There’s an interesting — albeit predictable — discussion about gun rights, gun safety and home defense, in the forum attached to a Rockland story about the shooting of two men accused of breaking into a home in Haverstraw. Here’s the link.

Many readers are applauding the actions of the rifle-wielding homeowner, who struck one of the alleged assailants in the arm and the other in the rear end. They also opened up a wider discussion about gun rights.

Here’s a sampling of the comment, creative spellings included:

“the owner need more range time, arm and butt shot not that good, but what if he didnt have his rifle, what could have been the outcome, maybe a homicide in havastraw?”

“Shoot first ask questions later? Of course i dont comply with this method of thought, however i do believe that these two criminals got their just deserts. I’m not promoting that everyone should go out and buy themselves a gun for protection, but i do think this event taking place is good in the sense that it sends out a message to other criminals like these two clowns that they better second think their actions.”

“They’ll have to pry my cold, dead hands off my gun before I give it up. Look at where the politicians, who want to take away the honest citizen’s gun rights, live – estates and gated communities with armed guards. If that’s what it takes, then consider me an armed guard – guarding my family and what is rightfully mine. Let some lazy, ignorant, non-english speaking punk just try and take that away and I promise you they will die of lead poisoning. I know where center-of-mass is and I’m trained NOT to miss.”

“2ND AMMENDMENT “THE RIGHTS TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS” NEXT TIME YOU HEAR A POLITICIAN TALKING ABOUT “GUN CONTROL” IT ALWAYS MEANS TAKING THE GUNS AWAY FROM THE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.
WE ALREADY HAVE GUN LAWS THAT ARE NOT ENFORCED AND THE CRIMINALS CAN GET BETTER, FASTER AND CHEAPER GUNS THAN WE CAN.”

The shooting comes as gun sales have been skyrocketing nationwide. Here’s a link to a story published Monday on the trend in New York, as reported by our Albany Bureau.

Our view is reflected in an editorial today, “Bigger threats to home safety.” It offers some food for thought to those who think the biggest threats to home security are home invaders, the Supreme Court and the Obama administration.