What's your opinion on gun control compared to mine?

Question

To me gun control is a steady hand. Guns don't kill people, people with guns don't kill people, people kill people. My dad carries a gun and guess what, he's never killed anyone. In fact, my dad's guns have killed less people that Ted Kennedy's car. I can set a pistol on a rock in the middle of a desert, and it will stay there forever without hurting or killing anyone unless some dingbat picks it up and shoots someone with it. So why are guns dangerous? They aren't, they can only be as dangerous as the people using them. Britain and Austrailia have banned firearms completely and their crime rates have skyrocketed. Crooks and criminals realize now that citizens are unable to defend themselves and prey upon them without fear. Of course in Britain if you even defend yourself, you're going to prison too! How screwed in the head the British government be? That makes me want to blow up parliament like in the movie 'V for Vendetta'. - to be continued.

Honestly though, I'm seventeen years old, and my dad trusts me with guns more than he does most goobers twice my age. I've been given two shotguns, a rifle, and a pistol to keep in my room. The pistol sits beside my pillow, and one of the shotguns is rolled in a shirt under and behind my pillow for easy access, plus the other shotgun (a double barrel) is in the corner just to my right. The rifle is just to my left. I take care of them all and use them wisely and safely. Only two of them are loaded, the Glock 21 .45 cal and the Benelli Nova 12 gauge pump action, encase of a break-in or some sort of emergency where the situation would call for the use of a firearm. I am an American citizen, and I value my second amendment right to bear arms. I also will respect the beliefs of those who do not think I should have that right, by not using my guns to defend them should the situation arise that they are under threat even though I may be in the possesion of a gun at the time.

Answer 1

I am in alignment with your views on guns.

I am a gun owner and grew up in a family where all the women carried guns. My mom used to say 'hand me my purse' and it was heavy like a sack of potatoes.... had her 357 in there.

Btw, I am a liberal and a constitutionalist... giving us the right to bear arms.

Answer 2

As a self-described gun-nut who grew up in Alaska, guns are a huge part of my life. Even thought I don't shoot much anymore, I still buy them (why, I'm not sure. I have more than I'll ever use).

In the hands of a trained, mentally stable individual, I feel guns are an excellent way to reduce crime (lets face it, if most houses had guns, would a criminal want to take a chance of getting killed over a TV or a car?).

What I don't like is guns in the hands of the untrained and the stuipid. I hunt on public land in Wisconsin, and some hunters I wouldn't trust with a BB gun. Some hunters seem to like to shoot to hear their gun go off or something. Throwing lead around the woods is dangerous.

I have heard other people say they wanted to buy a handgun to put in the dresser drawer for home protection. Not a bad idea, but many of these people have never shot a gun and had no plans on taking the time to learn.

I am glad to live in a country where almost anyone can go and buy a gun. However, sometimes I wish there was a training or knowledge requirement for purchasing.

Despite idiots owning guns, I am completely against gun control. Laws are only for the law abiding to follow. If a criminal wants a gun, they will get one no matter what the law says. At least if everyone has access to guns, there is the potential for a level playing field.

Cheers!

Answer 3

I couldn't agree more. The second amendment is what keeps America free. I think there should be no restrictions on what firearms an American can own (with few exceptions like explosives, etc.) but should have to take a test to make sure that they can safely use, posses and store each gun properly. The purpose of the Second Amendment is to protect America in case of invasion. Look what's happening in Iraq, We defeated the Iraqi Army in a few months and now we are fighting civilian militias. If anyone dared to invade America they would have to face the greatest military on earth. If by some miracle they defeated our military, they would have to still fight 300 million Americans with the latest in firearm technology. We need the Second Amendment. And for those who ask stupid questions like "Who needs an assault rifle?" Well do you think that bolt-action .22 rifles would do much against an invading army? We would have to at least have the same class of weaponry as them. Secondly, Assault Rifles and Military firearms are simply fun to shoot for gun enthusiasts. It's the same as to why someone would need a Ferrari or Porsche when a Ford or Toyota will do the job. In reality no one needs a Ferrari or an AK-47 but they are fun to have and own for car/gun lovers.

