Poll: Lets pretend the government passes a law stating that you can't have a gun anymore...

[The Hero Killer]

Just go buy a sword. Things were better before guns were around anyways. Swords and bows at least took some degree of skill.

 

[monkey_man]

Not care, but the government hear in the US wont. hunting is too big of a sport and states like PA, OH, WV, etc would never pass it because its too integral to their identity (not to mention any hunting fees and taxes I think go to the state).

EDIT:

I have a question

Why do people wanna keep there guns? because its eaiser to ward intruders away? Makes you feel safer? People may perceive your genitals to be bigger?

do you wanna know who doesn't use a gun? Batman.

just sayin

Actually, batman does and has used a gun in issues of his comic.
<spoiler=As seen here>http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/batman-2.jpg
<spoiler=And here>http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/comment/assets_c/2012/07/batman-5-thumb-465x220-189009.jpg

you can´t expect him to go toe/to/toe with goddamn vampires, (the first, just looking at that page) Second page, he doesn't use the gun to shoot at bad guys, just to warn the authorities. So is he really using it?

I think all guns are bad options, but that's just me.

 

[Apollo45]

Rural folk actually have a practical use for guns, so that's easily justified. However, the stigma against guns isn't just because they're guns, it's because inner-city Americans do not need a handgun for any reason.

See, that's the thing. Inner-city Americans have the most reason to own handguns in the country. The big cities contain the most gun violence in the nation, despite having generally stricter gun-control laws than the rural areas. In many cities you have to deal with gangs that own guns, criminals that own guns, many of which were purchased illegally in some manner. That's a big part of the issue with gun control laws at the moment. It's not the mass shootings that we would see change - chances are those would actually go down a bit - but there would be a huge spike in one-off murders in and around cities, along with robberies, muggings, and so on.

On topic, I chose other because it really depends on how they went about enforcing this law. If they only had buybacks or something then I would just hang on to my guns for a bit and wait to see what develops. If they actively tried to search every house, well, they could take them over my dead body. I like my rights the way they are, and simultaneously taking away my second and fourth amendment rights goes more than a little bit too far.

Now, there are some rather huge political issues behind passing such laws. For starters, it would be very likely to spark a revolution of some sort. With the approval ratings of the government being what they are in the first place, it's unlikely that most of the nation would be actively against a bit of an uprising if the government decided to take those steps. On top of that, however, you have to take into account that a majority of the nation's police and military tend to lean conservative, which means they would likely be on the side of the revolutionaries. With a nation that would be that split over something like this, on top of the likelihood of a revolution, it would likely lead to a civil war that would be far more devastating than any war we've been in. The end result would be a ruined country, more dead than hundreds of years of mass shootings, and who knows what other consequences. That's a large part of the reason why even suggesting a total ban as a possibility is simply idiotic.

 

[Thyunda]

Rural folk actually have a practical use for guns, so that's easily justified. However, the stigma against guns isn't just because they're guns, it's because inner-city Americans do not need a handgun for any reason.

See, that's the thing. Inner-city Americans have the most reason to own handguns in the country. The big cities contain the most gun violence in the nation, despite having generally stricter gun-control laws than the rural areas. In many cities you have to deal with gangs that own guns, criminals that own guns, many of which were purchased illegally in some manner. That's a big part of the issue with gun control laws at the moment. It's not the mass shootings that we would see change - chances are those would actually go down a bit - but there would be a huge spike in one-off murders in and around cities, along with robberies, muggings, and so on.

On topic, I chose other because it really depends on how they went about enforcing this law. If they only had buybacks or something then I would just hang on to my guns for a bit and wait to see what develops. If they actively tried to search every house, well, they could take them over my dead body. I like my rights the way they are, and simultaneously taking away my second and fourth amendment rights goes more than a little bit too far.

Now, there are some rather huge political issues behind passing such laws. For starters, it would be very likely to spark a revolution of some sort. With the approval ratings of the government being what they are in the first place, it's unlikely that most of the nation would be actively against a bit of an uprising if the government decided to take those steps. On top of that, however, you have to take into account that a majority of the nation's police and military tend to lean conservative, which means they would likely be on the side of the revolutionaries. With a nation that would be that split over something like this, on top of the likelihood of a revolution, it would likely lead to a civil war that would be far more devastating than any war we've been in. The end result would be a ruined country, more dead than hundreds of years of mass shootings, and who knows what other consequences. That's a large part of the reason why even suggesting a total ban as a possibility is simply idiotic.

