consider myself a moderate on this issue, although you may have noted my comments here have not been received that way by my opponents.

But my home defense does not require a 30 round clip, or a weapon easily modifiable to full automatic, or that I be able to pack heat everywhere I go, or that I buy unregistered guns at gun shows and mail order and with no waiting period and no vetting.

If handguns are banned I would be forced to lose my investment in them and buy a shotgun for home defense.
In addition to the expense, it would be an inconvenience and force me to add even more to the existing stock of privately owned firearms. However, I am willing to compromise, and I am willing to undergo some inconvenience and expense for the public good, if I feel it is reasonable and it will work.

But the NRA and the gun culture's refusal to give an inch on this, to resist every possible restriction, to fight any change, even some that seem so obvious and necessary, makes it very difficult to consider them a venue for debate and compromise. For them, its their way or the highway. Gee, where have we heard that before?

It's hard to respect that smug, self-righteous mentality that simply dismisses everyone who disagrees with them as either a fool, a coward, or a traitor.