When you are the editor of a newspaper and someone is shot in a movie theater in your city, you kind of feel compelled to say something.

And in a way I do. Usually, and regular readers know this, as someone generally in favor of stricter gun-control regulations, this is where I’d say something about further measures I think could have helped prevent the situation this past Thursday at The Landing.

But the truth is, I am not sure any new legislation could have done anything to prevent the incident in which an innocent bystander at a movie was shot in the back by a drunk person who brought a legally concealed pistol to the theater with them and then went off after he chambered a round.

Sure, we could talk about whether conceal- carry legislation is a good idea or something along those lines; but that, to me, is not the issue here.

This past week’s incident is not a matter of needing more gun control, but simply less gun culture.

Dane E. Gallion, the man who allegedly brought his 9 mm to a showing of “13 Hours” on Thursday, told police he brought his gun to the theater because he feared a “mass shooting.”

The idea that a Newcastle resident would feel the need to carry a handgun into a movie theater because he was scared about “mass shootings” is just crazy to me. THAT is what we need to change in this country: the idea that we live in such a dangerous society that at any given moment you could be gunned down by a madman and should therefore always be packing, just in case.

Because yes, while there are mass shootings that sometimes happen in movie theaters, the truth is if you are bringing a gun to The Landing, YOU are probably the danger.

And that proved to be EXACTLY the case in this incident.

That’s because where there are more guns, there is more gun violence. That is not only a statistical fact, it just makes sense. In a house where there are no guns, the odds of there being gun violence are greatly reduced.

On top of that, if you have a gun in your home, it is more likely to accidentally shoot a family member than a bad guy.

But we’ve created such a culture of fear in this country – especially in the past decade or so – that despite a decreasing violent crime rate (one that has been dropping for about 25 years now) many people are more scared than ever.

I don’t understand it.

But then again, I don’t have cable and am not assaulted 24 hours a day with news designed to make me think the world is ending, so maybe that’s it.

I am also not a member of the NRLA and therefore am not inundated with their propaganda either, like the LIE that “only a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun.” I’ve been over this before, but that’s just dumb. In fact, most shootings that are not ended by police are ended by people without guns talking down the crazy person who has one.

Yes, having a gun can certainly make is easier to stop a Bad Guy With a Gun; but chances are, you will never be in that situation and if you are, you are probably only going to make it worse, like the guy at the Tacoma Mall did 10 years ago or so. The best intentions of that citizen actually led the shooter to fire off more shots (hitting and paralyzing the citizen with the gun) and then take hostages.

The gunman was eventually talked down by his hostages, who did not have guns.

Just this week there was a report out of Mississippi in which four people were shot after guns were pulled over a $25 repair charge. At a gun shop. If more guns were really the answer, I can’t help but think that would have gone differently.

But again, today there is no legislation to call for. I have in the past, but am not doing so now as the suspect here followed the law. I respect his right to buy a gun. I respect him going through the channels necessary to be able to legally carry it.

This man jumped through every hoop and passed every check required in purchasing his gun. And there is no indication that he should have been prevented from getting it. I support this man’s right to own a gun, just as I support my right to do so should I make that choice. (Though this event should probably disqualify him from doing so again legally in the future.)

What I question is the culture that makes him think it is necessary to bring it with him to the movies.

I don’t carry a gun. Want to know why? I am not scared. There, I said it.

Here’s the truth: King County’s firearm death rate is blow the state average, which is below the national average, which is at a 25-plus year low. Of the firearm deaths in our county, 29 percent were homicides and 3 percent were accidental. The rest are suicides.

So while I generally support efforts to curb the spread of firearms, especially assault rifles and other guns that make it easy for a madman to kill 20 kids in school in five minutes, there is nothing to call for here, with the possible exception of mandating that all guns have a working safety switch.

As I have also said before, I am not anti-gun. I am anti-Dumb. I believe in your (and my) right to own a gun. I also believe that there can be good compelling reasons why a person might feel they need a conceal carry permit for said gun.

But please just remember: if you are packing, you are most likely the dangerous one. So don’t give into fear. Leave your gun at home when you go to the movies.