Would you Americans ever give up death penalty and weapons?

Question

Don't you feel scared by the fact that everyone could come and shoot you anytime?
Dont you think that punishing one person (eg:a killer) by death is just some kind of revenge which is not what a state should do?
I ask you this because I love America but I'm scared by these two things

ps:I'm European

To Paco2pac: I'm actually Italian and I know you set us free in World War Two, but the use of weapons in war is one thing, in everyday life is slightly different!
I'm not accusing anyone, just interested in what you think on the other side of the world :-)

Bored@work you see my point!
I'm not sure appealing to a law written 250 ca. years ago is the right answer, considerer under which circumstances it was done (independence war etc)
About death penalty, I simply think life imprisonment would me more of a fair thing, death is just a shortcut, the killer/raper/whatever doesnt face what he has done this way, you just set him free, eventually.

Answer 1

2nd Amendment yes...that's what all of you latch onto when the question regarding guns arise. but, open your eyes for one second and think about what effect guns have on our society. the majority of us are not responsible enough to have a gun, and even if we are, guns are just too easily accessible to those who intend to do harm and have no right to possess such a powerful weapon. the number of deaths in the US due to gun violence is higher than all european countries put together. the point is, guns are dangerous. how many more Columbines must we witness before we realize this. the 2nd amendment excuse is ridiculous, during the time our constituion was written, this country was in a state of war for independence, not only that but we were invading those who were already here before the colonists had settled. the Constitution also referred to slaves as property and the power in this country was in the hands of only those who owned property (still is, no?). Just because it is in our constituion/amendments etc. does not make it right, times change, and so should our views and reasoning.

Answer 2

Someone could come and stab you with a knife anytime too. If we have guns, at least we can defend ourselves. Without weapons, women are more or less defenseless against men. And actually, if law abiding people have guns, that serves as a deterrent to crime. There tends to be more crime in areas where guns are illegal. Like the UK.

And the death penalty also serves as a deterrent, in addition to revenge. So if killing some guilty people creates a deterrent that saves the lives of some innocent people, I think that's a good trade. Exactly the sort of thing a state should do.

If the death penalty scares you, then just don't commit any crimes that are punishable by the death penalty, and you'll be fine.

Answer 3

When I discuss private gun ownership with Europeans, they often share your fearful attitude. I find your perspective on guns odd, to say the least. I think many Europeans assume that the majority of Americans are indiscriminately killing each other on the streets. On the contrary, actually. The people who go through the legal process to own guns rarely commit crimes with their guns. In fact, they tend to be educated on the proper use of their weapons and law-abiding citizens. People who commit crimes with weapons usually don't bother to register their guns.

I don't feel scared that anyone could shoot me at any time. And if I owned a gun, I'd feel even less scared. An armed populace is a safe populace.

Aren't you scared that in your country the government owns all the weapons? Aren't you scared that if someone breaks into your house to kill you tonight, that you have really no way to protect yourself other than maybe a kitchen knife, mace or a long stick?

I would be.

And no, we're never going to give up 'weapons' because they're protected under the US Constitution.

Answer 4

No, I'm not scared. Let 'em take their best shot. I'll just shoot back with something bigger! My ancestors found out the hard way what happens when you let the government disarm you. When the police have all the guns, you have a police state! As for the death penalty, I'm all for it, for a very simple reason. It keeps them from doing it again. I'm fed up with people committing murder 2, 3 or more times! If that's European "enlightenment", I'd rather stay in the dark!

Answer 5

well, no would be short but I'm guessing you want an explanation. Death penalty is not, revenge,it is a punishment for a criminal that a comfortable life in prison would not fix( because in America we have nice prisons, w/cable,food, climate control,) and guns, well it was written in our constitution that we can have them, so we can protect ourselves and other, we are not paranoiac, we are just prepared, and since youre European, and almost sure English, i am sure that you know that guns and America set you free in world war II,

To Paco2pac: I'm actually Italian and I know you set us free in World War Two, but the use of weapons in war is one thing, in everyday life is slightly different!
I'm not accusing anyone, just interested in what you think on the other side of the world :-)

