Poll: Guns, are they good or bad?

[Mr.Pandah]

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.

Why is it crap? Its the truth. They'll either have the guns, or they'll just drive murders by stabbing through the roof.

 

[Rigs83]

This reminds of the law they passed that makes killing people illegal. Every nation has one and every nation needs jails to put people behind bars who break them. Prohibition didn't stop people from drinking, it just made criminals wealthy and powerful while hundreds of officers and civilians were injured or killed by the violence instigated by enforcing the law.

Our friends in Europe are comfortable not having the right to bear arms and that's all fine and dandy for them. Unfortunately I don't see a single European nation that does not have murders in it's prisons, granted they have far fewer than the US but less is not zero.

I don't own but have legally fired a gun and chose not to get the license since I live in a Blue State so it is effectively impossible for me to get one, my record is clean but I am a minority and Obama or not the cops are racist. To get back to the point it should not be easy for anyone and everyone to get a gun but it should be legal for adults who obey they law and know how to properly secure a weapon and fire it only in self defense or in practice at a designated range. Bullets can travel for miles so a designated range is best.

 

[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.

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.

In some states, yes, what I stated is true, but in others, it is not.

Being a tool, I see it as a good tool. This isn't in the "good" or "evil" sense that you are taking it. I see it as a useful tool, which in turn makes it a good tool.

 

[MasterSqueak]

*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.

Pretty much what this guy is saying.

I own five guns, and have a concealed weapons license, but I've never killed anyone.

But if some thug tries to rob me, in my own home or in some alley way, he'll be lucky to get away with a blasted kneecap.

 

[RavingPenguin]

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

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

Exactly, guns are a neutral party in any murder.

Im for guns, but I'm also a hunter living in a state that is vastly untaimed. You can see where my veiwpoint stems from.

 

[Vuljatar]

Self defense? Hello?

Thats what the police are there for. Hello? -.-;;;

I'm sorry, but it's pretty naive to assume that a police car will just happen to be driving by when you get robbed or when your home is invaded. It frequently takes the police more than 20 minutes to get to a crime scene after the call is made--a call you may not be alive to make if you are unable to defend yourself.

 

[Layz92]

Here's a interesting concept. No guns allowed flat out. Not in war, not in civilian life. But the twist is this... everyone gets given a free bowie knife. Lets see how popular war and gangs are when you have to force a blade into someones body instead of pulling a trigger and seeing a shape fall over in the distance.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

Self defense? Hello?

Thats what the police are there for. Hello? -.-;;;

Why is it crap? Its the truth. They'll either have the guns, or they'll just drive murders by stabbing through the roof.

Did you even read why I said most criminals will then not have guns? At all? Did you even try to read? And stabbing through the roof? Seriously man, stop and think about what you are writing and see if it makes any sense first.

Don't insult me. Thinking that I didn't read your post. Sure they'll get it from the black market...because thats where they've been getting the guns from the whole damn freakin' time. Think before you post and make sense out of it too before you come and try and throw it back in my face.

Stabbings, ya know, with knives? If criminals don't have guns, they'll find other means.

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

A gun, just like a sword, is a beautiful thing. Its complexity and power make it an amazing work. Guns are not inherently bad.

What people do with guns, however, is.

 

[kawligia]

OP, beware statistics from people with an agenda.

That site says that there were about 600 gun related homicides. But technically, a "homicide" is when a person is killed. Killing someone in self-defense is technically a "homicide" even though its a justifiable homicide. Even when a police officer kills a criminal in the line of duty, that can technically be called a homicide.

Also, I can guarantee you that the vast majority of the other homicides were the result of gang warfare or drug crime. They were using illegal weapons and not affected by gun laws in the slightest.

Also, the 300 suicides would not have been prevented without the guns. They just would have chosen another method.

 

[Samurai Goomba]

Guns are guns. They're as good or bad as the person holding one. And yes, I'm well aware of all the ninja activity around here, but I'm ignoring it.

But it'd be interesting to see what'd happen with crime if every bank teller and City employee was required to carry a firearm at all times (after an extensive screening process, of course).

"Hey, I'd like to rob your bank. See? I have a gun."

