It
is interesting to think about the changes in my life especially over the past
year. This is especially true when considering the places where my wife and I
have lived in the past compared to the community in which we live now. Well
beyond the considerations of considerably reduced congestion and the open space
which we now enjoy, there is a different reality which we are now a part of
which I have welcomed opening into our life.
It
comes down to simple percentages… for the most part, criminals know that in the
suburbs of Philadelphia 90% of the houses will not have a firearm inside. This
has been the reality that we lived with for many years. However, for the most
part, the opposite is true where we live now. Criminals know that there is
about a 90% chance that there will be a firearm in the house. When they reach
this realization they tend to head toward the more populated areas around the
city. This isn’t to say that we live in rural utopia but it does lend some
peace of mind… I feel safer knowing that this is our reality.
The
other difference was concisely surmised a few months ago when I had the
pleasure of speaking with many of our new neighbors at a party. When the
conversation turned to one of those not in attendance shooting their rifle in
the back yard the response was a little different than what I have heard on the
main line in the past but one that I completely agree with… well, it is there
property and as long as they a shooting in a safe direction I have no problem
with it. This is exactly the reaction that we should hear everywhere but, for
me, it took loving to a different county before I heard those words coming from
someone else.
Bear
in mind that these observations are from a county that (tri county area
actually) that still has a majority of registered voters aligned with the Democrats
while, at the same time, with an active voter base that heavily favors Republicans.
Of course, the subject at hand is about individual rights which should be
supported by all people regardless of party affiliation. It is rather unfortunate
that there are so few pockets of the population where rights still have value and
personal responsibility is expected such as where we live now.
In
this interesting dichotomy I am both part of the minority and a part of a
significant majority. It is this interplay between affiliation and beliefs that
will make politics where I live particularly interesting this year and, while I
am fairly certain as to what the results will be, I am curious to see how the
percentages settle. Something else that I have to get used to… people actually
voting based on the candidate rather than party affiliation. Hopefully the 90%
come through!
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