Why should there be gun-control?

Question

Basically your right to freedom of speech extends as far as you use it to hurt someone/incite violence. Should the same not be true for ownership of weapons? You can use weapons as long as you do not use it to hurt someone, then it is revoked and you go to jail. Also is the supposed "safety" which we get really worth giving up the civil liberty of gun ownership?

Okay, I will respond to all answerers so far

1: Agreed

2: Agreed

3: Yeah, I’m talking for adults here, both in terms of guns and freedom of speech.

4: See 3

5: No, we should not all be able to shoot someone, I’m saying we should all be able to own firearms to use in a responsible manner, and if that privilege is misused, in any manner, then it should be revoked.

6: First of all there shouldn’t be, second of all I’m not talking about international, intergovernmental relations, but rather the domestic issue of governmental regulation of civil liberties. These two ideas are fundamentally different, so you would do well to not compare them directly.

7: I don’t believe in the right to shoot somebody, unless in self defense.

8: Yeah, felons shouldn’t be allowed to own guns.

9: Yeah, strict punishments should be in place.

10: Yes you can compare the two. 10 year old’s rights are restricted both in terms of speech and gun ownership. See 3.

11: I was looking for something coherent.

12: Yeah I know, I like switzerland. I've also hear of towns in the U.S. where people are required to own guns, and crime went down 50% in the first week.

13: WORD.

5: I did. You just seem incapable of understanding what it means.

Also I can fall back on the argument "Those who would sacrifice liberty for security deserve neither and will lose both." So what happens when a dictator takes over and we have no weapons with which to fight him.

Answer 1

I agree with you except that I don't believe that ALL felons should lose the right to own firearms. To me, it makes no sense to take the right to own firearms away from non-violent felons. I think that only those with a record of violence should lose this right.

Someone mentioned the possibility of children finding their parents' guns. Yea, and they can also steal knives from their kitchens. Should there be knife-control as well?

I'll never understand how people can reason that crime and violence will decrease with greater gun-control. Criminals aren't in the habit of buying weapons legally. Only law abiding citizens obey laws. Common sense.

Answer 2

The US Supreme Court is looking at this question this term.

I want to add - I hate it when people pick on "crazy people" and how they shouldn't own guns. The vast majority of "crazy people" have never been violent, and never will be. They are depressed, or maybe hide under the bed. How do I know that? Because I am a "crazy person." (I have bipolar disorder, and in some states I am not allowed to own a gun, even tho I have never been violent or committed any crime, and have performed a lot of public service volunteering. Plus, women almost never commit violence anyway).

So I think unless someone is threatening violence consistently, it isn't fair to treat someone differently just because they have a mental health diagnosis. Otherwise, it's like in the movie Minority Report, the Dept. of Future Crimes convicts you of a crime that maybe you will commit some day. But maybe not. Otherwise, maybe we should take all the guns away from young males, and give them back when they turn 40. That would be a more valid population to take guns from than people with a mental health problem (even people with an involuntary commitment history, which includes people who have trouble keeping an apartment and has nothing to do with violence).

I do stigma busting, so that's what I like to point out on gun control. It upsets me that I couldn't go deer hunting in Texas, that people are Sooooooooooo afraid of a woman who sews doll clothes for little girls and rescues abandoned animals and actually bakes pie from scratch.

I totally agree with your take on the slightly limited 2nd ammendment.

Answer 3

The problem is, the minority of those with guns create problems for we, law-obiding citizens. If you don't pass a background check, you don't get a gun - wish it were that easy - cuz criminals don't like to acquire things legally. I believe if you are convicted of a gun crime, you should get your sentence, plus pistol whipped.

Answer 4

There shouldn't be gun control. Let's take Switzerland for example: All men of legal age are required to own a gun / rifle and are encouraged to carry it . They have very little gun crime. The only thing gun control does is ensure that criminals are the only ones that have guns. But knowing that an entire populous carries is a deterrent.

Sources:
http://www.guncite.com/swissgun-kopel.html

http://www.nationmaster.com/country/sz-switzerland/cri-crime

http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/articles/article/Switzerland/Crime-rate-in-Switzerland/221

Answer 5

I believe in basic regulations, so guns aren't available for children to pick off of shelves and buy themselves. Other than that, I agree that you should have the right until you prove otherwise.

Answer 6

You can't compare gun control to speech control or else 10 year olds would be allowed to own rifles. I'm all for the second amendment but of course there has to be gun control.

Answer 7

the left wanted Sunni muslims in Iraq to be in compliance with their standards in relation to gun control...complaining loudly of their being given arms...well what happens? Insurgents run out of their neighborhoods and violent death dropping below that of the City of Baltimore...where they have gun control laws...go figure

Answer 8

Sure~ Listen to yourself! From what you're saying, we should all be able to shoot someone--just one person each, though! THEN our gun rights can be revoked and we go to jail...

(Make a better argument.)

Answer 9

Because the 2 hand grip is recommended for better accuracy.

Answer 10

Scary.