____twoism

for the record i just want to point out that i never said whether or not i think guns should be legal here. im obviously not a fan of them. but its one right we still have as americans. it just bums me out when people assume we're all gun fanatics or something. thats all. if someone wants to own a gun, fine. as long as it's in the hands of a responsible adult.

I own guns, and knives. And I always will.

The thought of someone living next door to me being able to own a gun makes my blood run cold. I don't understand the appeal. I just find it sad that many buy guns in order to protect themselves or their families. Being from the UK, I would consider exposing my family to something that is potentially so dangerous to be far from safe. If anything I see it as offering the exact opposite of protection.

To feel so unsafe in your own community that you feel the need to own a gun is pretty tragic and I would think twice about whether I really wanted to live there. However, as I'm not from the US or a country where gun ownership is legal, I think there's a real cultural difference that I don't understand and will probably never understand.

I live in a very safe house, in a very safe neighborhood. I own a guns because I believe in the constitutional right to do so, and as an American I believe if you're given a right, then exercise it. Will I ever use it? Most likely not. But do I appreciate the fact that I can bear arms if some psychotic nut-case breaks into my house and decides to rape my wife? Yes, I do.

Guns are a mechanical device, just like a car, or a computer. What you choose to do with them makes them deadly. I'm sure that a car could do a lot more damage to someone than a point blank 9mm gunshot could.

dono wrote:I believe in the constitutional right to do so, and as an American I believe if you're given a right, then exercise it.

if it was in the constitution that you can eat your own faeces every day, would you still do it?

all this constitution following is sounding very much like a religion

Nevertheless, I don't understand why people have such an issue with guns.

It's not the gun. It's the idiot who shoots someone else for fun.

The bigger question is do you trust people... and do you trust yourself.

The American bill of rights has been re-written something close to 17 times, I wouldn't put much stock in that, it said you were perfectly within your rights to own a slave at one point, and that didn't really turn out to be such a good idea either. If you wanna own a gun go for it, but if you live in a country where firearms are legal, your more likely to get shot. or shoot first, and then you're a murderer, or at least up for assault with a deadly weapon. it's not the people who want a gun who are at fault, if that's all you've ever known it's perfectly understandable, it's the government legislation that needs looking at. [/late to the party]

The constitution argument holds no weight with me whatsoever. It worked in the context in which it was written but the world has changed, the US has changed and so the constitution should at least be considered for amendment.

I don't care if someone likes or dislikes owning firearms. It makes no difference to me in how I look at them.

As for me, I will keep my pistol hidden in a safe, with no ammo in it, and my rifle in its case in my closet. That is where it will stay until the next time I go to target shoot.

Just thought I'd chime in here and say this:

The other day, I was walking down by the river shore and spotted a group of younger guys walking towards me, going the opposite direction. As I got closer, I noticed that the guy in the middle of the group was carrying a large rifle, right there in broad daylight. Not an airsoft or paintball gun. A rifle. I just decided to play it cool and walked past the guys, said hello...the guy with the rifle went "sup?!", and kept walking. I glanced back momentarily and noticed he had a backpack with a shitload of ammo sticking out of it.

At that moment, I just muttered something quaint about America, and went on my way.

...

Just to clarify, what I mentioned above is not legal here, especially because the guy packing arms was just a kid, by the looks of it. But, this stuff happens nonetheless. Just have to roll with it and keep your shit together.

...

One more story along these lines, for anyone that's interested: I was walking through the woods once with a friend of mine years ago (in a nature reserve about 3000 acres in size), which until that time I'd thought I had to myself. While we were strolling around, we came up to a large white pine tree with a rope hanging out of it. I followed the rope up and almost pissed myself when I saw a guy dressed entirely in black (including a face-mask) perched about 50 feet up in the tree, with a compound bow trained right on me. My friend and I just stared blankly at each other for a moment, horrified, and then quietly walked away without saying a word.

dono wrote:Nevertheless, I don't understand why people have such an issue with guns.

