Should there be gun control in the United States

[Biek]

Im getting the impression some of you feel the need to own firearms in order to arm themselves in fear of their own government. Especially that email seems to be promoting the thought of "If you dont have a gun you wont stand a chance when the government decides to exterminate you."

Basically, it seems to me that the demand for firearms comes from fear.

 

[RaNDM G]

If anything, gun control laws just make things more dangerous for American citizens. Think of how many crimes could have been prevented, how many people wouldn't have been killed, if only they had something to defend themselves with. Think of Columbine and Virginia Tech. Think of the killing spree that took place in Geneva County.

In my opinion, there are only two ways to promote peace in this world, either give everyone a gun or get rid of guns completely. And since the latter is pretty much impossible now, I must say the former is the best course of action. It's not something people will like, but it works.

 

[Booze Zombie]

Only reason you should ever need a weapon in any country is: Hunting animals for food or if your country is being invaded by an army and you've been drafted in to help stop said army.

If anything, gun control laws just make things more dangerous for American citizens. Think of how many crimes could have been prevented, how many people wouldn't have been killed, if only they had something to defend themselves with. Think of Columbine and Virginia Tech. Think of the killing spree that took place in Geneva County.

In my opinion, there are only two ways to promote peace in this world, either give everyone a gun or get rid of guns completely. And since the latter is pretty much impossible now, I must say the former is the best course of action. It's not something people will like, but it works.

And how do you think those teenagers got their hands on the weapons used to commit that killing spree with, huh? The black market? Fuck no! They got a friend to buy them legally from a store.

Guns are not toys, yet they are purchased as such, apparently.

"Everyone needs one, I mean... how do I shoot someone who has gun (like I do)? Wait... so if everyone has a gun, won't everyone be afraid of everyone and end up shooting each other thinking they're attacking each other?"
"Like Americans already say they're doing?"
"Uh, yeah..."

 

[JWAN]

there already is gun control...you need permits to get anything automatic and you cant shoot anything over a .50 cal without another special permit

why do we need to register? every country on the globe that had gun registration ended up making it impossible to use guns, look at the hoops you need to jump through in Canada, in England you cant even own a handgun anymore, they forced the people to turn them over. Look at Nazi Germany, and what Hitler said.

Screw the socialists I'm not registering them, Im not turning them over and there not going to touch ANY of my firearms

 

[JWAN]

Let me just show everything this. This is an email I recieved a couple days ago, and I support it.

"A LITTLE GUN HISTORY

In 1929, the Soviet
Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million
dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

------------------------------

In 1911, Turkey established gun control.
From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves,
were rounded up and exterminated.

------------------------------

Germany established gun control in 1938
and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were
unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

---------------------------

China established gun control in 1935.
>From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend
themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

------------------------------

Guatemala established gun control in
1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend
themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

-------------

Uganda established gun control in 1970..
From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were
rounded up and exterminated.

------------------------------

Cambodia
established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated
people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

-----------------------------

Defenseless people rounded up and
exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.

------------------------------

It has now been 12 months since gun
owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal
firearms to be destroyed by their own
Government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500
million dollars. The first year results are now in:

List of 7 items:

Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2
percent.

Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6
percent.

Australia-wide, armed robberies are up
44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!

In the state of Victoria alone,
homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the
law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals
still possess their guns!

While figures over the previous 25 years
showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed
drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed
that their prey is unarmed.

There has also been a dramatic increase
in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a
loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental
effort, and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society
of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above
prove it.

You won't see this data on the US evening news, or
hear politicians disseminating this information.

Guns in the hands of honest citizens
save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only
the law-abiding citizens.

Take note my fellow
Americans, before it's too late!

The next time someone talks in favor of
gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.

With guns, we are 'citizens'.
Without them, we are 'subjects'.

During WWII the Japanese decided not to
invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!

If you value your freedom, please spread
this anti-gun control message to all of your friends.


The purpose of fighting is to win. There
is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the
shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the
brain. All else is supplemental.
SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN! SWITZERLAND 'S GOVERNMENT
TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE A RIFLE. SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN
RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANYCIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!
IT'S A NO BRAINER! DON'T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE
MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW ABIDING
CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET.
I'm a firm believer of the 2nd Amendment! If you are too, please forward."

It's crazy how the government (and some American citizens for that matter) just can't seem to see the sense in this.

Did that email come with a link to sources at all? I would like to see it. Yes, I'm an Aussie, but I still feel safe knowing that my neighbours (who get drunk quite often) have little chance of owning a gun and irresponsibly using it.

what if someone pulls a gun on you, criminals will always have guns the innocent who follow the laws and give up their firearms will be left with nothing to fight back with

A gun in your hand is better than a cop on the phone

 

[Carter06]

This is something like 50-60 people killed or injured over a period of 9 years, while gun violence is a horrible thing and the loss of young individuals is a terrible thing, more people have died from lightning strikes than school shootings. There are 300-400 million people in North America and 50 people die in 9 years? Perspective.

