In todays world I believe we should be able to defend ourselves, Do you support right to carry?

Question

The world is getting more dangerous. I think law abiding citizens should have to right to carry protection. Hand Guns! In the old west, people were careful because everyone carried a gun. Could less life been loss at Virgina Tech, if someone had the ability to protect themself? How about daily life? If your life is threatened, would you want to be able to defend yourself? What about 911? The stewards and pilots if they had a way to protect themselves? Crimes, would there be less if they knew just about anyone could harm them in a criminal attempt? I know someone will say more gun control is needed, and I will say to that is: nothing will stop a law breaker, but if you have a way to defend yourself then you at least have a chance.

I like good discussion, but please, if your going to ask a question back, have an allowed email option open.

To Doc Luv, yes he was law abiding till.. but once they break that the priviage is taken, and I think he could of been stopped.

Answer 1

Yes. After Fla. became one of the first states to liberalize its right to carry (issues them on demand) its crime rate and violent crime rate went down.

Answer 2

No. You are entirely mistaken about the "old west" being safe because people had guns. In fact, just the opposite was true. People had guns and they used 'em! Ever hear of William Bonney, a.k.a. "Billy the Kid"? He was real, not some made-up tall tale. So were Frank and Jesse James (I have a family connection to the James brothers). So was John Wesley Hardin. Even some of the "old West's" most famous lawmen misused their firearms. Wyatt Earp and his brothers were guilty of murder when they engaged in the shootout at the famous "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral".
The idea that the country was once safer due to widespread ownership of guns is foolish and absolutely false. It so happens that a far larger percentage of Americans own guns now than was the case back then. Are you safer? I don't think so! Can you guarantee that some law-abiding gun owner won't unexpectedly go berserk and start on a shooting rampage despite the presence of others who might be armed? Like h e l l you can!
No. Keep all privately-owned firearms under double lock and key and all ammunition in a wholly separate location also under double lock and key, taken out only during hunting season by a LICENSED hunter or to be taken to a certified shooting preserve or range for recreational shooting. They must be transported in a locked case in the trunk of the vehicle, unloaded, and returned home the same way.

Answer 3

Do you know that every Swiss citizen is legally required to have his military equipment at home, including guns (M57 automatic assault rifles) and ammo ? They keep a very small army, but can mobilize the whole country in 2-3 hours !!! That's one of the reasons Switzerland was never invaded, and during WW2, Nazis were at war with the whole world, including US, UK, and Russia, they went 2000 miles east up to the gates of Moscow, but not in Switzerland, and please check where Switzerland is on the map...
Now, how many times have you heard about shootings in Switzerland ??? The gun crime rate is a small fraction of the American rate, and in fact it's so low that statistics are not even kept... The same for Israel, they all have guns, assault rifles, even machine guns at home, but you'll never see a Swiss killing another Swiss or an Israeli killing another Israeli...
I think it's a matter of EDUCATION and CULTURE, which lead to TOLERANCE and RESPECT for others. Forcing people to obey stupid laws and gun control is NOT the answer, that can only lead to rebellion and more chaos. Sane, responsible, educated FREE people do not have any reason to take a gun and shoot another human being ...

