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Community Corner

Mom's Talk: Guns at Home

When it comes to protecting our families, are guns a safe option?

We are lucky to live in a calm area, one where neighborhoods are quiet and with relatively low crime. As I read the police blotter every week I notice that our crime here in Lilburn usually consists of shoplifting, fraud, and theft. Occasionally there is a home invasion or store being robbed at gunpoint.

Obviously, no person or community is immune to crime. If we become victims of such crimes, how do we protect ourselves? We could wait for the local police department, but I can tell you from personal experience, the response isn’t always fast enough. Should these situations arise we may be better off putting our self-defense in our own hands.  Protecting our selves and families is our duty, but some forms of protection can be a danger as well.

When it comes to protecting our families, are guns a safe option?

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We all remember Columbine, where troubled teenagers with easy access to guns caused national headlines after a mass murder. Guns are often involved in headlines, and many of them involve accidents with children. Not only can guns get in the wrong hands, there is also danger when an inexperienced person tries to handle and use a gun, even in the case of self-defense.

On the other hand, when safety precautions are followed carefully, many tragic and deadly accidents can be avoided. There really is no excuse for owning a gun and not knowing proper safety procedures. Many classes are available to keep gun owners and their families’ safe, but no one can guarantee that these safety procedures will be followed.

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Are gun safes, locks and proper training enough to keep a family safe from tragic accidents? Would you rather be safe than sorry and not allow guns in your house, or do you allow them in order to protect your family if the need arises?

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