Poll: Guns, are they good or bad?

[chinese_democracy]

So I was posting in a different thread when i ran across the following post below and thought I would bring it up in a new topic. You can look up the facts if you want http://www.ichv.org/Statistics.htm but we all know guns kill a lot of folks every year in America. Should they be outlawed or not? and please tell us why.

I've gotten nasty stares and had some old guy spit at my feet before because I had a 30.06 slung over my shoulder (unloaded with breech open mind you -_-) while walking into a local store called "white elephant" which sells guns, ammunition and gun accessories. Granted, the store is kind of a catch all and has many different things for sale, but seriously, I'm walking into what is basically part gun store, with a gun, and people have a problem with that. Huh?!

What is with americans and their freedoms? What freedoms do they have that many of us do not? Excluding the right to carry firearms which in itself is just fucking stupid as they have proven themselves incapable of acting responsibly with them.
In fact they seem to have less rights than other decent countries what with restricting shit like same sex civil unions.

Anyway, you were an idiot. You deserved to be called names. Personally I think the others should have used their freedom of expression to "express" their fists all over your face. But then I just have no tolerance for idiots.

A select few acting irresponsibly does not mean everyone. If that's the case, then I'm surprised that governments haven't banned people's "right" to have a brain since so many people use them irresponsibly. :cough: It's the same thing as cars. Some people are idiots with cars, should we ban them because of that? No, that would be idiotic. Logical-fail.

Agreed. It would be like banning cars or alcohol because some people are irresponsible and might hurt someone. Treating EVERYONE like a criminal just because a very small number of people MIGHT one day become a criminal is never the answer. The answer is to punish the guilty, not the entirety of the population.

Also, the "irresponsible" people are criminals who import guns illegally. They don't buy they at gun stores because they run background checks there. There is almost ZERO crossover between guns in the hands of civilians and guns in the hands of criminals because they come from different sources.

 

[Vuljatar]

*Sigh* This again? Very well.

Quite simply, if you outlaw guns then only criminals will have guns, and people will be unable to defend themselves. If you look at the numbers, states with more lenient gun laws have far lower violent crime rates than those with strict gun laws--this is because criminals are less likely to break into the house of someone they have reason to believe owns a gun.

 

[MortisLegio]

outlawing pistols and assault rifles, sure there only meant to kill people but hunting rifles are fine with me

 

[historybuff]

Guns don't kill people; people kill people.

*Sigh* This again? Very well.

Quite simply, if you outlaw guns then only criminals will have guns, and people will be unable to defend themselves. If you look at the numbers, states with more lenient gun laws have far lower violent crime rates than those with strict gun laws--this is because criminals are less likely to break into the house of someone they have reason to believe owns a gun.

Actually, basically this.


Also, OP, yawn. Another thread bashing Americans and their love of shiny weapons? Like I haven't seen that a million times before.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

My personal belief is that for the people who are going to acquire a gun at some point should have a background check done, and no criminal record. Once this is done, they must also take a Safety Course. After that, they can purchase their gun and must register it as well.

I also feel that one should be allowed to have the right to carry, but thats just me.

Judging from your quotes, it seems that the people defending the guns have essentially the same mindset as me. Just because some people don't know how to properly handle a gun, doesn't mean everyone doesn't. It is an Amendment as well, and if anything happens with the government, the people should have the right to protect themselves.

 

[Toaster Hunter]

The problem with banning guns is that if that starts, its a slippery slope to other things, like knives and other tools. What's to say a pen can't be dangerous, so we might as well ban those too.

I'm not saying someone should own a machine gun (as cool as that would be) but a law abiding citizen not being able to own a pistol or rifle is absurd.

 

[RomanLegacy]

But how will we fight the soviets? Or the Nazis?

Honestly, I don't think we need guns. But there are far to many people in this country who disagree. Those who fight hardest against gun control, the NRA *COUGH*, are generaly representing a group of people who feel they need guns, most of the time aren't going to use them in a crime. Should they have them? No.

But, most criminals use unregistered and smuggled guns anyways. Outlawing guns won't stop gun related crimes. Just my two cents.

 

[Robert0288]

Your numbers are flawed and absurd. Canada has more *registered* firearms per person than the US has Firearms per person, and look at the difference in gun related violence. Its a social problems. Take away one tool, and criminals will find another and/or keep using it anyways.

 

[grimsprice]

Guns don't kill people; people kill people.

*Sigh* This again? Very well.

Quite simply, if you outlaw guns then only criminals will have guns, and people will be unable to defend themselves. If you look at the numbers, states with more lenient gun laws have far lower violent crime rates than those with strict gun laws--this is because criminals are less likely to break into the house of someone they have reason to believe owns a gun.

Actually, basically this.


Also, OP, yawn. Another thread bashing Americans and their love of shiny weapons? Like I haven't seen that a million times before.

This.
I have two of these...

Spoiler

If anyone tries to take them away then i will use them. However, i don't own them to kill people, i own them to keep other people from killing me, or my friends. And i'm a damn fine marksman. I can take the ball joint out of your shoulder with one of these. It won't kill you but it will stop you from taking my life.