Yes i undestand your curiosity, and i did not mean to sund agressive,(we need smiley faces in this forum). But you have to undestand that the right to bear arms i something that was given to us as american,(by those who set us free) and we have to protect it, if we give up one, only one of our rights, what can assure us that they would not take the other ones we have. Also i am very suprice to read this question from an Italian citizen, i believe you have a similar right as us, you can also have guns, and the oldest gun maker in the world is Italian (Beretta Family) I love their guns, and also you guys are making millions with america, (us troops use Beretta guns M9's) So if this was a question to learn about how we feel about Death Penalty and the right to own guns, you have to re-word your question 8-)

Answer 6

Well, I am anti-death penalty, but I advocate the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution on our right to bear arms. We have a much larger population than countries in Europe and we are run quite differently. If you take away our guns, we lose our ability to defend ourselves against the criminals who have guns. Gun control does not lower crime rates. That is a myth. Gun crimes continue to occur in countries with the strictest gun control laws - because illegal guns are still in circulation.

Americans also don't believe in giving up our guns to the government because it gives them too much power over us. Our forefathers who wrote our Constitution knew that there would be a possibility of totalitarianism and abuse by our Federal government. So they wanted to make sure that the power of the government would be with the citizenry, rather than with the politicians who may have other agendas.

Answer 7

The death penalty is Biblical and needed for the worst of the worst in a civilized society. The right to bear arms is the foundation of a free society. When the weapons are taken away you soon will be enslaved look at history and you will see this is a fact.

Answer 8

Never would any American's with a brain want to give up weapons.
Guns don't kill people, people kill people.
I am opposed to the death penalty it is unAmerican and not an effective form of punishment. We are trying to elect Ron Paul to do away with this unconstitutional punishment.


As far as guns.......
1.) Gun control only hurts law abiding citizens. Someone who is a criminal IS A CRIMINAL because they don't abide by the laws, so it doesn't stop criminals from being able to have guns. If criminals know citizens carry guns, they might think twice before acting. If they know citizens are unarmed it makes IT EASIER for them to use force to ROB/Murder/attack/kidnap etc....
2.) When guns are banned crime rates INCREASE. Take a look at how the homicide rate went up in Australia when law abiding citizens were forced to accept Gun Control.
3.) When gun control is the key to government GENOCIDE.
HISTORY PROVES THIS>
Ottomon Empire, Soviet Union, Nazi Germany, China Nationalists, red CHina, Guatemala, Uganda, Cambodia, Rwanda. ALL implemented gun control before massacres occured.


Gun Control is bad.
Guns protect the citizens that is why it was written in the Constitution. But we are really being bared down upon by our goverment to give up this right.

Answer 9

Don't you realize that anyone could come in and shoot you at any time too?Just because guns are outlawed in your area doesn't mean they're not available.Most of the killings in third world countries are done by machete,knives and clubs.If someone wants to do you in,banning guns won't stop them. If you were a burglar would you choose a house where the occupants might be armed or would you go to an area where guns were illegal?

Answer 10

Americans believe very strongly in their right to bear arms, without regard to that little clause about being in a militia. is is part of a deep seeded fear in one group of people having too much power, like the government or police or criminals, etc. many people don't even like to submit to a background check because it is seen as a "right" instead of a "privilage" in the US.

the death penalty is losing ground frequently, and is udner constant debate. the problem is that many people don't feel there can be any suitbale "punsihment" for some crimes other than death. so until there is another sentance a person can serve for a truely horrific crime, the death penalty will stay.

Answer 11

Bush should get the Nobel prize for removing that kook. Saddam is a MONSTER. He has killed countless thousands, and tortured just as many, if not more. He had men put thru giant shredding machines ALIVE. His sons, Douche-ay and Doof-ay, or whatever, kidnapped women from the womens' own WEDDINGS and raped them. Outside Hussein's palace, our boys found emaciated lions in cages with human bones strewn about. Saddam's sons evidently fed women to those lions after they spent the night RAPING them. Bush is a hero in my mind, if only for removing Saddam. Love Jack