You Can Quote Me on This

When I lived in Japan (about two decades ago) there was a Japanese Exchange student (Yoshihiro Hattori) staying in Louisiana who was on his way to a Halloween party and went to the wrong house by accident.
The property owner, Rodney Peairs, shot and killed Hattori, thinking he was trespassing with criminal intent. The controversial homicide and Peairs's subsequent acquittal in the state court of Louisiana, received worldwide attention. (Story here)

The people I worked with and my English language students were appalled by this (it was big news in Japan) and I can't remember how many times I was asked: "Why do Americans all have guns?" or "Why do Americans love guns?"

My answer (which was true at the time) was that no one in my family owned a gun and I didn't know anyone with a gun. I also said I was deeply uncomfortable with guns and hoped some day legislation would change so that firearms would be available only for hunters and police. (Side note: Japanese police, by and in large, do not carry guns. Private citizens are forbidden, by law, to have a gun.) My entire time in Japan I never saw a gun. Not on a police officer, or even on military soldiers who had a training base nearby.

As I've traveled - I've been asked repeatedly (and with great criticism) why Americans are such bullies, love violence and guns and feel the need to invade and police other countries.

Some of this is perpetuated by the export of Western (Hollywood) entertainment - where the only glimpse of life in America some people have is one of violent movies of gangsters, etc.

However, some of this comes from legitimate news sources as repeatedly other countries hear about senseless gun tragedies over and over from America. Sandy Hook. The mass shooting in Aurora in a movie theater. Virginia Tech. I could list more - but Wikipedia does that for me.

This week alone in our area a 15 year old boy accidentally shot and killed his 13 year old brother and the New Hope City Council meeting was interrupted by a man who shot two policemen before being killed by another police officer. His family identified him and said he was disgruntled man whose anger was bound to boil over and that they knew he was volatile.

I'm not saying that Japan, or any other country is without crime, volatile or mentally unstable people who want to harm others or downright evil people who want to hurt, violate or otherwise commit crime against others.

I'm not saying that accidents don't happen between siblings in other countries where one sibling accidentally injures another.

But the one indisputable difference between our country and all others is this:
a firearm was available to these people who should NEVER have had access to a gun.

You can quote me on this:

The difference between our country (the U.S.) and all others is that lethal weapons - high power hand guns and rifles - are so commonplace and readily available that impulsive, criminal or mentally unstable people and even children who don't understand their actions can (and do) easily kill others.

Here is a very compelling and interesting number:

The Congressional Research Service in 2009 estimated there were 310 million firearms in the U.S., not including weapons owned by the military. 114 million of these were handguns, 110 million were rifles, and 86 million were shotguns. In that same year, the Census bureau stated the population of people in the U.S. at 306 million.

Per capita we have MORE GUNS than we have PEOPLE in the United States.

This is why other countries shake their heads at Americans and wonder why we, as a culture, cannot better regulate guns, gun sales and who can possess these lethal weapons so that these frequent (and often senseless) tragedies could be prevented or at least the number of gun fatalities might decrease.

This is one of those times when the "grass is greener" living elsewhere..when I miss living in Japan or wish I could move my family to New Zealand..where instead of guns, the sheep outnumber the people.

I'm a Runner

When I first started running and started to rave about how cathartic and how happy it made me - Jeff (hubby) was skeptical. He said: "Yeah, well let's see how long you stick with it. I wouldn't call you a runner."

I was a bit annoyed so I countered with:
"Okay, so when will I be a real runner?"
He said..."Well, you consider yourself a quilter right? But I haven't seen you do much lately.." (Which also kind of ticked me off--and I quickly finished two projects right after that comment.)

I insisted: "Okay, HOW LONG until I'm a real runner?"
He said: "Well..you know..like a couple of years.."

I'm coming up on nearly a year of walk/running. By spring it will be a year of running. I've run my first 5K (tough mudder) ...and I think it's fair to say I AM really a runner. In Letterman style, I provide to you my top ten signs that your wife IS a runner.

Top Ten Signs Your Wife is a Runner

10. Target purchases begin to include lycra C9 items.
9.  When she's headed out to walk the dog you notice her Sketchers walking shoes get replaced with old Nikes usually used to mow the lawn.
8.  "Walks" begin to be in excess of 60 minutes.
7. The dog starts limping.
6. Your wife mentions: "Hey, the Y has a promotion for a no-joiners fee and free month..is it OK to try it out?"
5. Your wife makes a trip to the running store and makes a few purchases on a credit card you don't see the balance on..but you do notice that she has some ugly new shoes.
4. Your wife is spending an inordinate amount of time researching special headphones for her iPhone to use while at the Y.
3. She wants to run a 5K "just for fun"...and her trips to the Y are exceeding an hour and result in lots of sweaty laundry.
2. Suddenly the clothing budget goes WAAAY up because none of her old clothes fit her. Crap!
1. She subscribes to Runners World Magazine and actually shrieks with joy each time an issue shows up in the mail box. Then she devours and re-reads the magazine with the enthusiasm you would only have for Road & Track or Car and Driver magazine.