Are guns designed for purposes other than killing?

Question

I just asked a question about gun ownership, and was told that we should outlaw cars and even hands...because those kill people too. So I was wondering, since cars and hands have purposes other than killing, is this really an appropriate analogy? And what purposes other than killing, do guns have?

to put in perspective, we classify drugs based on redeeming qualities...if there are none, they are illegal...

the repubican, if you don;t care about the laws, you just become another outlaw with a gun.

ah, booman! The only answer not splitting hairs...

Great, so how about the new rule is you can shoot to harm, but if you kill you are guilty of murder. Is that cool with everyone? Yeah, didn;t think so. The threat people have with guns is the threat that it COULD KILL YOU, which is why it is effective at 'stopping, protecting' or whatever other words you want to use.

Answer 1

They use them to start races too

Answer 2

No doubt, a gun's main purpose is as a weapon. However, guns DO have other purposes other than for killing.

1. Recreational target-practice.
2. Sports - target shooting.
3. Hobby - collecting guns of all kinds.
4. For defense: to scare off intruders or robbers. You don't have to kill a person to scare them. Pointing a gun at an intruder could give them second thoughts without even pulling the trigger (the gun doesn't even have to be loaded). Also, a loud bang could scare most people if fired over their heads. Killing is the last resort only if the intruder doesn't heed your warnings and try to harm you.

And, last but not least, gun ownership is an inalienable RIGHT - not a privilege, that is protected by the Constitution of the United States of America. This is because the forefathers knew that a government's power needs to be checked by the people that it serves, because governments have a tendency to become corrupt and become dictatorships. Taking away guns from people makes the people unable to defend themselves from a corrupt dictatorship.

Answer 3

And please, no answers saying "guns don't kill, people do". Okay, "Guns don't kill people, bullets moving really fast do." That's not the issue here. I know. There is no doubt that a gun makes killing much easier. You betcha'. It IS something designed for killing. Still on board. Countries where people don't all have the right to bear firearms have far less gun related deaths. True, but they have many more stabbings. If you haven't had the pleasure: I'd rather be shot than stabbed. On a related note: countries that don't have alot of cars, have fewer car accidents. duhhhhhh Isn't it a bit of a contradiction if a christian owns something designed for killing? Not at all. There's nothing in the Bible that says you shouldn't defend yourself, your family, or your property with lethal force. Actually, there are a few sections supporting it. A better question: Isn't a bit of a contradiction for an atheist to call on biblical authority to support his argument? or Isn't it a bit of a contradiction for a "man of science" to do zero research before arguing a hypothesis?

Answer 4

Well the second part of your question is more interesting than the first,in that you say we have drugs legalized based on redeeming characteristics. So do you think that the thousands of people who defend themselves against violent crimes every year,with guns,feel that guns have a redeeming characteristic.

Perhaps you have never been the victim of a violent crime, if so great,but I have been in a situation in my life where I was very outnumbered by a group of people who had every intention of making my life very unpleasant,for no reason other than being in the wrong place at the wrong time. And it was the very fact that I had a firearm and they didn't that changed that situation from the liklehood of a severe beating to a situation where everyone just walked away because no one felt like taking it to the next level,for me that ends the discussion. I will have my firearm to defend myself as the constitution promises I may,whether the state agrees or not.
I would rather be judged by 12 than carried by six.

AD

Answer 5

defense, protection, skeet shooting, target shooting.
How about arrows, if I shoot a trespasser with a bow and arrow instead of a gun would that make you happy? Or maybe a Knife. I will just have to resort to stabbing for protection? Oh but if we do away with those, no more steaks. I guess PETA will be thrilled. Can a person with no hands kill....yep sorry.
Hammers...no more construction. (I guess there goes Mexican immigration)
Poisons....sorry just live with the spiders, ants. Infestations aren't that big of a problem. We don't have to worry about termites now since we can't build houses, no more hammers remember??
Weed Killer...damn the flowers anyway!
How about this for a compromise...we will no longer call them Guns. That way it takes away your negative connotation.
Maybe we will change the name to.....protective devices or criminal aids.

Answer 6

Cars and hands aren't, but what about knives? Bats? Any weapon?

You're right in your question tho. A guns explicit purpose is to cause someone harm, just as with any weapon. It grants you greater power to hurt someone.

That may sound harsh, but it's the truth. But people need to have that power for a variety of reasons. Certainly you can't trust everyone to respect your right to life, especially if you have something they want. If a criminal enters my house with intent to kill me or any of my family, I want the means to take him down fast. There's no fooling around here. If I have a 50 caliber machine gun under my pillow, I'm using it on this guy.

Consider the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. That was plainly an example of a good time to own a gun. There will be times when the government can't protect you. At that point, you're on your own.

Answer 7

To be honest, guns are made for killing but it depends what the person uses to kill. Many hunt, are you going to fret about a couple of woodland creatures? Some have at their house for protection in case of a robber breaks in. Many NRA members are law abiding and they know about gun safety. You hide the gun somewhere safe, have a safety lock or separate the bullets from the gun. Is all about responsibility, I like guns and you try to learn more abou them.

Answer 8

I'm going to guess that you're a vegan.

Gun's are only intended to kill (you're right in that). What you've decided to ignore are the questions; to kill what? and, why?

Until just very recently there was not a safe, organized system of food delivery in the world. This is still true in many parts of the world. If you have a gun, and are proficient with that gun, you now have the ability to feed yourself and your family.

Additionally, even though you want everyone to love everyone, for the bulk of the world it doesn't look like that. If you have a gun you have the ability to defend yourself and your family in the absence of legitimate government (as is still the reality in the bulk of the world).

So I have to agree and disagree with your question. Your right in that guns are designed only to kill. But you forgot to ask: Why?

Answer 9

Target shooting and competitions. It's pretty interesting to go an watch how good some people are at shooting. It does require quite a bit of training and practice to become a skilled shooter and to see the top echelon perform is pretty amazing.

Answer 10

Target shooting, competition shooting, investment, collecting, historical. Along with personal protection. Guns Do Not Kill People....People Kill People!!! Maybe we should ban people

Answer 11

Sure - I enjoy target practice with my rifle.

They're valuable for self-defense. You don't have to kill a person to keep them from injuring or killing you. Just the sight of your gun will stop most people from doing anything to harm you.

You could include hunting, depending if you want to limit your definition of "killing" to "killing people". Since man has removed the top predators from most area, it's up to us to fill that roll. It it isn't done, I know that my area at least would soon be overrun with deer. That leads to many more car-deer accidents, lots more crop damage, and many deer starving to death during the winter.