Obama may re-instate the ban on assault weapons.

[MercenaryCanary]

People just don't seem to remember that one crucial moment called the American Revolution. Britain wanted to take our guns away, and if they succeeded do you honestly think America could have won that? Our Fore Fathers foresaw this and realized that in order to preserve our great country, civilians would need to be able to possess the same weapons that the military does so if our government screws up enough (like it is doing right now, what with all the bureaucracy, constant war, calling upon us to fix companies that fucked up, the P.A.T.R.I.O.T. act, etc.).

And even if you had to fight against your government for whatever stupid reason, guess what? Even with automatic weapons, Army would still kick your ass. Even without actually hurting people that much. There is such thing as tanks, at least for sheer intimidation. There is such thing as grenades, and not even mandatorily lethal ones.

No. No it wouldn't. The Russia government tried to do the same damned thing, and it fucking backfired. And Americans are more reluctant to kill their own citizens then the Russians. Its called "Western Morality" and although it has been based on years of stupidity and hardheadedness, it does have its good things like sympathizing with rebels. Americans always sympathize with rebels. It is just in our nature, since that was how our country started.

But say that American soldiers were willing to kill American citizens. We need only look at a few wars to see how this would still result in the American army loosing. How would you know if a civilian is friendly? He could pull a concealed hand-gun on you at any time, and you wouldn't be expecting it. And what if all the civilians or a high-majority of them were against the Army? Not many Americans are in the army. In fact I know that it is well under less then 10%. I'd guess around 3-6%. You'd have, at least, 90% of the country after you.

We are extremely capable of successful revolt, but taking away our weapons is just another way to weaken us in case we try to.

 

[Maze1125]

How is "we don't want you to own guns, so we're banning them" any different from "we don't want you to own any literature that contradicts us, so we're banning them"? It's a very steep, easy fall once you begin making exceptions. Absolutely the only thing government has the right to is to stop people from infringing on another's life and freedoms.

Banning items is hardly a new thing, lots of drugs are already banned.

 

[DragunovHUN]

You guys are still talking about assault rifles and not assault weapons. Do your homework please.

 

[vxicepickxv]

Yes, I agree we should ban them, because look at how well something works out when you ban it, like drugs...

Ok, just a bit of sarcasm there. A bit, but not a little bit.

 

[Biek]

ALl this crap makes me understand completely why the majority of the world hates America.

 

[megapenguinx]

I'm going with the OP on this one, assault rifles for civilian use are just unnecessary. No one needs that kind of firepower for any reason short of warfare.

 

[Jenkins]

Come on--these guns have the word "assault" right in the freaking name.

Unless you're in the military, or the deer you're hunting has a bazooka, you don't need one.

if the deer has a bazooka, I hunt it down with an artillery gun.

 

[Velocirapture07]

No one should own a gun never mind a automatic weapon.

If the yanks really must be armed at least keep em semi-automatic personally Id limit them to bolt and single barreled.

Of course Obama is talking about banning assault weapons. Next, he'll ban hunting firearms too. It's one of the steps needed for total control of a people by a socialist government. It's hard to rule the people when they can still fight back. This kind of thing is exactly why the writers of the Constitution put in the amendment to protect the citizens right to keep and bear arms. They'd lived in countries in Europe where the crowns didn't allow them to have weapons and didn't want to have to endure that in the New World. What they didn't forsee, was that in the future, the politicians and far too many of the citizens would choose to ignore the Constitution and give up their rights anyway. The U.S. is going to turn into the very sort of socialist state that it's founders escaped from in the first place. Sad really.

That's the saddest thing I've ever read. How come every other country where most people aren't gun-toting penis-extension phallic symbol wielding maniacs is literally doing better then USA in most things that matter? Yeah.

And even if you had to fight against your government for whatever stupid reason, guess what? Even with automatic weapons, Army would still kick your ass. Even without actually hurting people that much. There is such thing as tanks, at least for sheer intimidation. There is such thing as grenades, and not even mandatorily lethal ones.

And there is difference between socialistic state and monarchy. Your country isn't capitalistic. No, it's not. And you can trust me, if it was a purely capitalistic state you would want your ticket out of there real fast.

haha, no one here in the U.S. needs lectures on what we DO and DO NOT have. I would also argue that we are doing much better then other countries in the world. Sometimes you guys are laughably ridiculous with your anti-gun stance....it's like they're the most evil thing in the world...Bullshit I say.

 

[pieeater911]

This thread reminded me of a wonderful picture.

[http://photobucket.com/images/bear%20arms]

The right to Bear arms!

 

[Velocirapture07]

ALl this crap makes me understand completely why the majority of the world hates America.

Yeah...cause we own guns...those damn Americans with their Constitution and rights, who do they think they are. I'd rather have assault rifles then damn legal weed any day.

 

[Whiskyjakk]

Its called "Western Morality" and although it has been based on years of stupidity and hardheadedness, it does have its good things like sympathizing with rebels. Americans always sympathize with rebels. It is just in our nature, since that was how our country started.

America loves rebels? Fidel Castro and Che Guevera weren't that popular with the CIA and Kennedy as far as I can see. Likewise those jolly Bolsheviks who took over Russia in 1917. How about the rebels in Afghanistan and Iraq against the new governments?

On topic, as a Brit I don't see what the problem is with Americans owning firearms or even assault rifles if the majority wants to. It's a democracy and so long as their craziness isn't impinging on the liberty of any other state they're welcome to it.

