In remarks at the Denver Police Academy in Denver, Colo., [President Barack Obama] said that, after campaigning in rural Iowa, Michelle Obama told him, “You know, if I was living out on a farm in Iowa, I’d probably want a gun, too. When somebody just drives up into your driveway and you’re not home, you don’t know who these people are, you don’t know how long it’s going to take for the sheriffs to respond, I can see what you’d want some guns for protection.”
I don’t get it.
Are the Obama’s being well… not racist but classist? stereotyping “Iowa Rednecks” or Iowa as a scary place to live? elitist attitude? or is this simple ignorance? Are they saying guns are fine in rural areas, but not in cities? for rednecks but not cityfolk? or… what? I’m not sure what to make of the implications of their comments. But let’s just set that side and look at the plain words.
When someone drives up to your home…
You don’t know who these people are…
You don’t know how long it’s going to take for someone else to come and save you (because apparently your safety is someone else’s responsibility)…
well, in that case, they can see why people might want guns.
OK.
Well… all the people around you right now. Maybe not those immediately around you there at home or even the office (but perhaps even at the office, because I’m sure you don’t know everyone in your company or your building), but look at all those around you in the greater area. Heck, next time you go out to lunch or dinner, next time you’re out shopping, next time you’re at the gas station… do you know all those people? Do you know who they are?
Was there ever a time when some strange person drove into your driveway? Or came and knocked on your door?
Do you know how long it takes for your local law enforcement to arrive? You probably don’t. I’m not sure where this guy got his stats from, but you can see the average for these large cities runs about 10 minutes. That’s about par with my experience in Austin. Even if you don’t know the precise time, consider simple realities of time and space. There isn’t a cop standing right next to you right now, so that means if you want one, one has to travel to you. First, you have to have a way to communicate that you need one: so you or someone needs to dial 911, wait on hold, talk to an operator, explain what you need, they patch things through, depending how your 911 center is organized they might dispatch from there or the operator might have to relay your information to a dispatcher who then can send out the police… how many minutes did all this take before a cop was even starting to travel your way? Now they have to fight through traffic to get to you. Yeah sure they can turn on their lights, but I’m sure you’ve seen it — police car, fire truck, ambulance… lights and siren flashing, and it still takes them a while to get through an intersection because cars can’t or won’t get out of the way. All the while… the clock is ticking…. and your attacker continues their attack.
So… Mr. & Mrs. Obama….
What makes it about Iowa that can have guns (in your mind), but someone living in not-Iowa couldn’t? Don’t these things happen in The Big City too? Aren’t there strange people, willing to commit horrible acts, in cities too? Aren’t police in cities subject to the same rules of time and space and that it takes time to respond? I mean, not all of us are surrounded by Secret Service agents.
So please, explain to me the thinking behind your statement.
Stuff From Hsoi 
This is classical ‘classism” — see those hicks living out in the country refuse to accept the advantages that modern, educated folks get by making the right decision to live in the city – police protection.
Never mind the reality of living in the city is not much different as you point out. A couple of years ago, I had a small incident with one of my cars catching on fire.
I saw the fire, yelled at my wife and went to retrieve an extinguisher. My wife dressed while calling 911; by the time she got out to the driveway still talking to 911 I had the fire out.
Note she was still on the phone with 911 who was able to cancel the dispatch ! How is this any different from someone trying to break down my door or climbing in a window?
Of course, I’m a stubborn bitter clinger who just happens to live in the city…and thinks I should be my own first responder. Apparently Mr. Obama thinks I should have let my car burn up instead of acting…..because I don’t live in Iowa.
So what you’re saying is… they’re ignorant of the realities of life.
I’d probably argue for “willfully ignorant”
Yep, What Dave said.
Deliberately, willfully and painfully (for us) ignorant of reality.