Answer 4

The 2nd Amendment that gives American citizens the right to bear arms is the Amendment that makes freedom possible. Without the 2nd Amendment, the entire Constitution, and the other Amendments, would be meaningless. The 2nd Amendment protects the citizens from the government. It also protects America from invasion by any other country. Wars are not fought by foriegners entering this country because an armed American populace would overwhelm them.

There is genocide in Darfur right now where people are dying because they do not have a right to own a gun to defend themselves with. There have also been many other murderous tyrants that have been able to murder their population at will because they disarmed their population. Do you think that Saddam Hussien would have been able to do the things he did if Iraqis would have been fortunate enough to have the 2nd Amendment? The right to keep and bear arms is the most important right American citizens have.

I despise liberal gun grabbers. They are more dangerous to America than Al Qaeda. I would kill a gun grabber just as quickly as a terrorist if called upon to do so.

Answer 5

I have only two slight differences with your position. First, I think you need to get past the cliche stage(especially in a forum like this). There are other facts that are stronger, use them. Check federal mortality data. Guns are not even near the top cause of any classification of death(accident, crime, suicide, etc). Second you don't say what you do with your guns when you are not there. Are they locked up? Are they unloaded? I would hate to return home to a house held by criminals using my own weapons against me. Finally, lest I be accused of being bloodthirsty, taking a life is no trivial matter. You had better be trained and ready, (skills, mentally, physically and legally), to drop the hammer. Because when the smoke clears, your life will change, forever.
BTW: You should add South Africa to your list of gun control "successes".

Answer 6

fact: states with conceal carry permit laws have an easily measurable lower violent crime rate fact: every mass shooting in the usa for the last 60+ years except 1 was committed in places where citizens were not allowed to carry guns. fact: when washington dc had their anti gun laws crime rates when up significantly. you could look at chicago as another example. So tell us.. how many guns have killed people without a person pulling the trigger? Now of this I will agree. there are some people who should not be allowed to have weapons. former violent criminals and people with unstable phsychological histories I agree. no guns. Your argument is meanderging to marijuana ( btw thats not true people have died from pot but thats another subject ). And yes... there are some people who really are afraid the government will disarm people before other actions. they read history. I dont believe it will go that far myself but I cant blame some people for taking that position.

Answer 7

(snip) In fact, my dad's guns have killed less people that Ted Kennedy's car. (snip)

Isn't that what all gun owners say? Perhaps it's time for the NRA to start handing out new material to it's membership. That one's getting old. And no one is trying to take away your guns - we just don't see the need for your average citizen or hunter having a submachine gun. I'm all for the right to bear arms - but do you NEED an AK-47 to hunt deer? One shot with a hunting rifle would be enough for most people. And I'll say this - I'm more scared of being in a bar and seeing someone with a concealed weapon than I am of anyone else, simply because they HAVE the gun. (Yes, I know it's not legal to have a firearm in a bar, but people do it anyway - a friend of mine got shot by some drunk moron in a bar once who was carrying a concealed 9mm pistol.)

Answer 8

Pretty much polar opposite to yours.

The guns don't kill people argument;

Funny visual of the gun on a rock in the desert and the saying is catchy but the fact is that people sometimes get angry or depressed or jealous or scared and people with guns who are angry or depressed or jealous or scared DO kill people more than people without guns who are angry or depressed or jealous or scared. It's the dingbat part you mentioned.

Britain and Australia crime rates have not skyrocketed - it's a myth.

http://www.guninformation.org/

Guns should be allowed for sport (i.e. hunting ) purposes only in the general public.

Answer 9

I do agree for the most part as long as they keep background checks for those who are looking to buy a gun. No sense in selling a gun to a known rapist or robber (I know they can get them other ways, but its still a measure to deter) as for a contributing member of society, they should be able to use guns as long as they have an understanding of gun safety and take proper measurements to keep them out of the hands of stupid kids.

Answer 10

Remember, remember the 5th of November....

I would personally sacrifice my own personal safety, and give up the right to buy a gun on the spot instead of having to wait 5 days for it. Yes, what a HUGE sacrifice I'm making.

Personally, I'd die before killing.