My point wasn't that you could just take away everyone's guns and all the trouble would vanish, it was that it shouldn't have been that way in the first place. Before we wound up with this culture of capitalist, democratic paranoia. Now those are two words that shouldn't ever be said together. Democratic paranoia. The irrational fear that the government you voted into power might be in charge.

America has become such a strange nation.

 

[Vegosiux]

Now those are two words that shouldn't ever be said together. Democratic paranoia. The irrational fear that the government you voted into power might be in charge.

I am so going to note that one down, and, with your permission, use it in conversation now and then.

 

[Olas]

I don't have any guns, so this affects me not.

If they come for my swords however...

 

[Ryotknife]

If we are talking about the US, they cant take away guns from people who legally own them after they passed a law that made them illegal. That breaks all sorts of laws. At best they would have to buy them off the owners.

If they government DID do that, then that proves to everyone that the country is a place that cares nothing about freedom or its citizens. I would honestly move out of the country. I dont want to live in a country where criminals have all of the rights and protection and law abiding citizens have none. I dont want to live in a country where im in a constant fear of people trying to kill me while not being allowed to defend myself in anyway whatsoever or have any help from the government in protecting me.

And keep in mind i dont own any guns, nor have a desire to do so. Reason being my aim is terrible, my depth perception goes out the window when i try to look down the sights with one eye due to some strange sort of double stigmatism. I would be better off with a taser, mace, or pepperspray in my case....or at least I would be if those werent illegal. Hurrah for living in the biggest cesspool of a state in the Union, New York.

Only reason im still in this state is because Im the last family member left in this state that can help my parents (who are getting pretty old), everyone else scattered at the first opportunity.

 

[Xan Krieger]

Well being an American I would probably do what every other American with a backbone would do and say pry it from my cold dead hand.

Pretty much this. I think my neighbors would do the same so I doubt it would be feasible for the government to get into a shootout at every house. This is why they can't take away freedom, the price in blood would be way too high.

 

[J Tyran]

Let's see 'em ban petrol. Now that would be a sight.

The thing is if the car had never been invented a someone turned around and said "hey everyone I have a new invention, it will weigh around a ton and can travel at speeds over 150mph. You cant drive at that speed because human reflexes and attention are not up to it and it only grips the road with a bit of rubber which is insufficient to keep it under control so you will need to impose speed limits, which noone will obey and cause crashes. Millions will die from this and from crashing because they put make up on or talk on their phones. Oh and it runs on a highly flammable liquid".

Everyone would have laughed the person out of the building.

 

[Thyunda]

Now those are two words that shouldn't ever be said together. Democratic paranoia. The irrational fear that the government you voted into power might be in charge.

I am so going to note that one down, and, with your permission, use it in conversation now and then.

All yours buddy. Use it well.

If they government DID do that, then that proves to everyone that the country is a place that cares nothing about freedom or its citizens. I would honestly move out of the country. I dont want to live in a country where criminals have all of the rights and protection and law abiding citizens have none. I dont want to live in a country where im in a constant fear of people trying to kill me while not being allowed to defend myself in anyway whatsoever or have any help from the government in protecting me.

Don't move to the United Kingdom then. The only people with guns out here are farmers and gangsters. I'm genuinely too scared to leave my house in the daytime. I have to go out at night and stay out of the streetlights. I break into the local stores and steal tins of food to stock my basement so I never go hungry. The other day somebody knocked at my door. I made sure the boards over the windows were still on tight and locked myself in the wardrobe till they left.

Can't take chances in this mob-ruled country.

 

[Apollo45]

My point wasn't that you could just take away everyone's guns and all the trouble would vanish, it was that it shouldn't have been that way in the first place. Before we wound up with this culture of capitalist, democratic paranoia. Now those are two words that shouldn't ever be said together. Democratic paranoia. The irrational fear that the government you voted into power might be in charge.

America has become such a strange nation.

Frankly, that's partially what America was founded on. That's the very reason there are checks and balances, why there's an amendment in the constitution that encourages the people to start a revolution if the government decides to try and take away your rights. That's a big part of the reason the first Civil War began. Sure, the slaves were a part of it, but it was the fear from the South that the national government was exerting too much power over the state governments and the people in those states. On top of that, when the only people running for office aren't by any means the best choice for office - Obama is a career politician, Romney is a career businessman, many of the people in office have been convicted of crimes ranging from sexual assault to money laundering, and so on - you have to be wary of them. Unfortunately running for office has become such a crapshoot that no one who would actually be good at the job wants to deal with it, so only people who are in it for personal gain actually put their names in the hat. Having a bit of skepticism about what they're going to do, at this point in time, isn't a bad thing at all.