Answer 4

Yes! But the acquisition of handguns and weapons for personal defence,should only be limited to normal law-abiding citizens...who have proper training and no criminal record! Here in Canada...we have had strick and draconian handgun laws-since 1937. Until recently,we had 'long gun' control since 1979. And it is a costly and abyssmal failure...because our gun crime has gone up-not down. Our police services draw their handguns constantly now! Before 1979,a police officer seldom ever had to draw his gun...now its on a regular basis! So NO...more gun control is not needed! All our current system does is penalize the legitimate users of firearms,and at a huge cost! It also ties up the police services,and prevents them from performing other more important duties! Do you honestly think that alot of home break-ins and invasions would happen,if the criminal element had the slightest notion that a home owner is packing some light artillery? The 'anti-guns' are constantly publishing their statistics...on the number of lives lost to guns,has an excuse to justify more Gun Control! But when have you ever seen an article in the tabloids or statistics,that show the number of lives...that were saved by the presence of a firearm or handgun??? How many times in our daily papers-have I seen a small collection of firearms displayed by Police on a table...to boast about a 'Big Gun Bust' only to find out later...that the owner was legitimate and the firearms had to be returned??? But in the meantime,they have displayed all the weapons-so the media can show the whole world (including the criminal element) what the owner has in his/her possession-Oh Gee,aren't we a real smart bunch of cookies!!!??? And then our illustrious Police Services and Politicians cannot understand why there is a rash of gun violence-on our major city streets! Next thing on my mind...is the fact that the media outlets in this country,do selectively report these so-called raids and gun confiscations. But they can never tell you if the firearms involved...were legally owned,stolen,registered or un-registered,hunting or military etc. Heck... most of them,don't even know what they are talking about-when they report (make-up) the News! (ie) Today police confiscated a .45 cal Saturday Night Special??? There is no such firearm called a Saturday Night Special,as the term is used to describe any pocket-sized handgun-that can be carried in your pockets or waistline! How about a Sturm Luger? I know of no such thing-maybe they meant a Sturm Ruger...which is a .223 high calibre rifle! The Montreal Police and Media reported that such a weapon-was used by Marc Lepine...to massacre 14 young women at Polytechnique Ecole (School). And they went on to say it was an automatic weapon,and the gunman was carrying 'belted ammunition' with it??? Funny...last time I checked,a Sturm Ruger Mini 14 Rifle-was a Semi-automatic rifle-that uses a magazine or clipped ammo!!! But do you honestly think that if one of those students was carrying a legal handgun in her purse,that there would be 14 dead young women? Probably not. There might be a few dead women...and one very dead Gunman!!! The world at large is really not getting more dangerous per se,it is getting too wishful in its reasoning-and really complacent on what really needs to be done in order for the Greater Society to protect itself! The Police cannot be everywhere...and when they do finally show up,it's already too late! Then the Public begins to scream that the Police don't do enough,and we need more Gun Contol! When really they should be doing the opposite...giving the general law abiding citizens a means and ways to defend themselves until the Good Guy's arrive! You go to alot of the States,that have strict gun policies...they are rampant with crime-especially gun crime! Now go to the States,that have looser regulation and conceal/carry rulings? They have considerably less crime,and the people are a hell of alot nicer-and very civil too! Even on a per-capita basis,they still have considerably less crime! Now look at Great Britain? It is about the closest thing to a gunless society...But? They have a crime rate that is virtually double of that of Canada and the U.S.A. (Combined). And Yes,they still have gun crime there too! And No,the British Police Officers are not gunless either...it's in the trunks of their cars-or carried around by special units or officer's! But alot of people still think that the 'Bobbies' are only carrying a Manadonoc or Billy Club Truncheon,and that there is perfect order in the U.K. (Britain). Well guess again? Hungerford anyone!!! I cannot honestly tell you if the massacre at Virginia Tech-could ever entirely be prevented? But the outcome may have been considerably less-than 32 dead individuals...if a 'law abiding' Adult Student or Teacher had been concealing/carrying a handgun or simular effective weapon! I also support the idea of specially trained "Air Marshalls" on commercial and domestic flights-as well as the Pilots! Alot of Americans that I meet,think Canada is 'safer' because of its Gun Control Laws...but they are stupified when I am forced to tell them that,when you break down the reported crime stats on a per-capita basis...there is just as much gun crime and crime in general in Canada-sometimes even more! Yeah sure...gun control really works-does'nt it? Not! I hope that this will help you to re-affirm your position on this matter,and should you choose to protect your Second Ammendment Rights-do it responsibly and thoughtfully! Remember that when your rights to responsible 'gun ownership' are taken-all your other rights are up for grabs...Freedom of Speech,Religion,Expression,Democratic Principles etc. When this happens,you can bet the Phsyco's will be running the Insane Asylum! And the Politicians and Police...won't be able to do a damned thing for you! [e-mail] And disgruntled Canadian law-abiding citizen! Quick...how do I get a Greencard???

Answer 5

The regulation in the united kingdom says you could in ordinary terms use existence like stress, what which ability precisely is any physique's wager, anybody who breaks into your place isn't likely to stand there jointly as you telephone for the police and wait jointly as they arrive, and are they going to abide via the regulation and use existence like stress against you? of path no longer, if there ever became into the type of component as a expert burglar, they do no longer exist now, maximum people who're centred these days are the elderly for obtrusive motives and in many situations are left badly overwhelmed or perhaps worse ineffective. So all you do gooders available think of roughly that for a minute, think of finding your mom or grandmother overwhelmed or raped for some quid, what might you want to do to that person who did that???? ( Princess ) If somebody breaks into your place the place your loved ones are snoozing to take your possessions or money and place you and your loved ones in mortal possibility they need to pay the bright value era!!!

Answer 6

I can't agree. I read just today that Great Britain, which has a population of at least 20 million, has only had about 45 murders this year, while New York, with a population of about 5 million, has had about 560. Great Britain's gun control laws are so strict that handguns are strictly forbidden, and even their Olympic pistol team has to practice in another country.

Answer 7

I don't think we should carry weapons around with us in public but I do think we should have the right to own them to protect our homes. People may have been "more careful" in the old west but there was always someone trying to prove he was the fastest. Lets not get back to that please.

Answer 8

Absolutely, more now than ever. Its getting like the old west anymore and people need to carry for both protection and as a deterrant.

Answer 9

There is one problem with your theory...the shooter at Va Tech was a law abiding citizen up until tommorow...how do we determine who are the law abiding citizens and the ones who are temporary law abiding citizens

Answer 10

I wonder what goes on in the minds of people do you get it?..... you honestly think that to 'carry' would solve problems, man it would create even more don't you think there is enough gun culture around without it getting even worse?.... violence begets violence my goodness it's bad now if everyone started carrying, and being strapped ..... your argument is flawed in so many ways i can't begin to tell you.....now is that in depth enough for ya.... just giving you a piece of what goes on in my mind.