(1) As some of you may or may not know, I'm the founder/director of The Toronto Ghosts and Hauntings Research Society and a co-chair of PSICAN with my wife...

http://www.torontoghosts.org/
http://www.psican.org/

(2) What some may not also know about me is that I'm a CIL qualified marksman with a rifle and have some training with NATO weapons to boot... and as a re-enactor, I've fired (and owned) black powder muzzle-loader weapons.

Now, how do (1) and (2) marry each other besides being about me?

Well, they SHOULDN'T!

You see, I'm a FIRM believer in gun control (NOT BANNING, just tighter controls) and that fully-automatic weapons and handguns should NEVER be in the hands of anyone without a DAMNED good reason and license, or a badge, or if they are wearing a uniform.

BUT LO AND BEHOLD!

There's a site "South of the 49th" that ADVOCATES packing a hand gun ON A GHOST INVESTIGATION for protection. There's a nice photo of a Glock on their "Equipment" page to go with this wisdom.

Dear God...

Imagine this... several armed idiots ('cuz in my mind, you'd have to be an idiot to do this,) wandering around a "scary" place... already somewhat freaked out and extremely tense...

Oh yeah, there's a good idea.

Imagine the one person who snaps a flash photograph without telling people the flash is coming... or the person that broke away from the group and "pops" up around a blind corner.

*BANG!*

Granted, this could be God's way of natural selection... weeding out the lame and stupid.

FOR THE RECORD: You are statistically FAR more likely to win a LARGE lotto jackpot than be physically hurt by a ghost.

...but this is NOT what this person recommends packing heat for...

...oh no...

You see, they said it's for protection because you don't know who you'd meet in an abandoned building and may need protection.

You know, all those homeless people who have .38 specials...

Aside from this, let's make another point...

ABANDONED PLACES ARE NOT BASTIONS OF GHOSTS AND HAUNTINGS!

Many idiots (and again, you'd have to be an idiot to assume this,) assume that ALL abandoned buildings are haunted... or even were abandoned BECAUSE they're haunted. This is utter poppycock.

Most buildings/houses are abandoned because they are either unsafe OR the upkeep of them was/is not an economic possibility for the current owners... and, of course, some are abandoned awaiting demolition for a NEW building.

...yet, you almost always hear about the "Horrible Murder" or "Satanic Rites" that happen/happened in them.

Again, nonsense.

Most "suspected" Satanic rites are just teenagers mucking about (if that) about the POSSIBILITY and not the actual act. To draw a pentangle is not only NOT Satanic, but is common amongst the hard-rock/heavy metal crowd amongst others... and this was probably done without sacrificing a baby.

Horrible murders WOULD HAVE MADE THE PAPERS and should be easy to source out for information... which is rarely done by "would-be" ghost hunters...

Nope, they confuse "Urban Exploration" (which is kinda cool) with "Paranormal Investigation". These are mutually exclusive pursuits... and neither should involve pistol-packing morons.

AND SHOULD anyone be contemplating going on ANY sort of investigation (urban exploration or other) that involves feeling the need for a WEAPON, then DON'T DO IT!

Now, interestingly enough, this "ghost hunter" already has a body count... you see, this fellow also recommends dressing all in black or dark clothes... which is silly.

The reason I've often heard for this is that "It won't affect (read: scare) off the ghosts." or the like.

This is so silly, it doesn't bear thought.

Wearing black is simply "cool" to these idiots who simply wish to explain away a fashion choice as a "necessity".

Wearing colours is actually a VERY GOOD idea not only because it's easy to pick out a team member in a photo, it's VERY useful for safety so you can be SEEN at night (if you're out then.)

The body count is based on this stupid advice... a poor young man was on a "hunt" with this twit and was struck and killed by a drunk driver on a country road near a cemetery. The driver, who although was drunk, didn't see the young man thanks to his dark clothes.

So, this fellow is already one-up on the body count... reading the advocacy of guns (and knives) for protection on a "hunt" with him will no doubt add to that count shortly.

Gee... I wonder why no one takes those of us who look into the paranormal seriously and, for the most part, don't want us around their sites?

Oh yeah, to cover off a couple of other thoughts...

#1: Cemeteries are not historically or statistically HAUNTED AT ALL. Most "ghosts" are reported where the person they represent worked, played, or died... not where they're interred. Go on, go to your local bookstore or library. Grab THREE ghost books... count the amount of stories about "other places" vs. cemeteries and you'll notice that burial grounds are NOT well represented.

#2: Why ghost hunt at night? Do ghosts only come out at night? NO! Some of the BEST reports are actually "daylight" reports... but at night, "human traffic" and sounds/sights are less likely to interfere with data collection. Think of it this way... Would you notice a disembodied set of footsteps in a busy train station at 5pm? Would you notice them at 1am?

...last myth this post...

#3: Apparitions that are reported by people are statistically reported to look "solid" and "break light" and are often mistaken for a "real person". They are not transparent nor are they wearing sheets. The fact this "person" or whatever was not "flesh-and-blood" is only usually clicked in by either the "ghost's" dress (period fashion) or by them doing something "impossible" like going through a wall, closed door, or disappearing.

ANYWAY, summing up...

PLEASE, don't pack your Smith and Wesson (or any firearm) when investigating a haunted location... if you feel that you need this "protection", then don't visit it.

My rant for the day... Hey, I re-did the BUS FAQ (below) so this is just one of my rants...

Addendum: To those who believe/whatever that this is an "Anti-Gun" rant above... it really isn't. It's a safety rant... Although I am an advocate of very strict gun control, this is an item that even the most avid "gun collector" or "shooter" has to agree on... bringing a firearm into a "tense" situation with people who are frightened is bad. Period. SO PLEASE, no "You're a gun hater!" e-mail... thanks.