Von Strimmer said:
But every gun is manufactured to kill something.
Nope. Certain guns are made solely for hitting targets.
Could you tell me what other things you use a gun for apart from killing or self defence?
Target shooting/competitive shooting, reenacting, collecting, restoring (some people just like building/fixing guns), and decoration all come to mind.
Does it not make sense that if the general public didn't have a gun, you wouldn't need a gun?
Nope. Not even if we begin with the incorrect premise that guns exist solely to kill things. For instance, I know someone who keeps a loaded shotgun on her wall at all times, in case a bear ever gets into the house. She's not the least bit concerned with defending herself from other people, it's the local wildlife that she's worried about.
Setting aside bears, though, a gun is also useful in an attack by another human, even if that person is not carrying a gun. Not everyone is strong enough to defend themselves in a fight, so having a gun can be extremely useful, and perhaps even necessary, even if your opponent is using something other than a gun.
Also owning 70 guns is stupid, if that guy gets robbed and his guns get stolen then thats 70 weapons distributed amongst criminals to use, and I dont think they will be using them as a tool.
You assume that the guns are all in working order, that they are all of a type that can be effectively used by criminals (I don't think black powder rifles are high on a criminal's "must get" list), that he stores them in such a way that they could be stolen, AND that he is responsible for taking into account the actions of criminals when deciding what to do with his time and money.
However I will always think guns are a liability to the general public and have no reason to be owned by any member of the public (excluding police and farmers).
Earlier you stated that if the general public don't have guns, then you don't need a gun. Now you say police can have guns. Why would police need guns, if the general public doesn't have them? And if the police might need them, doesn't that mean other people might as well?