the ridiculousness of the overly lax gun laws. Almost every night in New Orleans I was awoken by gun shots, sometimes just a couple of blocks away from Uptown - one of the so-called classier areas. Next day, we'd read about someone murdered, sometimes gang-related, often innocent bystander. Most citizens didn't give a damn, it happened so often they were completely desensitized. My neighbour had several guns in his house - he was very proud to show off the photos of animals he'd shot in Africa, some of which are now nearing extinction. One Christmas he gave me a twig with a used cartridge tied to it and the label that said "Cartidge in a Bare Tree". He was very proud to be a killer. Even Nancy Reagan carried a gun in her handbag, naievely saying that it was just an itsy bitsy gun. Someone asked her if they'd be an "itsy bitsy" bit dead if she ever used it against them. Sorry, but I'm totally against civilians carrying guns. I've seen the damage they can do.