Gun Control

[RemiAndKaren 0]

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if you are in the situation you will want one...

I can garantee you, No I would not.
Remi
Muff 914

[jfields 0]

Like Remi, I disagree with the whole "If someone broke into my house..." mentality. The facts are that it is damned unlikely in the first place. Second, chances are that someone will get themselves killed trying to defend themselves when they might have had a better survival rate unarmed. Third, the guns in a home are mostly likely to be used in a manner that kills the homeowner or someone in their family. The facts support that.
So if you are looking at the odds (we all do, we're skydivers), you and your family would be substantially better off unarmed. The most likely weapon to kill you in your home is your own. If you don't have one, you remove that possibility.
"Paint" away, Remi. If the shoe fits, we'll wear it.
Justin
My Homepage

[Strynx 0]

Since A few mounths ago guns owner need to have a special licence in order to be able to get ammos. Sorry if i'm vague but i usually don't follow that closely. It's a new law tha the Federal Gouv. established in order to restrict access for the illegal owners ?????? They also reinforce the storage laws for any guns and riffle not shure but the mags have to be strored in a different place then the gun. Any correction ia appreciated if i'm wrong.
"Curiosity is the base of knowledge,knowledge is the root of freedom"

[SniperCJ 0]

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Like Remi, I disagree with the whole "If someone broke into my house..." mentality. The facts are that it is damned unlikely in the first place. Second, chances are that someone will get themselves killed trying to defend themselves when they might have had a better survival rate unarmed. Third, the guns in a home are mostly likely to be used in a manner that kills the homeowner or someone in their family. The facts support that.
So if you are looking at the odds (we all do, we're skydivers), you and your family would be substantially better off unarmed. The most likely weapon to kill you in your home is your own. If you don't have one, you remove that possibility.
___________________________________________________
Statistically not very many skydivers ever use their reserves. Im still wearing one however.
As a cop I'm really trying to stay far far away from this argument. I have guns, I use / carry guns daily, I will continue to have / own / use guns as long as I live. Ive been around guns my entire life (second generation cop). People are very inventive in the ways we kill each other. Yes guns make it easier, but if theyre not available people WILL find another way to harm each other.
CJ

[skymedic 0]

I have been a paramedic for almost 10 years now. I agree with CJ. people will and have found very inventive ways to kill people. I have seen many many innocent people get bludgeoned to death, shot, stabbed, and even had acid poured on them. they were all unarmed and NOT fighting back. if you worked in a field like I do you would come to appreciate that people are not all nice a peachy on the inside like you pacifists would love. if you choose to not be armed that is YOUR decision but do NOT make that decision for ME and my WIFE. I keep my firearms locked up at all times. but they are loaded and I will not hesitate to take out one of these scumbags if need be.
when I lived in the city of Chicago and worked for the city. I had some moron break into my house. I was lucky in that my English Mastiff heard him and took him out. Now you guys(pacifists) probably think I am a barbarian for keeping a 240 pound dog in my house that MIGHT hurt someone.
Gun ownership, Like dog ownership, is a responsability and a right. if you are responsible and safe there should not be an issue. I dont think that making more gun laws that are more restrictive to law abiding citizens like my self will help in anyway from making the gangbanger not get his weapon of choice. as most weapons used in homicides were never purchased legaly.
all I have to say...for now....
Marc
Because I fly, I envy no man on earth

[jfields 0]

CJ,
You said:

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Yes guns make it easier, but if theyre not available people WILL find another way to harm each other.

True, but as discussed earlier, why make it easy? Because a technology is possible doesn't mean it should be in everyone's hands. To carry the logic to the extreme: I'm glad the average Taliban whacko or Columbine delinquent doesn't have a "suitecase nuke". Saying that they could kill me with a knife too so why not just let everyone have nukes doesn't really work. You can kill millions with a nuke, dozens in a shooting spree, and only a few with your fists. Average citizens (with the usual percent of nutcases), don't need to leverage their ability to cause death beyond what it is naturally.
Marc,
Did I ever say I was a pacifist? Nope. Just a gun control advocate.
I'm glad your dog got the person that broke into your house. I hope your dog chewed the guys balls off. He deserved it.
While I'm a "gun control" advocate, I'm not saying people shouldn't be allowed to have them. Just that they need to be... well... controlled. If you keep it safe and locked up, that is fine. I'm not sure how you'd get to it in an emergency if it was secured, but that is your business.
Gun ownership is definitely a responsibility. It is one that many people have shown they are clearly not up for. If they were, they wouldn't be accidently shooting each other and letting kids get a hold of their guns. And I maintain that personal, civilian gun ownership is a privilege, not a right.
Justin
My Homepage

[FallingILweenie 0]

I don't have an educated opinion on this, but i personally don't have a gun, nor do i plan to ever get one. as threatening as suburban illinois is, it's a responsability i dont want to have.
what made me want to post, actually, are 2 quotes that i like. they don't define my position, i just think they are funny:
"there's no connection between owning a gun and shooting someone and not owning a gun, and not shooting someone. and you'd be a fool and a communist to make one."
-Bill Hicks
"Homer, everyone knows guns are for protecting your family, hunting small and delicious animals, and keeping the king of England out of your face."
-Moe Szyzlak

[Jessica 0]

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...all over this thread like a hobo on a ham sandwich...

