Gun rights victory today!

[Storm]

I think the difference is that those who own guns so regularly use them to deprive others of life

Just like abortion, you mean? I don't want to derail the thread, but I find your objection ironic in context.

Being a Wes' Texas hellcat, I've known many, many gun owners. None of them have ever killed anybody.

Now, admittedly, I haven't known near so many murderous thugs, but what makes you think banning responsible gun ownership will cut down on criminal activity? It's not like there's a shortage of illegal firearms in this country.

There's no denying the slogan: "If you criminalize guns, only criminals will have them."

 

[Father Heathen]

Why is it that so many people who champion liberty in every other arena demand that people who want to use their 2nd Amendment rights justify them?

Because they're hypocrites.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Yeah, I guess that's it in a nutshell. Are there any reasons for wanting guns that don't sound like they come from the mouth of a surly 16-year-old? For someone with so much life experience, I thought you'd use better reasoning than that of a child.

Despite the appearance of 16-year-old mentality...

Guns are cool. It's fun to go out to the range and try something new. It's even funner to go out somewhere in the country and blow things up (everything from old cars, stuffed animals, and melons). Nothing wrong with enjoying that with your 16 yr old son or cousin.

Guns are useful. Hunting is a serious business (well, not Palin style) - tracking a deer, bear, or even a hog through the wilderness - covering your scent with racoon urine and making the perfect shot... then having it processed is wonderful. You can then live off the deer meat or wild hog for quite a long time, and you have the great feeling of knowing that you killed what you're eating.

Personally, I'd rather we hunt with bows and arrows that we have to make ourselves, but not many people share that opinion...

 

[Father Heathen]

Most people who oppose gun ownership do so out of an emotional knee jerk reaction rather than from a well reasoned, rational standpoint.

 

[sandandfoam]

Just like abortion, you mean?

No - for clarity sake - I didn't mean like abortion.

 

[angellous_evangellous]

Out in rural Texas I knew a fella who would go out on a Sunday morning, snipe prairie dogs from 600 yards away while killing a six pack of beer. Then he'd go teach Sunday School.

 

[Revoltingest]

I think the difference is that those who own guns so regularly use them to deprive others of life

I agree that there is way too much wrongful violence. (I treat self-defense as proper violence.) It's a massive & multi-faceted problem with roots in unemployment, culture, entertainment, weapon availability, education, courts, laws, prison, etc. I see no clear solutions: How do we change culture without illegally censoring entertainment? How do we punish more offenders without more money for cops & courts? Stronger enforcement is ripe for racial & gender profiling. The only area where I can offer anything useful is that I favor far more training (especially for concealed carry) & regulation of storage methods. At least the less dedicated gun owners can be more competent, with less likelihood of stolen guns hitting the black market.

 

[Storm]

No - for clarity sake - I didn't mean like abortion.

Rather than hijack the thread, I'll let it go. But I don't see a difference.

Would you care to answer my question?

 

[sandandfoam]

Would you care to answer my question?

Of course
You- I look at guns the same as abortion: if you think they're bad, don't get one.
Me -
I think the difference is that those who own guns so regularly use them to deprive others of life

The difference as I see it is that abortion is not something that a woman does to others comparable to the likes of what happened recently in England
Gunman kills 12 in UK Lake District rampage | Reuters

 

[Storm]

Of course
You- I look at guns the same as abortion: if you think they're bad, don't get one.
Me -
I think the difference is that those who own guns so regularly use them to deprive others of life

The difference as I see it is that abortion is not something that a woman does to others comparable to the likes of what happened recently in England
Gunman kills 12 in UK Lake District rampage | Reuters

Wrong question.
I was referring to "what makes you think banning responsible gun ownership will cut down on criminal activity? It's not like there's a shortage of illegal firearms in this country."

 

[Father Heathen]

those who own guns so regularly use them to deprive others of life

People have used knifes and baseball bats to deprive others of life. Where is the outrage surrounding those objects?

 

[sandandfoam]

People have used knifes and baseball bats to deprive others of life. Where is the outrage surrounding those objects?

They regularly get confiscated by police where I live. Rightly so - I feel the same dislike for all weapons. Don't think any of them are a good idea.

 

[Revoltingest]

People have used knifes and baseball bats to deprive others of life. Where is the outrage surrounding those objects?

They offer an offender less leverage over victims, & more of the population is familiar with knives & bats so they aren't so scared.

 

[sandandfoam]

Wrong question.
I was referring to "what makes you think banning responsible gun ownership will cut down on criminal activity? It's not like there's a shortage of illegal firearms in this country."

Legally held guns get pinched and then used to kill people. People kill people with legal and illegal weapons.
If guns are not legal it's easier for the police to take them out of circulation.

 

[Revoltingest]

They regularly get confiscated by police where I live. Rightly so - I feel the same dislike for all weapons. Don't think any of them are a good idea.

I once had some groundskeepers working for me, who had some of their more wicked tools confiscated by the cops. It was off to the
hardware store to buy more "weapons". (And no, they did nothing wrong or threatening....except being in the wrong place at the wrong time.)
I regularly use a machete to murder boxelders & sumacs.

 

[Father Heathen]

They regularly get confiscated by police where I live. Rightly so - I feel the same dislike for all weapons. Don't think any of them are a good idea.

Do you realize just about anything can be made into an improvised weapon, right? Does your kitchen contain nothing other than plastic sporks? Also, do you think a woman shouldn't be allowed to possess the means to protect herself should the need arise? Or would you prefer that she becomes a defenseless victim rather than her assailant coming to harm?

 

[Storm]

They regularly get confiscated by police where I live. Rightly so - I feel the same dislike for all weapons. Don't think any of them are a good idea.

Anything can be used as a weapon. Take away things intended for that purpose, and new "problems" will emerge.

 

[Revoltingest]

They regularly get confiscated by police where I live. Rightly so - I feel the same dislike for all weapons. Don't think any of them are a good idea.

But are you comfortable allowing government to have weapons while the populace is completely unarmed?

 

[Magic Man]

I look at guns the same as abortion: if you think they're bad, don't get one.

I agree to a point. The big difference is the dangerous nature of a gun. I'm not going to be personally harmed by someone else's abortion.

Why is it that so many people who champion liberty in every other arena demand that people who want to use their 2nd Amendment rights justify them?

Are you saying I'm in that group? I agree with this ruling. I just think the reasons revoltingest provided are generally the reasons people want guns, and I think they are crappy reasons for wanting guns.

 

[Magic Man]

We've little common understanding,

Actually, I understand you quite well. It's pity you don't return the favor.

so please, no stalking.

You don't have to worry about that, but nice try with the implication.