Timberline. We left our guns at home.

Had a lovely day yesterday skiing at Timberline. Lots of sun, mild temperatures, short lift lines, and nice snow. The view from the top is pretty much awesome.

The front page of this morning's Oregonian featured several people carrying automatic weapons in and around the Oregon Capitol. It left me wondering.... Instead of asking people if they support automatic weapons bans, ammunition clip restrictions, or universal registration, what if we started with the question, "Do you feel safer seeing or knowing that others you encounter are carrying guns?"

The great Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. said "The right to swing my fist ends where the other man's nose begins." This was within the context of arguments about free speech. In truth, no rights are absolute, for the rights of one invariably impinge upon the rights of others. Let's stop talking about the "absolute" 2nd Amendment rights of any and all gun owners and recognize the rights of the rest of us to go about our lives with a modicum less anxiety.