 

[Mordwyl]

Fact: Countries such as Malta and Japan have a ban on firearms and most lethal weaponry, whereas the USA does not.
Fact: Crime, especially murders, are almost nonexistant in Malta whereas in Japan they tend to be very rare occasions.

When you're raised in a society that believes any kind of problem can be solved with pulling a trigger you're asking for it.

 

[Berethond]

My personal belief is that for the people who are going to acquire a gun at some point should have a background check done, and no criminal record. Once this is done, they must also take a Safety Course. After that, they can purchase their gun and must register it as well.

I also feel that one should be allowed to have the right to carry, but thats just me.

Judging from your quotes, it seems that the people defending the guns have essentially the same mindset as me. Just because some people don't know how to properly handle a gun, doesn't mean everyone doesn't. It is an Amendment as well, and if anything happens with the government, the people should have the right to protect themselves.

Fun fact: Gun control laws are exactly what you said.

Plus extra checks and courses for CCW.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

My personal belief is that for the people who are going to acquire a gun at some point should have a background check done, and no criminal record. Once this is done, they must also take a Safety Course. After that, they can purchase their gun and must register it as well.

I also feel that one should be allowed to have the right to carry, but thats just me.

Judging from your quotes, it seems that the people defending the guns have essentially the same mindset as me. Just because some people don't know how to properly handle a gun, doesn't mean everyone doesn't. It is an Amendment as well, and if anything happens with the government, the people should have the right to protect themselves.

Fun fact: Gun control laws are exactly what you said.

Plus extra checks and courses for CCW.

...and? I'm confused as to how that pertains at all to my post. Its how I feel about it, the fact that it may or may not be gun control laws(because they differ amongst all states) is irrelevant. I think guns are good, just to clear that up if there is any confusion.

 

[Vuljatar]

Fact: Crime, especially murders, are almost nonexistant in Malta whereas in Japan they tend to be very rare occasions.

No thanks to the gun laws. You act as if gun laws are the only difference between Japan and the US.

When you're raised in a society that believes any kind of problem can be solved with pulling a trigger you're asking for it.

Who believes that? The criminals. Who would be affected by a gun ban? The law-abiding citizens.

 

[Berethond]

Also, guns are not inherently "good" or "bad".
They are a tool.

They can no more be "bad" than a screwdriver can be.

 

[manaman]

Guns don't kill people; people kill people.

*Sigh* This again? Very well.

Quite simply, if you outlaw guns then only criminals will have guns, and people will be unable to defend themselves. If you look at the numbers, states with more lenient gun laws have far lower violent crime rates than those with strict gun laws--this is because criminals are less likely to break into the house of someone they have reason to believe owns a gun.

Actually, basically this.


Also, OP, yawn. Another thread bashing Americans and their love of shiny weapons? Like I haven't seen that a million times before.

Oh I just got me a wonderfully shinny nickel plated S&W 45ACP today. Oh I love it.

Well just from the OP (I will probably put it in the other thread as well) cars obviously have a every day function. Alcohol honestly should be more tightly controlled. I say bump the drinking age up to at least 21. However a gun has no function in your every day life.
If you are not hunting every day then you do not need a gun so yes. They should be outlawed.
And don't give me any crap about only criminals will then have guns. If your entire country does not have them then yes, they may be able to still get some on the black market. However that will drive the price right up and will make it much more difficult to get and if they are caught with one at all it will result in a prison sentence.
The only reason it does not work in the states is one state outlaws them, people drive 2 hours to another state, buys as many as they want and then take them back.

So tell me is your next step to ban all 1" pipe and nails? That is all you need to fire off a 12 ga shotgun round after all, and with a minimal chance of it blowing up on you. How about lathes and smithing tools. I have enough tools in my shop to build a gun should I want to. It might not be a light and fancy as the ones you buy, but it will defiantly do the trick. Hint: the trick being shooting.

 

[darthzew]

I believe in regulation, but not outright banning them. Thorough background checks should be done especially. It is our constitutional right to have guns:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GNu7ldL1LM

 

[Berethond]

My personal belief is that for the people who are going to acquire a gun at some point should have a background check done, and no criminal record. Once this is done, they must also take a Safety Course. After that, they can purchase their gun and must register it as well.

I also feel that one should be allowed to have the right to carry, but thats just me.

Judging from your quotes, it seems that the people defending the guns have essentially the same mindset as me. Just because some people don't know how to properly handle a gun, doesn't mean everyone doesn't. It is an Amendment as well, and if anything happens with the government, the people should have the right to protect themselves.

Fun fact: Gun control laws are exactly what you said.

Plus extra checks and courses for CCW.

...and? I'm confused as to how that pertains at all to my post. Its how I feel about it, the fact that it may or may not be gun control laws(because they differ amongst all states) is irrelevant. I think guns are good, just to clear that up if there is any confusion.

I was just pointing out that your idea for gun control is waht we already have.

Also, see my post above about guns being good or bad.

 

[Vuljatar]

However a gun has no function in your every day life.
If you are not hunting every day then you do not need a gun so yes. They should be outlawed.

Self defense? Hello?