You're right about it being a strange nation though. On the small scale this place is amazing, but when you scale up it gets worse and worse.

 

[Pandabearparade]

Edit: I'm a moron. Sometimes.

 

[Ryotknife]

Now those are two words that shouldn't ever be said together. Democratic paranoia. The irrational fear that the government you voted into power might be in charge.

I am so going to note that one down, and, with your permission, use it in conversation now and then.

All yours buddy. Use it well.

If they government DID do that, then that proves to everyone that the country is a place that cares nothing about freedom or its citizens. I would honestly move out of the country. I dont want to live in a country where criminals have all of the rights and protection and law abiding citizens have none. I dont want to live in a country where im in a constant fear of people trying to kill me while not being allowed to defend myself in anyway whatsoever or have any help from the government in protecting me.

Don't move to the United Kingdom then. The only people with guns out here are farmers and gangsters. I'm genuinely too scared to leave my house in the daytime. I have to go out at night and stay out of the streetlights. I break into the local stores and steal tins of food to stock my basement so I never go hungry. The other day somebody knocked at my door. I made sure the boards over the windows were still on tight and locked myself in the wardrobe till they left.

Can't take chances in this mob-ruled country.

I know you are making a joke, but I live in one of the strictest gun control states in the US. We are constantly told to make sure all windows and doors are locked and to not go out at night because it is too dangerous. And i live in one of the "safest" neighborhoods. There are constant stories of people invading someone's home at night, killing the owners (mostly with knives), take whatever they can grab, and leave before the police show up. My parents have been robbed 3 times in a 15 year period, and they live in a "safe" neighborhood. They are just lucky they were never around when the house got robbed, otherwise they would be dead too.



Shall I tell you the story of a mother and her children who hid in the attic waiting for police to arrive? The intruder, armed with a crowbar, managed to break through multiple locked doors with his tool, barge his way into the attic, get shot 5 times in the chest, stumble back downstairs to his car, AND LEAVE before the police arrived.

 

[Thyunda]

My point wasn't that you could just take away everyone's guns and all the trouble would vanish, it was that it shouldn't have been that way in the first place. Before we wound up with this culture of capitalist, democratic paranoia. Now those are two words that shouldn't ever be said together. Democratic paranoia. The irrational fear that the government you voted into power might be in charge.

America has become such a strange nation.

Frankly, that's partially what America was founded on. That's the very reason there are checks and balances, why there's an amendment in the constitution that encourages the people to start a revolution if the government decides to try and take away your rights. That's a big part of the reason the first Civil War began. Sure, the slaves were a part of it, but it was the fear from the South that the national government was exerting too much power over the state governments and the people in those states. On top of that, when the only people running for office aren't by any means the best choice for office - Obama is a career politician, Romney is a career businessman, many of the people in office have been convicted of crimes ranging from sexual assault to money laundering, and so on - you have to be wary of them. Unfortunately running for office has become such a crapshoot that no one who would actually be good at the job wants to deal with it, so only people who are in it for personal gain actually put their names in the hat. Having a bit of skepticism about what they're going to do, at this point in time, isn't a bad thing at all.

You're right about it being a strange nation though. On the small scale this place is amazing, but when you scale up it gets worse and worse.

I'm not the type to jump on the 'America is Evil' bandwagon. I've always attributed things to disorganisation and stupidity before malice. America of today is what happens when you adopt an us-against-them mentality for most of your country's history. By the time your feud with Britain was getting cold, there were black people trying to be treated as equals. When that stopped being an issue, Europeans started behaving weirdly and Germany was your target. Then it was Russia. Now your government wants things to be the way they were, and the people, devoid of any actual target, are targeting each other and the people in charge.

Britain isn't going to conquer America. China is not jealous of your freedom. Russia doesn't want to destroy you all. It's time to lay down the weaponry. Time to stop competing against everything and take life a little slower.

But see, this is where it gets even weirder. Words like 'socialist' get thrown around like insults, and people loudly declare "I'm not paying for white trash to get medication for their alcoholism."
British government is notorious for one department doing one thing, and another not getting the memo and doing something totally contradictory, leading other nations to believe that the United Kingdom was all about duplicity and deceit.