"I'd like you to not rob our bank. See these thirty guys behind me? They all have guns."

 

[manaman]

I said no, AND I'M CANADIAN HAHAHA

I would be a little crazy as well if I lived in Canada as well. You got my sympathy man. You know we run an underground railroad here, I help sneak people like you right across the boarder daily, and I guarantee no force labor at all. Scouts honor. We even give you a free gun, free copy of the constitution, a free picture of Colbert, and manual on how to sound American... In America!

Seriously through, why ban guns when they are such an ingrained part of our society? I personally own several hundred guns and you know what you would just make a criminal out of me if you outlawed then cause there is no way I would turn in my guns.

 

[peterwolfe]

Weapons can't be "good" or "bad."
A gun is just a tool.

I like you. You're hired.

Personally, I don't think guns should be outlawed, I just think that 90% of the guns currently in existence should be rounded up and destroyed. That way, if someone wanted to kill someone, they'd need to get creative about it.

my goal is, essentially, to turn the world into Manhunt with better controls.

 

[Vuljatar]

Oh and end of discussion. Gun nuts fail to use common sense so I will not debate further with them.

Goodbye, and good luck having a cop drive by in time to save your sorry ass if you ever are unlucky enough to be the victim of a violent crime.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

*snip*

Then get pepper spray or a taser. You do not need a gun. You just want one. Also you may want to try petitioning for more police funding. 20 minutes is either a absolute crap police force or an exaggeration.

*snip*

Bullshit. Some are from black market. A lot would be just from stealing from civilians homes or getting a friend to buy a gun and filing off the serial numbers.
Take a look at the school shootings. Did they use the black market? No. They got them from dear ol daddys closet. End of story.
And don't blame me for not being able to understand your poor choice of words. Besides, if they use knives then there is always the choice of using pepper spray or tasers. As I said to the person above. You have options. You just want to use guns for the sake of it.

Haha You are just too funny. You really must live in some rich neighborhood or something if you think that the police are showing up within 15minutes of a call, unless they happen to be in the area. It is not an exaggeration.

As for your comment on my post, criminals will always find a way to get their hands on guns, same with drugs. They ship them in, they make a deal, they kill someone else, etc. That really isn't the point, however, in your desperate attempt to come back against my post, you're further proving that criminals will always be able to get guns.

As for "deal ol daddy", maybe dear ol daddy wasn't the best gun owner. Maybe the kid was fucking psycho as well. But wait no, its the guns fault, my bad.

And my poor choice of words...just stop, you're embarrasing yourself.

I do have options as well, like...for example, living in a free country where I should have the right to bear arms! Go figure!

 

[Borrowed Time]

*snip*

Considering I was part of the quote and most everyone probably knows how I feel there isn't much for me to add to this. Although I do have to state that while one individual said they have no problem with rifles, they do have an issue with handguns, I'd have to disagree.

I've regularly had a handgun on me while hunting (usually a .357 mag) for protection against wild animal attacks. (such as cougars, bears, lynx, etc...) It is exceedingly easier to take a bead on a target that is closing on you with a handgun then with a rifle, not to mention the much quicker fire rate if you're using a bolt-action rifle like I do, compared to a semi-auto pistol.

Thats what the police are there for. Hello? -.-;;;

I'm sorry, but I've never seen a country, state or city where the police arrive 15 seconds after a crime is being commited. Actually, I expect the police to arrive in general 5-10 minutes after a 911 call has been made unless there's a cruiser at the corner of the block by some lucky chance. 5-10 minutes can be the difference between you and your family living and dying. I'll stick to my 12 guage shotty thank you. BTW, I work in security so I've had quite a bit of dealings with law-enforcement, so no I'm not pulling these numbers out of my ass. This is from direct experience.

Edit - Hrm, replies that I didn't see while I was typing this. Tasers are one shot weapons, that's it. If you miss, you're toast. If there's more then one individual, you're toast. Pepper spray is a very short range weapon, accurate to 3-5 feet. If you're 20 feet away from someone in your home, I can guarantee you they won't allow you to close the distance. Also, if someone's doped up on PCP, pepper spray or a taser isn't going to do shit to them. I've also seen video of people who can shrug that crap off just because of their personal resilience.