quote:

ORIGINAL: colouredin
So maybe i am living in a fantasy world, or maybe I am just blessed but no actually because the attacks that I have faced are not with guns or knives but with words. You are most likely to be attacked by someone you know, not accousted by a stranger with a gun.

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The thing is if someone wants to kill you they dont need a gun.

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I agree you cant ban something in mass usage, here its never been ok to have a gun unless you are going hunting. Its not as much of a problem here. Maybe if I moved to the US I would suddenly have an urge to own a gun.

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You see I may be lucky maybe thats it but I have never been violently attacked by anyone ever, but thats not about my class or where I live because my lovable but gobby sister is always in fights. I just think so often we look at statistics against the fact that we all have some responsibility in it. But then we never really look at the statistics properly either. Who is the most afraid of violent crime? Women and the older generation. Who are the least likely victims of violent crime? Women and the older generation.

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ORIGINAL: Lorr47

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ORIGINAL: shannie

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ORIGINAL: Raechard

You'd have to give examples of these 'unthinkable atrocities' that have occurred from not having guns for me to answer that.

Just as ONE example:  Read a little about "The Rape of Nanking."

(Not to mention the disarming of the Jews as one of the first steps toward the holocaust).

On the other hand, read Orwell's "Homage to Cataluna" or read the "St.
Crispin's Day Speech" from Henry V (Shakespeare).  The primary right (and need) for the common citizen to bear arms was not
about defending against crime (although it can certainly come in handy
in that regard too).

In the grand scheme of things, we'll all be gone in a hundred years -- no matter what.  But when a man goes down shooting, in defense of his children or his wife or his elderly mother, instead of standing by, watching helplessly in horror -- there's got to be more dignity and nobility for our (often violent) little existence in the cosmos.

And for those (for whom I have respect and affection) who say that there is no chance of the common man defending himself against "the government" (our own government, or invaders) anyway -- that fact is called into question by what's been going on in Iraq for the last several years.  If our government (or any) was so effective,  thus making it  futile to fight against them, that "war" would have been over in three days.

I know that, after a century of relative comfort, we tend to think we are outside the course of hsitory (I've often felt that myself) -- but we are not. 

Applause.

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ORIGINAL: colouredin

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ORIGINAL: thishereboi
Well then it's a really good thing you live there and I live here. I like the fact that I can own a gun and protect myself. There are some right prats in the world.

And I cant think of a time in mine, my family or my friends lives where they needed a gun to protect themselves, what is it that you are protecting yourself against?

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ORIGINAL: missturbation

Curious minds would like to know if anyone posting here has actually had a gun pulled on them or being shot?
If so do you carry a gun yourself?

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ORIGINAL: MadRabbit

One of the contradictions I see in these threads is on hand, people argue that guns need to be banned because they contribute to gun violence.

Then it gets argued that we don't need to own guns because the incidents where one has had a gun pulled on them or shot is incredibly rare.

So if there is no need to own guns because gun crime incidents are so rare, then there should be no reason to ban them, because (obviously) gun violence is not an issue with all the guns that we have.

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ORIGINAL: susie

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ORIGINAL: colouredin

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ORIGINAL: thishereboi
Well then it's a really good thing you live there and I live here. I like the fact that I can own a gun and protect myself. There are some right prats in the world.

And I cant think of a time in mine, my family or my friends lives where they needed a gun to protect themselves, what is it that you are protecting yourself against?

I have asked this question in the past and have never recieved an answer that made sense. In my life time I have travelled around much of the world and have never been in the position to feel threatened enough to wish I had a gun.

quote:

ORIGINAL: MadRabbit
One of the contradictions I see in these threads is on hand, people argue that guns need to be banned because they contribute to gun violence.

Then it gets argued that we don't need to own guns because the incidents where one has had a gun pulled on them or shot is incredibly rare.

So if there is no need to own guns because gun crime incidents are so rare, then there should be no reason to ban them, because (obviously) gun violence is not an issue with all the guns that we have.

quote:

ORIGINAL: missturbation

Curious minds would like to know if anyone posting here has actually had a gun pulled on them or being shot?
If so do you carry a gun yourself?