These lives wouldn't have been saved by gun control, they would have been saved by finding these anti-social, psychotic and disturbed individuals sooner. Weapons created civilizations, they've protected and fed families since the dawn of thumbs. Even if you could magically vaporize every long ranged projectile weapon in existance someone's going to break out the lathe and bend some sheet metal and take over the world, which might be before everyone else immediately reverts back to blades and blugeons.

I'm not saying there isn't loads of gun crime, definitly not. But you need to provide a lot more evidence then just that to justify your arguement. It's definitly out there of course, its not like people aren't shot every day.

Also this topic has been done to death, I just came to curb pitchforks and torches over a link. In the time it took you to read this reply, 1-5 people in North America died of old age.

Actually the WHO (World Health Organisation) no longer lists old age as a cause of death. You die as a result of your organs being old but old age itself does not kill you there is no magic number or time frame where you are old and will die. On topic I believe guns should be banned for all but law enforcement. I live in australia and the only black market for fire arms between gangs. Do you know how many shooting rampages it took us to tighten our already strict gun laws ONE the port arthur massacre. ow many shooting rampages has the USA had now...

 

[cainx10a]

Let me just show everything this. This is an email I recieved a couple days ago, and I support it.

"A LITTLE GUN HISTORY

In 1929, the Soviet
Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million
dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

------------------------------

In 1911, Turkey established gun control.
From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves,
were rounded up and exterminated.

------------------------------

Germany established gun control in 1938
and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were
unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.

---------------------------

China established gun control in 1935.
>From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend
themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

------------------------------

Guatemala established gun control in
1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend
themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

-------------

Uganda established gun control in 1970..
From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were
rounded up and exterminated.

------------------------------

Cambodia
established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated
people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

-----------------------------

Defenseless people rounded up and
exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.

------------------------------

It has now been 12 months since gun
owners in Australia were forced by new law to surrender 640,381 personal
firearms to be destroyed by their own
Government, a program costing Australia taxpayers more than $500
million dollars. The first year results are now in:

List of 7 items:

Australia-wide, homicides are up 3.2
percent.

Australia-wide, assaults are up 8.6
percent.

Australia-wide, armed robberies are up
44 percent (yes, 44 percent)!

In the state of Victoria alone,
homicides with firearms are now up 300 percent. Note that while the
law-abiding citizens turned them in, the criminals did not, and criminals
still possess their guns!

While figures over the previous 25 years
showed a steady decrease in armed robbery with firearms, this has changed
drastically upward in the past 12 months, since criminals now are guaranteed
that their prey is unarmed.

There has also been a dramatic increase
in break-ins and assaults of the ELDERLY. Australian politicians are at a
loss to explain how public safety has decreased, after such monumental
effort, and expense was expended in successfully ridding Australian society
of guns. The Australian experience and the other historical facts above
prove it.

You won't see this data on the US evening news, or
hear politicians disseminating this information.

Guns in the hands of honest citizens
save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only
the law-abiding citizens.

Take note my fellow
Americans, before it's too late!

The next time someone talks in favor of
gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.

With guns, we are 'citizens'.
Without them, we are 'subjects'.

During WWII the Japanese decided not to
invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!

If you value your freedom, please spread
this anti-gun control message to all of your friends.


The purpose of fighting is to win. There
is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the
shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the
brain. All else is supplemental.
SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN! SWITZERLAND 'S GOVERNMENT
TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE A RIFLE. SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN
RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANYCIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!
IT'S A NO BRAINER! DON'T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE
MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW ABIDING
CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET.
I'm a firm believer of the 2nd Amendment! If you are too, please forward."

It's crazy how the government (and some American citizens for that matter) just can't seem to see the sense in this.

Did that email come with a link to sources at all? I would like to see it. Yes, I'm an Aussie, but I still feel safe knowing that my neighbours (who get drunk quite often) have little chance of owning a gun and irresponsibly using it.

what if someone pulls a gun on you, criminals will always have guns the innocent who follow the laws and give up their firearms will be left with nothing to fight back with

A gun in your hand is better than a cop on the phone

what next? Going to advocate carrying a firearm in public? Next time you feel like a 'threat', you just need to pull your gun out and shoot the wrong guy/gal?

I am all for gun control, owning a gun to protect your household, but owning more than a handgun is silly, as much as, carrying one in public places.

 

[cathou]

Yes there should, but in a very specific goal.