Americans are raised on pride, patriotism and power...and now I guess we're seeing the flipside of that. "Take away my gun and you take away my freedom."

Is this really about the Constitution? Laws change over time. You can't keep resorting to an old document any more than we English can cite the Magna Carta as justification for the preservation of old laws.
Think less on the concept of a gun as 'freedom'. I'm pretty free. I've never owned a gun. I'd LIKE to own a gun - those Python revolvers are elegant and stylish and I would love to have a couple of them above my mantle. However, I would rather use a couple of replicas if it means people don't accidentally get shot. No amount of laws you make will prevent the acquisition of illegal guns - but the most common news stories aren't about mugging or murder. They're all accidental. Policeman shoots bystander. Wife shoots husband. Kid shoots self. Accidents.

 

[Thyunda]

Now those are two words that shouldn't ever be said together. Democratic paranoia. The irrational fear that the government you voted into power might be in charge.

I am so going to note that one down, and, with your permission, use it in conversation now and then.

All yours buddy. Use it well.

If they government DID do that, then that proves to everyone that the country is a place that cares nothing about freedom or its citizens. I would honestly move out of the country. I dont want to live in a country where criminals have all of the rights and protection and law abiding citizens have none. I dont want to live in a country where im in a constant fear of people trying to kill me while not being allowed to defend myself in anyway whatsoever or have any help from the government in protecting me.

Don't move to the United Kingdom then. The only people with guns out here are farmers and gangsters. I'm genuinely too scared to leave my house in the daytime. I have to go out at night and stay out of the streetlights. I break into the local stores and steal tins of food to stock my basement so I never go hungry. The other day somebody knocked at my door. I made sure the boards over the windows were still on tight and locked myself in the wardrobe till they left.

Can't take chances in this mob-ruled country.

I know you are making a joke, but I live in one of the strictest gun control states in the US. We are constantly told to make sure all windows and doors are locked and to not go out at night because it is too dangerous. And i live in one of the "safest" neighborhoods. There are constant stories of people invading someone's home at night, killing the owners (mostly with knives), take whatever they can grab, and leave before the police show up. My parents have been robbed 3 times in a 15 year period, and they live in a "safe" neighborhood. They are just lucky they were never around when the house got robbed, otherwise they would be dead too.

Shall I tell you the story of a mother and her children who hid in the attic waiting for police to arrive? The intruder, armed with a crowbar, managed to break through multiple locked doors with his tool, barge his way into the attic, get shot 5 times in the chest, stumble back downstairs to his car, AND LEAVE before the police arrived.

Dont talk about what you dont understand.

Uh. What? How would guns even make any of that better?

 

[kgpspyguy]

i live in Canada, and i've personally have never seen a gun in my life. well, actually i saw a cop with one when there some stupid person broke into our school with a crowbar, no one was hurt but the cop had those freakin big scary guns. when i saw it, i was terrified of the GUN not the situation nor the cop. those things are scary looking as hell.

anyways.

if i Did have a gun and if i had little kids crawling around, just the thought of them touching it, i'd give it away instently. all the trouble the damn things cause, its not worth it.


than again, guns are designed to kill humans. why would you want that in you're house?

The purpose of them is to defend yourself from humans in your house trying to kill "you" I dont get why nobody seems to understand that on this site.

 

[kgpspyguy]

Now those are two words that shouldn't ever be said together. Democratic paranoia. The irrational fear that the government you voted into power might be in charge.

I am so going to note that one down, and, with your permission, use it in conversation now and then.

All yours buddy. Use it well.

If they government DID do that, then that proves to everyone that the country is a place that cares nothing about freedom or its citizens. I would honestly move out of the country. I dont want to live in a country where criminals have all of the rights and protection and law abiding citizens have none. I dont want to live in a country where im in a constant fear of people trying to kill me while not being allowed to defend myself in anyway whatsoever or have any help from the government in protecting me.

Don't move to the United Kingdom then. The only people with guns out here are farmers and gangsters. I'm genuinely too scared to leave my house in the daytime. I have to go out at night and stay out of the streetlights. I break into the local stores and steal tins of food to stock my basement so I never go hungry. The other day somebody knocked at my door. I made sure the boards over the windows were still on tight and locked myself in the wardrobe till they left.

Can't take chances in this mob-ruled country.