 Gun deaths per 100,000 population (for the year indicated): 




                                                           Homicide      Suicide       Other (inc Accident)

USA (2001)                                    3.98          5.92                0.36
Italy (1997)                                   0.81          1.1                  0.07
Switzerland (1998)                         0.50          5.8                  1.10
Canada (2002)                               0.4            2.0                 0.04
Finland (2003)                               0.35          4.45                 0.10
Australia (2001)                                   0.24          1.34                  0.10
France (2001)                               0.21           3.4                  0.49
England/Wales (2002)                   0.15           0.2                  0.03
Scotland (2002)                             0.06           0.2                  0.02
Japan (2002)                                 0.02           0.04  
Data taken from Cukier and Sidel (2006) The Global Gun Epidemic. Praeger Security International.  Westport.

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ORIGINAL: hizgeorgiapeach

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ORIGINAL: missturbation

Curious minds would like to know if anyone posting here has actually had a gun pulled on them or being shot?
If so do you carry a gun yourself?

To answer your question : Yes, I've had a gun pulled on me - by a family member.  While said family member Missed, he DID take a shot at me.  Yes, I carry a gun.  Yes, I hold a Concealed Carry permit.  Yes, since the incident that happened when I got shot at - I have made Damned Certain that any time I'm going to Knowingly potentially be in the same place at the same time (a distinct possibility up until a month ago, when I moved dad back in with me from the nursing home) - I was armed, it was loaded, safety was off, and I could easily draw and fire if my life was threatened.
 
I also carry concealed when I go do my show rounds, business wise.  I'm typically carrying cash, and would rather shoot someone than be mugged as I'm making a cash drop into the night deposit at my bank.

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ORIGINAL: susie

Some interesting figures.
Gun Deaths - International Comparisons

 Gun deaths per 100,000 population (for the year indicated): 




Homicide
Suicide
Other (inc Accident)






USA (2001)      
3.98 
5.92
0.36

Italy (1997) 
0.81
1.1
0.07

Switzerland (1998)
0.50 
5.8   
0.10

Canada (2002)
0.4
2.0
0.04

Finland (2003)
0.35
4.45
0.10

Australia (2001)
0.24
1.34
0.10

France (2001)
0.21
3.4
0.49

England/Wales (2002)
0.15
0.2
0.03

Scotland (2002)
0.06
0.2
0.02

Japan (2002)
0.02
0.04
188189
Data taken from Cukier and Sidel (2006) The Global Gun Epidemic. Praeger Security International.  Westport.

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USA (2001)      
3.98 
5.92
0.36

England/Wales (2002)
0.15
0.2
0.03

quote:

ORIGINAL: susie
Some interesting figures.
Gun Deaths - International Comparisons
 Gun deaths per 100,000 population (for the year indicated):
Homicide
Suicide
Other (inc Accident)
USA (2001)     
3.98
5.92
0.36

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Misst, I do keep my guns loaded, available and ready. I have no um's in my home, or anywhere for that matter, and I can have my hands on it in seconds. Usually safety off. Oh well, I am not much for SSC either if that matters. 

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ORIGINAL: GreedyTop

quote:

ORIGINAL: missturbation

Curious minds would like to know if anyone posting here has actually had a gun pulled on them or being shot?
If so do you carry a gun yourself?

I have had a gun held to my head for over an hour by a drunken, pissed off neighbor.  I used to own a gun.  I don't any longer.  I sold it because the gun was a .38 Llama and frankly, the slide action on it was too stiff, therefore making it essentially useless to me in the event of needing to use it.

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ORIGINAL: missturbation

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Misst, I do keep my guns loaded, available and ready. I have no um's in my home, or anywhere for that matter, and I can have my hands on it in seconds. Usually safety off. Oh well, I am not much for SSC either if that matters. 

No risk to anyone but yourself, fair play to ya.
However if stabbed or being strangled id debate your ability to lay your hand on your gun.