There should be gun control, not to restrain people from having guns, but for restrain people who dont know how to use them/store them properly to get guns, and have someone kill by accident. so, you want a gun? fine, but before you have the right to get one, you must attend a few hours of course. to be sure that you know the basics.

also, by no mean a gun should be store armed, and for me a lock on the trigger is also a must.

"yeah but how can i defend my home if i must take the time to unlock and charge my gun ?"

ok, i admit i dont live in the US, but here we have something called : the police. they are suppose to defend your home.

So having a few hours course, to show you the basic on how to fire your gun, who to lock the trigger and unload the gun when you dont use it, you could save thousand of lives...

 

[mkg]

It's not gun control that necessarily needs a reworking, like many others have said guns are tools, nothing more. Tools for hunting, protection, and sometimes preserving the peace and any responsible individual respects them as such and teaches his loved ones to as well. What does need to change, however, are penalties for gun-related offenses and possession of unregistered firearms especially. It's interesting to read what rights people will protest to no end about and others that you guys will gladly roll over and let be taken from you though.

 

[Carter06]

Second that are you ACTUALLY SAYING that the holocaust was a result of ONE country establishing gun control, i'm sorry but do you know nothing about history you do realize that those 6 million jewish people were not all in germany but OTHER countries NOT BOUND by Germany's gun control laws. Fo you think criminals are born criminals in designated criminal areas. criminals start out as law abiding citizens and then USE GUNS for violence and CRIME. The correlation between gun control and loss of lives is non existent, people would have died any way, unless you think that before a country invades another they send a polite email to all its citizens informing them of the invasion so that they can all meet them united on a designated battle field... they storm in and execute them one by one as an army or they round them up through numbers, intimidation and violence. Do you know what would happen if someone defended themselves they'd get shot by an army and then the army could continue rounding people up. What propaganda have you been listening to and what in hell have you been smoking.

 

[Cortheya]

That gives the government more power...power over the people. Don't use guns to protect yourself!!! Let big brother protect you!! The fact that people can cause devastation with them is irrelevant. Any benefits from control are outweighed by the freedom that would be lost.

 

[mkg]

Oh and I absolutely believe that one day there will be an armed defiance of the government in this country(U.S.A.), so I do support the right to have access to individual weaponry and not have it held only by a nation thats rapidly regressing into a police state generation by generation.

 

[Panzer_God]

t

no cause our constitution says we can bear arms so therefore nothing should be done to limit that right.

I really wish people would a) not use the word 'cause' and b) stop misqouting our constitution. The constitution says that there can be an armed, regulated MILITIA. It does not say that crackheads and gangsters can buy automatic weapons and high-caliber rifles. I also find it amusing that you are named after an assassin who used a rifle he owned.

But you see it also doesn't say anthing against us having weapons so I really don't see the problem. Not to mention gun control would just take guns out of normal peoples' hands while the crackheads and gangsters as you call them would still have them because I have reason to believe that they don't get thier guns leagaly.

It also doesn't say anything aagainst slavery but that's beside the point. I'm agree with the secondpart of your argument though and thats why the only gun control i support is explosives, and automatic/assualt weapons

 

[Panzer_God]

I dunno, ask us Canadians. Our gun control has been working VERY well. [/sarcasm]

There are guns in Canada, I never would have guessed. It beats killing people wih maple syrup and hockey sticks though

 

[Yog Sothoth]

We already have gun control.... it's called using both hands. Sorry if someone already said that....

In all seriousness, there are too many guns already in the U.S. I don't think that more laws at this time will solve anything.... If someone really wants a firearm, they will obtain one legally or otherwise....

There is no "magic bullet" that will solve this problem, if you'll pardon my pun....

 

[PlasticPorter]

There should be gun control everywhere, guns ruined warfare and good old fashioned fist fights. Britain has gun control and they do just fine.

 

[Panzer_God]

quote="Berithil" post="18.104308.1951516"]
I am all for gun control, owning a gun to protect your household, but owning more than a handgun is silly, as much as, carrying one in public places.[/quote] I owuld agree with you except for one thing. if you get mugged, it won't be in your home. I have a carrying permit and by god I will carry my gun until the world ends if there is even the slightest chance I might need it to defend my life or my family.

 

[Mr.Pandah]

I'm sure most people have already said this, but yes there should be gun control in the United States...to a degree. Just like anything else. I think they should just have more extensive background checks on people who would like to purchase and own a gun. People who are going to get a gun by other means, will do so illegally. And well, you know the drill people.

This topic has been done to freakin' death.

 

[John Tacos]

Just explain the difference between a "Gun-Nut" (Trained to use weapons), and "Nuts-With-Guns" (People who illegally buy weapons, and are not trained)

 

[ModReap]

Moderate control but not total.

If I was a bad guy, I would rob the town that has more gun control because there would be less of a chance of someone shooting at me :\