It's not the gun. It's the idiot who shoots someone else for fun.

The bigger question is do you trust people... and do you trust yourself.

But the fact that guns are legal, increases the chance a lot more that some lunatic can get a gun. People should not be trusted with guns, only people who serve for their own country or something. Every man/woman has his breaking point, what will happen if someone has that, and just happened to bring his gun or something. There are a lot of weird people in this world, and also in america. Guns just shouldnt be legal in my opinion.

portiss wrote:Guns just shouldnt be legal in my opinion.

Yep. See above. QED.

I think a lot of people outside the USA (there are always exceptions) have a certain perception about the whole thing. I mean you have to remember that... you can't just go buy a gun and carry it around. First of all, you need to be of age, you need to get permits, and get it registered (which means people are watching you, and they can track you if you decide to do anything stupid). If you are caught carrying it you will get arrested. If you are caught not carrying it and don't have it registered you will get arrested. If you do happen to have a special conceal license (they screen for this) you still can't take it everywhere you go. There are MANY public limitations and you will get arrested. And the really powerful guns (including all military guns) are all still off limits!

So BASICALLY... the ones who are doing the killing are doing so illegally anyway by buying military grade guns, and not having permits in the first place. Almost 100% of them. THUS, the law doesn't even apply to them, do I don't see why making guns legal for all the other RESPONSIBLE people out there is such a bad thing.

/rant. lol.

The outside perception is twisted because they only hear about when negative events happen related to guns. Nobody ever talks about responsible gun owners because they are doing it right and it isn't newsworthy.

Seriously, "yea I keep my pistol locked in a box under my bed, unloaded and the ammo is in the closet where the kids can't reach even if they tried." doesn't make for much of a news story. But "8 year old in a trailer park gets ahold of daddy's shotgun and blows the shit out of his little sister." makes for much better news, unfortunately. And since those are the only types of stories people hear it's no wonder they are scared shitless of guns, it's ignorance.

I don't think guns are a big deal at all. They are simple machines, as Done pointed out. In this part of the world you may hold one. A projectile flies out the end at speed. I find the reality of the device marvelous.

We trust that no one will pass on a blind curve while driving.

Comparing guns to cars is ridiculous.. guns are designed for 1 purpose only and that is killing. The fact that people use it to practise a sport with, doesn't pass over its initial purpose.

it is NOT. trust is the key issue here. perhaps I am an optimist. how about a flyswatter? you could choke on one of those.

Nobody ever got drunk, went round to their ex's house in a rage and brutally fly-swatted them to death. Or woke up in the night hearing a bump, got scared and crept into the garage and then drove their car into their son who was sneaking home after a late night out.

Equally nobody is saying that everything in life is safe and can't harm you, or that a part of life isn't taking risks. But the fact remains that guns are predominantly designed to kill and they are, on the whole, very,very good at it. Too good frankly.

And as for the whole legal thing, go and ask anyone affected by Dunblane or Hungerford whether they feel that guns should be legal. Maybe they'll get their fly-swatter out and set about you...

Your argument is boring. People got drunk and became offensive? Don't you folks have soccer riots over there? You have driven the auto analogy into the absurd. Kind of like Oscillik's absurd comment about poop. Eating poop so legislated(?) and driving cars into family members in defense of home. And ask a fly about how deadly a flyswatter is, so designed.

Because of this "natural" tendency I should not be allowed to hunt for game, and so eat?

dave_from_2001 wrote:Your argument is boring. People got drunk and became offensive? Don't you folks have soccer riots over there? You have driven the auto analogy into the absurd. Kind of like Oscillik's absurd comment about poop. Eating poop so legislated(?) and driving cars into family members in defense of home.

Because of this "natural" tendency I should not be allowed to hunt for game, and so eat?

again, the continual defence of the constitution and being able to "own arms" just because it says that you can is much like a religion.