 

[Hunde Des Krieg]

Of course Obama is talking about banning assault weapons. Next, he'll ban hunting firearms too. It's one of the steps needed for total control of a people by a socialist government. It's hard to rule the people when they can still fight back. This kind of thing is exactly why the writers of the Constitution put in the amendment to protect the citizens right to keep and bear arms. They'd lived in countries in Europe where the crowns didn't allow them to have weapons and didn't want to have to endure that in the New World. What they didn't forsee, was that in the future, the politicians and far too many of the citizens would choose to ignore the Constitution and give up their rights anyway. The U.S. is going to turn into the very sort of socialist state that it's founders escaped from in the first place. Sad really.

You are an idiot. Why don't you spew some more verbal diarrhea? It's actually funny, and the founders didn't escape a socialist state you fool, they escaped monarchial dictatorship. I love how you people like to rewrite history to suit your purposes. And love to throw around the word socialist like everyone threw around communist in the past.

While I don't think criminals need assualt weapons I know that a ban won't keep them from getting them, it's a bigger problem than a simple ban can fix.

Stop being an ignorant ass that feeds on conservative talk show host bullshit, and actually do some research.

And don't call me a liberal hippy or a socialist, I am a moderate independent that hates the bullshit both sides throw around.

 

[xxcloud417xx]

I don't understand why assault weapons we're ever legal for the general population... I mean, the function of an Assault weapon is to kill another human being... No civilian should BE killing other people so why sell them weapons to facilitate that? I don't care about legalizing hunting weapons, because they actually serve a purpose other than causing the death of other human beings.

 

[mokes310]

Of course Obama is talking about banning assault weapons. Next, he'll ban hunting firearms too. It's one of the steps needed for total control of a people by a socialist government. It's hard to rule the people when they can still fight back. This kind of thing is exactly why the writers of the Constitution put in the amendment to protect the citizens right to keep and bear arms. They'd lived in countries in Europe where the crowns didn't allow them to have weapons and didn't want to have to endure that in the New World. What they didn't forsee, was that in the future, the politicians and far too many of the citizens would choose to ignore the Constitution and give up their rights anyway. The U.S. is going to turn into the very sort of socialist state that it's founders escaped from in the first place. Sad really.

That's the saddest thing I've ever read. How come every other country where most people aren't gun-toting penis-extension phallic symbol wielding maniacs is literally doing better then USA in most things that matter? Yeah.

And even if you had to fight against your government for whatever stupid reason, guess what? Even with automatic weapons, Army would still kick your ass. Even without actually hurting people that much. There is such thing as tanks, at least for sheer intimidation. There is such thing as grenades, and not even mandatorily lethal ones.

And there is difference between socialistic state and monarchy. Your country isn't capitalistic. No, it's not. And you can trust me, if it was a purely capitalistic state you would want your ticket out of there real fast.

Thanks, pretty much sums up my thoughts.

 

[Agayek]

Banning items is hardly a new thing, lots of drugs are already banned.

And I disagree with it heartily. No government should be allowed to regulate what the citizenry own, think, say, feel, or otherwise have, up to the point of violence and/or physical damage (to body or property).

 

[xXCrocmonXx]

Of course Obama is talking about banning assault weapons. Next, he'll ban hunting firearms too. It's one of the steps needed for total control of a people by a socialist government. It's hard to rule the people when they can still fight back. This kind of thing is exactly why the writers of the Constitution put in the amendment to protect the citizens right to keep and bear arms. They'd lived in countries in Europe where the crowns didn't allow them to have weapons and didn't want to have to endure that in the New World. What they didn't forsee, was that in the future, the politicians and far too many of the citizens would choose to ignore the Constitution and give up their rights anyway. The U.S. is going to turn into the very sort of socialist state that it's founders escaped from in the first place. Sad really.

Thread over.

 

[kickin wiing]

Weapons are all around us, it's just that some are more political than others. Guns are easy to use, but so are rocks.

Guns are made and designed specifically to kill someone.

Rocks are not.

 

[MelziGurl]

http://www.neahin.org/programs/schoolsafety/gunsafety/statistics.htm

Faulty records enable terrorists, illegal aliens and criminals to purchase guns. Over a two and a half-year period, at least 9,976 convicted felons and other illegal buyers in 46 states obtained guns because of inadequate records.

Now, I am not up to date with America's current gun laws. But, if this is still the case, then it's no friggin wonder criminals are getting a hold of firearms so easily. If proper background checks and gun laws were being enforced the way they should be, the numbers could be highly reduced.

In 5 years, one would hope that something was done about this:

Americans for Gun Safety produced a 2003 report that reveals that 20 of the nation?s 22 national gun laws are not enforced. According to U.S. Department of Justice data (FY 2000-2002), only 2% of federal gun crimes were actually prosecuted. Eighty-five percent of cases prosecuted relate to street criminals in possession of firearms. Ignored are laws intended to punish illegal gun trafficking, firearm theft, corrupt gun dealers, lying on a criminal background check form, obliterating firearm serial numbers, selling guns to minors and possessing a gun in a school zone.


I couldn't find a site that contradicts this information, so if anyone can, feel free to post it.

EDIT: I am aware the statistics aren't current. I couldn't find anything past 2005.

 

[MelziGurl]

Banning items is hardly a new thing, lots of drugs are already banned.

And I disagree with it heartily. No government should be allowed to regulate what the citizenry own, think, say, feel, or otherwise have, up to the point of violence and/or physical damage (to body or property).

I would hate to see the state of the world if governments didn't regulate certain things with the intent of protecting it's citizens.