I know you are making a joke, but I live in one of the strictest gun control states in the US. We are constantly told to make sure all windows and doors are locked and to not go out at night because it is too dangerous. And i live in one of the "safest" neighborhoods. There are constant stories of people invading someone's home at night, killing the owners (mostly with knives), take whatever they can grab, and leave before the police show up. My parents have been robbed 3 times in a 15 year period, and they live in a "safe" neighborhood. They are just lucky they were never around when the house got robbed, otherwise they would be dead too.

Shall I tell you the story of a mother and her children who hid in the attic waiting for police to arrive? The intruder, armed with a crowbar, managed to break through multiple locked doors with his tool, barge his way into the attic, get shot 5 times in the chest, stumble back downstairs to his car, AND LEAVE before the police arrived.

Dont talk about what you dont understand.

Uh. What? How would guns even make any of that better?

Because the friggen Crowbar guy would've raped and murdered them if they hadn't been armed did you even read it???

 

[Jedi-Hunter4]

A complete ban on all firearms is just...well, a complete opposite of a stupid extreme, and therefore a stupid extreme itself.

Why? why on earth in a 1st world country does anybody truly NEED a gun if nobody else who's not a member of the armed forces or police has a gun. While you have a police force that's capable and armed forces protecting the borders and there for emergencies NOBODY NEEDS guns.

I live in the UK were pretty much the only firearms you can get are Air guns (which you can kill and carry out most pest control with) which are still fairly hard to get hold of legally. And shot guns for farming uses. And occasionally bolt action rifles for target shooting although most are owned and kept by the cadet forces and other such institutions. Those are the main ones and the true firearms there are very very hard to gain private ownership over and you have to have a practical use for it, beyond "I want to own a gun". Surprise surprise for the average individual gun crime is next to non existent.

Americans in particular seem to have an unhealthy obsession with firearms (a tool which is primarily designed to kill things). An out of blind selfishness seem to refuse to acknowledge the fact that banning all private ownership of guns other that in practical use's where no other tool with do, will dramatically reduce tragedy's and stop them ever happening on the scale that they do as there will be far less owners, far easier to monitor do yearly license renewals etcs. Nobody needs a gun.

Don't get me wrong if I lived in a gun allowing country, I would probably have some fire arms for range shooting etc, as I've done it and it is fun. However would I argue for a second I should be able to keep those weapons for a second when allowing me access to them will eventually put dangerous weapons in the hands of a nutter, no. Nobody needs a gun if nobody else has one, its not food, its not water, its not shelter, it does not provide your human rights and it may help protect a few individuals but ultimately overall it puts more lives at risk than it protects.

 

[Thyunda]

Now those are two words that shouldn't ever be said together. Democratic paranoia. The irrational fear that the government you voted into power might be in charge.

I am so going to note that one down, and, with your permission, use it in conversation now and then.

All yours buddy. Use it well.

If they government DID do that, then that proves to everyone that the country is a place that cares nothing about freedom or its citizens. I would honestly move out of the country. I dont want to live in a country where criminals have all of the rights and protection and law abiding citizens have none. I dont want to live in a country where im in a constant fear of people trying to kill me while not being allowed to defend myself in anyway whatsoever or have any help from the government in protecting me.

Don't move to the United Kingdom then. The only people with guns out here are farmers and gangsters. I'm genuinely too scared to leave my house in the daytime. I have to go out at night and stay out of the streetlights. I break into the local stores and steal tins of food to stock my basement so I never go hungry. The other day somebody knocked at my door. I made sure the boards over the windows were still on tight and locked myself in the wardrobe till they left.

Can't take chances in this mob-ruled country.

I know you are making a joke, but I live in one of the strictest gun control states in the US. We are constantly told to make sure all windows and doors are locked and to not go out at night because it is too dangerous. And i live in one of the "safest" neighborhoods. There are constant stories of people invading someone's home at night, killing the owners (mostly with knives), take whatever they can grab, and leave before the police show up. My parents have been robbed 3 times in a 15 year period, and they live in a "safe" neighborhood. They are just lucky they were never around when the house got robbed, otherwise they would be dead too.

Shall I tell you the story of a mother and her children who hid in the attic waiting for police to arrive? The intruder, armed with a crowbar, managed to break through multiple locked doors with his tool, barge his way into the attic, get shot 5 times in the chest, stumble back downstairs to his car, AND LEAVE before the police arrived.

Dont talk about what you dont understand.

Uh. What? How would guns even make any of that better?

Because the friggen Crowbar guy would've raped and murdered them if they hadn't been armed did you even read it???

Got any more incidents to back yourself up or do I gotta start quoting firearm homocide statistics?