How many guns do you own?

[Rhound50]

I do agree that like so many other topics this is an emotionally charged one. Though we have had some debates about other emtionally charged subjects (politics mostly) with good results.

I agree that the law has to extend past the consitituion, a one line sentance is not even close to enough to give a true letter of the law. I just get sick and tired of gun people (not anyone at BTP) who cant back up their support freedom to carry guns with anything other than "The 2nd amendment" arguemnt. Like I said its not the 2nd ammendment that gives you the right to have guns, its the courts interpretation and even more the power and the lobby money of the NRA.

[Cactus Jack]

[JackLucifer]

[emmasdad]

[Cactus Jack]

Funny, everybody makes the same arguments over and over. Guns are for protection. Odds are you are seven times more likely to be hurt with your own gun than use it for protection. Only criminals will have guns. Sure, but do you want crazy people with access to a gun? What about children who get ahold of them? What about the guy with road rage? Guns for protection? And locks are useful in keeping burglars out, too. Guns have a power like no other. People who have guns often use them when they have no known history of violence. If guns are outlawed, people will use knives and rocks. I think I'm a bit harder to kill with a knife or a rock, so I'm willing to take my chances. Guns don't kill people, rocks kill people? No, anyone who has ever held a pistol in their hand and is a reasonable person can feel the power within the weapon. Guns really can produce the violence which is their purpose.

I agree, there are so many guns out there that it would be impossible to remove them all, even if it is the will of the people. There are weapons out there that should not be available to the public, and most reasonable people would agree. Unfortunately, there are those who are not reasonable and see any attempt to regulate any weapons as a threat to their "rights."

It's a terrible legacy, but there's nothing at all we can do about it. I'm sure as hell not going to be the one who knocks on doors and says, "Give me your illegal weapons." They may have something for me in reply. It won't be a rock.

CJ

[JJSCOTT2]

[Stoneburg]

If only people with handguns would limit their killing to other people with handguns I'd be OK with it. As it is, I prefer guns to be as hard to get hold of as possible and as easy for the police to confiscate as possible.

We may actually have more guns per capita here than in the US, but everyone (who isn't a criminal per definition) who owns one is registered and most of the weapons are hunting rifles. I find the arguments for allowing guns completely irelevant outside the context of the US. And many of the arguments are pathetic even within that context. At the base is a weird cowboy mentality and the issue is rarely, if ever, debated on the merit of facts. Either way it is a pointless debate because:

1. There are too many guns at large in the US for it to be realistic to remove them
2. The culture and mindset of a big part of the american culture won't change anytime soon
3. People are f-cking stupid, egocentric and scared

I am actually mainly amazed that Americans aren't embarrased about their murder and crime rate, as well as their incredible record of incarceration. They are so far "ahead" of the rest of the industrialised world it's incredible. You're up there with South Africa and Colombia. Way to go, obviously you've got a great concept working for ya.

[JJSCOTT2]

Yes, the American justice/incarceration system is ludicrous. As for the guns again, I'm all for making them hard to get and make it easy to take them away. However, there must be just reason for doing so. But the bottom line is, good Americans should have the option to own guns if that's what they want. I think the original basis for the 2nd ammendment was for Americans to be able to protect themselves from their own government should that become necessary in order to stop the government from becoming too big and powerful. These are the ideals that this country was founded on, we just don't do it the same way as Europeans and others, does that make us better or worse? Depends on how you look at it, I'm willing to risk being the victim of gun violence if it protects the rights that I'm entitled to. I'm sure in Europe you're happy with your police waving sticks and the government spoonfeeding you substandard healthcare, but that's just not the American way, which is argument enough for me.

[Molina]

[rdale]

[excession]

the government spoonfeeding you substandard healthcare

hmm -probably best not to believe all the Fox network tells you there bub...perhaps that is why we spend less/person on healthcare in the UK than the US but have a higher life expectancy?

in fact most of the European countries seem to do better than the US so perhaps the US healthcare model isn's so 'above average' after all?

http://geography.about.com/library/weekly/aa042000b.htm


of course it could be a result of all the shootings lowering your life expectancy rather than your healthcare industry being more focussed on profit than efficient healthcare I guess..

[NorthView]

[Rhound50]

[Stoneburg]

[Cactus Jack]