That always makes me guffaw...
Alex wants to see you bleed.

[Jessica 0]

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"Texans who exercise their right to carry firearms are 5.7 times less likely to be arrested for a violent offense."

Whoo, I can vouch for this! I'm gettin a record so long I'm gonna paper my house with it! I just can't help it! When my fists start itchin I just look around for the closest person, then I say, "Your face pisses me off!" Then I start whalin on him! Good thing I don't have a gun!!!!
Alex wants to see you bleed.

[AggieDave 6]

I know for a fact that if someone broke into my house I would want to be armed. Yes there is a chance that I could hurt myself or on the off chance shoot through a wall and hit someone, though those chances are very slim. On average I fire over 1000 rds a month at the range, not just punching holes in paper but doing reactory drills, too. I guess some would label that extreme, I consider it to be my responsiblity to be good with my handgun since I have a CHL. Well, also since I'll be commisioned in the Marine Corps in the not too distant future.
AggieDave '02
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Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.

[sunshine 2]

I have pulled my gun on someone once. He was coming after me, and it was the gun that scared him off. Who knows what would've happened to me if not for the gun. I know I would've shot him if I had to, but luckily I didn't. Guns do save lives!!
Your ears look cold. Can I warm them with my thighs?

[rgoper 0]

thought for perspective thinking....should we halt manufacturing of inceindary devices ie: cigarette lighters, matches, cutting torches...etc to stop arsonists? should we ban automobiles because drunk drivers kill? should we stop sky diving because a sky diver got inured/killed because his "weapon of coice (parachute) fails?" if we go around banning everything that gets people killed, i guess we shouldn/t build any buildings over 50 stories tall? the whole anti-gun theory is ludicrous at best. when you compare it to deaths vs. war, oh by the way, should we ban wars as well? they kill our children, and the children of others..........
Richard
"Gravity Is My Friend"
the first amandment speaks dor itself, how any individual tailors it to suit there propaganda is the very basis on which our nation stands "freedom" period.

[rgoper 0]

Damn Straight! case and point right here guys!
Richard
"Gravity Is My Friend"

[FallingMarc 0]

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True, but as discussed earlier, why make it easy? Because a technology is possible doesn't mean it should be in everyone's hands. To carry the logic to the extreme: I'm glad the average Taliban whacko or Columbine delinquent doesn't have a "suitecase nuke". Saying that they could kill me with a knife too so why not just let everyone have nukes doesn't really work. You can kill millions with a nuke, dozens in a shooting spree, and only a few with your fists. Average citizens (with the usual percent of nutcases), don't need to leverage their ability to cause death beyond what it is naturally.

This is meaningless. You're not going to defend yourself from an attacker with a nuke. I don't own a gun at the moment(I live in a dorm) but once I'm on my own property I want to be able to defend myself. And when I have kids someday, they will be taught to respect firearms, and to use them correctly and safely. Kids who "accidentally" shoot themselves or others only do so because nobody took the time to teach them anything. Knowledge and respect are key.
Marc

[AggieDave 6]

Marc,
I noticed you're in Springfield, what school do you goto ?
AggieDave '02
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Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.

[jfields 0]

My comments were illustrating the ridiculous nature of the thought process that states we'd all be safer if everyone was armed to the fullest.
You're right. You don't use a nuke for self defense. You don't need a fully-automatic machine gun either, so why do people own them? The whole "more is better" is a fallacy.
As you mentioned, knowledge and respect for weapons ARE the key, combined with keeping them out of the hands of those that don't have said knowledge and respect. I have yet to hear how anyone can have a weapon around for self-defense while guaranteeing that it will not be used by anyone other than the owner.
Justin
My Homepage

[Keith 0]

Wildblue said:
Let's say your girlfriend gets attacked, with the guy intent on raping/robbing/killing her. Neither of them have a gun. What do you really think is going to happen?
Now give her a gun - I'm not even saying she's going to use it and kill the guy, but he's not risking his life for a few bucks or to do what he wants to do with her.
Keith replied:
How about giving her martial arts training. My Mom is a small woman, 5'2" ~105 lbs. She beat the crap out of a much larger guy who tried to jump her. She, however, had neither a gun nor martial arts trainting, just a hell of a lot of guts.
Keith

[AggieDave 6]

I've had 4 years of Tae Kwon Do plus I'm a fairly good sized guy, but that didn't stop someone from pulling a gun on me 5 years ago, now did it? Do have some secret desire to shoot someone? Hell no, I hope that never happens; however, if a situation arises that I or my family is in danger, by god I will.
There's a joke here in Texas (kind of racist joke actually) but it makes a point:
I practice Mexican Judo.
Ju-don't know if I'z got a knife
Ju-don't know if I'z got a gun...
AggieDave '02
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Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.

