BKSir
Posts: 4037
Joined: 4/8/2008
From: Salt Lake City, UT
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quote:
ORIGINAL: VanIsleKnight
Well generally it doesn't work very well if you have one state that has extremely strict gun laws next to a whole bunch of other states that -don't- have strict gun laws and you can travel from state to state relatively freely.
Guns are designed for one thing and one thing only. To kill. Effectively, quickly, and easily.
I personally believe that if you aren't a security guard, a police officer, or in the military, you have absolutely zero business owning a lethal firearm. Archaic parchment or not.
In an ideal world, where citizens giving up their firearms meant EVERY citizen gave them up, and not just the ones who aren't gang members, rapists, burglars, robbers, etc., I would be glad to hand mine in also. Unfortunately, this is hardly an ideal world, and be damned if I'm going to allow some gay basher or burglar to come into my house with their gun and do what they damn well pleased, because I gave up my right to protect myself equally.
In that ideal world that you seem to wish for, not even the police or military would need guns. Sounds like a great place, and I do, very seriously, wish we lived in such a world, but, we don't.
Part of the issue seems to be that many are under the impression that because I own a firearm, I'm some sort of maniacal, homicidal sociopath who goes on weekly shooting rampages. When, in fact, I hope that I am never ever forced to use it. I don't want to use it. I don't even REALLY want to own it. But, the aforementioned "bad guys" probably won't really care much were I to say, "No, you can't shoot me because you're not supposed to have a gun / because I don't believe you should have a gun."
I tend to only even go to the shooting range maybe twice per year to keep myself and my firearm from getting rusty. Otherwise, it sits in its spot and gets cleaned every month or so.
There is also this thing called "reason". I think people should be allowed to own firearms, within reason. Collectors pieces, such as muzzle loaders? Sure. Why not. One can hunt with them, but one is not exactly in any imminent danger from one. A handgun for defense or a hunting rifle? Why not? Hunting can be fun, and can garner some very delicious rewards. I already covered the defense part. But I don't see the reason behind anyone needing a fully automatic assult rifle, or rocket launcher. If you're in something so deep and nasty that you need one of those, let's be honest... it's not going to do you much good anyway, and will just delay the inevitable. I don't need an ak-47 for self defense. I don't need an m-16 to go hunting with. What am I going to be hunting with an m-16? An entire herd of caribou? No, probably not.
Do I think they should be banned though? Meh... not really. I think that people who feel the absolute need to have something like that should be evaluated by a credible psychologist though.
But again, until this wonderous utopia of brotherly love comes about and the criminals are standing there in line with me to turn their guns in also, I fully intend on holding on to mine. I never know when I will need it, and I surely hope that "never" is when.
EDIT: because I forgot one of the points I was wanting to make.
We need to get rid of cars also. More people, by FAR die because of those, than do from firearms every year. Way more dangerous. And cell phones. Couple those with cars, and you have something that is just as dangerous as drunk driving.
Don't forget to clean out all the knives in your kitchen drawers and the tools from your shed. Those things are insanely dangerous! I cut myself on something like that at least once a week. And firewood! I ripped a huge chunk out of my hand moving firewood a few days ago. A lot more injury than I've ever received from my handgun.
Firearms are tools. Plain and simple. Yes, they're tools for killing things. So are knives, and arrows. Are we going to make those illegal also? Clubs too, such as, oh, hammers. More people are killed yearly from things such as hammers, lead pipes, knives, etc. than one would care to imagine. Food also. Everyone agrees that obesity is a problem and can kill people and that certain foods can cause cancers. Yet we don't make food illegal, do we? No, we say "It's because they are being irresponsible in how they're using the food." It's no different than a firearm. People die not because of firearms, but because people are being irresponsible in how they use them. For example, I stand more chance of injury, with how my handgun is stored, by dropping a hammer on my foot, than I do if I drop IT on my foot. The hammer is more dangerous in this scenario, and should be banned under that logic. The same with my kitchen knives.
It is a tool, and any tool, be it a firearm, hammer, circular saw, car, wood splitter, knife, stapler, or cup of hot coffee can be dangerous if used irresponsibly. But, how many people want to ban any of those things, aside from firearms? It would simply make more sense to just ban irresponsible people. And be just about as easy. Although, I think it would be simpler to get everyone to agree to do that.
< Message edited by BKSir -- 8/11/2009 4:10:36 PM >
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RE: The issue of firearms - 
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