A nice slideshow from the Commercial Appeal consisting of nothing but people who tell the reporter why they have chosen to carry. It’s titled Why We Carry Guns and there’s not one nutter in the show.

Then you can go to AppealTV.com and watch the news segment. Again, stunningly unbiased.

Finally, you can read the article written by journalist Don Wade, which includes his recent experience in taking the carry course, In crime-pocked Memphis, the good guys — and women — get ready.

It’s really quite good. Money quote:

The first “Death Wish” movie, with Charles Bronson playing Paul Kersey, a man who becomes a raging vigilante in the wake of home invaders killing his wife, was released 32 years ago.

But the people in today’s handgun permit classes do not appear to be Charles Bronson wannabes. They are simply trying to be safe, not sorry.

They wish not to die before their time.

“These people are not haters,” says Fowler. “They’re scared and they want protection. And they have one job: Stay alive.”

And here’s a fun fact:

In 2000, 3,916 Shelby County residents had handgun carry permits. Five years later, in 2005, that number had more than doubled to 7,838. This year, permits are on pace to hit 8,000.

[HT to Liberty Larry, via email.]