[wildblue 7]

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ROTFLMAO.... I'd like to see whare that came from!!!

You want the reason or where I got it from? I heard it from someone who lived in Canada at the time. This was a number of years ago.
The thought behind it was: What's valuable in your bathroom? Nothing. If the intruder was in there, he was coming after you, your life is/was in danger.
Guns aren't going away. I'd love for every gun on the earth to disappear (and send my girlfriend to martial arts training) but that's not going to happen any time soon, so until then, I will be all for responsible gun ownership and the right to carry it.
I ain't happy, I'm feeling glad
I got sunshine, in a bag

[Jessica 0]

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thought for perspective thinking....should we halt manufacturing of inceindary devices ie: cigarette lighters, matches, cutting torches...etc to stop arsonists? should we ban automobiles because drunk drivers kill? should we stop sky diving because a sky diver got inured/killed because his "weapon of coice (parachute) fails?" if we go around banning everything that gets people killed, i guess we shouldn/t build any buildings over 50 stories tall? the whole anti-gun theory is ludicrous at best. when you compare it to deaths vs. war, oh by the way, should we ban wars as well? they kill our children, and the children of others..........

Let's ban WORDS, so we can stop fallacious arguments.
Alex wants to see you bleed.

[jfields 0]

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I will be all for responsible gun ownership

Good. My fingers are getting tired from all this typing.
Justin
My Homepage

[Aviatrr 0]

I'm not going to get sucked into this debate, because neither side will ever change their mind....period.. I will say this, however.. The fact that I was carrying a handgun saved my life a few years ago.. I think you can figure out which side of the argument I'd be on..
And unlike Remi......I'm REALLY gonna stay out of the debate.. Mike

[Keith 0]

AggieDave said:
I've had 4 years of Tae Kwon Do plus I'm a fairly good sized guy, but that didn't stop someone from pulling a gun on me 5 years ago, now did it?
Keith Replied:
Dave, that wasn't the scenario I responded to. Look, I'm not opposed to people having guns per se. I'm against people thinking everyone should have every conceivable automatic weapon for "hunting". People run around saying owning a gun is a constitutional right. Perhaps, but the original idea was for the states to arm themselves against the threat of a tyrannical government. I know everyone is screaming no more legislation, however, if we passed a nation wide law that said a gun owner is responsible for his/her gun(s) and any crime committed with said gun(s) whether or not that person was involved in or had any knowledge of the crime, and that the gun owner would face the same sentence as the the person using the gun(s) in a crime, If we passed that law, I would say knock yourself out; go buy any and all the guns you want. Because the truth of the matter is that the majority of crimes in the US are committed with stolen weapons.
Keith

[SniperCJ 0]

Dave - The judo joke was friggin hilarious!
Others - Thats what I love about the gun control argument. Both sides demand they are right. Neither side wants to concede a point. Both sides come up with statistics and moral arguments and what ifs to make their point. Kinda like the abortion debate (NO, lets NOT start..)
Someone made the point that owning a gun might be a good idea for self defense but why do you have to own a machine gun...etc.
Wanna know why? Cuz its COOL!
I have a gun for self defense. I only need one gun for self defense. Cant really carry a buncha guns with you (less youre Clint Eastwood in a spaghetti western). However, I own a BUNCH of guns. Yes Ive also owned a fully automatic weapon and a short barrelled shotgun (both require ATF approval). Hell I own guns Ive never even fired. Know why? Because I like guns. Some people collect stamps. I collect guns and knives. I have a couple of really nice swords that I bet I could chop a buncha people up with before someone (with a gun probably) stopped me if I was so inclined. And I'd never run out of ammo. If I was a deranged Columbine type killer, I'd probably think it was WAY cooler to go after some people with a sword than a gun. And yes, I have a gun safe.
But not for my sword....
Bwaaaa hahahahh (<----deranged laughter)
CJ

[AggieDave 6]

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Bwaaaa hahahahh (<----deranged laughter)

You know, that doesn't worry me as much as the fact that your eye is twitching and the mumbling...
AggieDave '02
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Blue Skies and Gig'em Ags!
BTHO t.u.