The Right To Bear Arms

[mulester7]

.....I'm wondering if any gun, except for shotguns and deer rifles, should be outlawed....guns to me fall into two categories....they're either for four-legged deer, or two-legged deer, if you know what I mean.....would we be better off if only outlaws had guns?....could that be the basis for authorities to shake down and search for weapons when they needed to, with stiff penalties applied to discourage?....I don't know....how many times does the public having a handgun actually save lives in a situation?.....would it be better if all handguns were illegal except for those in authority, which we can only assume will handle any situation with integrity as our law enforcers?....thoughts?.....

 

[jaxvon]

It's not the fact that they're available, it's the way kids are brought up and the way our society portrays guns. Depending on where you grow up, you will have a very different view of guns. Some people see them as a way to get even with your enemies. Like you, they get me dinner

For the record, I own 3 shotguns, 3 handguns, and 2 rifles.

 

[BMXTRIX]

While, I'm not a gun owner I do kind of think that maybe if MORE law abiding people not only owned guns, but made a point to display their ownership that some places may be a bit better.

A group of kids haning out on the street in front of your home - you point the gun at them and ask them what the heck they are doing there and why they don't get home and on their way.

Yeah - kind of drastic, but with so few parents actually parenting these days... I don't know, but aren't guns protected to help us protect our homes and our communities from bad? Randomly shooting is NOT what I mean, but making it clear that bad is not wanted, not welcome, and most of all, will not be tolerated.

Not a turf war - but obliteration by caring enough to give a damn by the entire community.

Not enough of that - more non-caring and the guns are viewed in the poorest light possible it seems.

 

[furrycute]

I don't think everyone should be allowed to carry guns.

On the other hand, I do think everyone should be allowed to carry a sword like the Samurai of old times.

 

[Tomorrow]

Nothing like asking an innocent question that's unlikely to stir up any emotions or controversy, eh, Mulie?!

Until we can have a cop in every home to protect our families, our rights, our health, and our property, YEP, guns are a good thing. Good sense sometimes needs to be applied to weapon access in families with guns and children...but education should also begin early.

There is a town in Georgia, and for the life of me I can't recall it's name, where it is against the law NOT to own a gun. They have the lowest crime rate in Georgia! In the words of a renowned gunman, USMC Retired Col. Jeff Cooper, "An armed society is a polite society." Everywhere, in the blue states especially, one hears the talk of "Dodge City chaos and murder potential where guns are allowed." It just never works out that way. The highest murder rates in the U.S. are in cities with the most strident (liberal) anti-gun laws....Washington D.C., NYC, Chicago, Los Angeles, etc. Recent, well-respected, and neutral research teams have proven that crime diminishes where gun laws are least burdensome.

All that...and I'm a GREAT husband cuz my wife is a GREAT shot.

And just to tell you how I afforded my new STF-3....sold a beautiful Smith M29. Trading one hobby for another.

 

[algernon]

The only thing outlawing guns would do is raise the price of guns on the street.
The folks that founded the USA felt that the right to own a gun was the second most important amendment to the constitution after the right to free speech. No one goes around much proposing legislation to restrict free speech.

I don't own a gun and probaby never will, but that is due to the fact that I could get one if I wanted to or felt I needed to. If it ever looked like I wouldn't be able to get a gun at sometime in the near future, the first thing I would do is go buy one immediately.

BTW Mule, the guns designed for killing four legged animals are even more effective at taking down the two legged ones, they just aren't as easily concealed.

I know someone who thwarted a home invasion with these words: "I have a gun" The intruders split so fast, one left a shoe behind. No shot was fired. She actually did have a gun though, which I think was important for the threat to be effective. The intruders were picked up, and identified in part by the missing shoe.

 

[mike c]

And just to tell you how I afforded my new STF-3....sold a beautiful Smith M29. Trading one hobby for another.

i hope you have other guns you probably cant scare a robber away with a sub (but god i would love to see you try)

"stop or I'll SUB you!"

 

[mike c]

i think guns are for homes (protection), there are far too many hotheads in the world for guns to be toted around.

 

[jaxvon]

On a point raised earlier, there's nothing quite like the sound of a 12ga Remmington 870 being racked That sound is often enough to get rid of anyone outside your door trying to get in.

A couple of my really close friends are also big time fans of collecting guns, shooting, etc. But while they enjoy the sport a lot (I say sport loosely), we have all been taught from an early age to respect guns. To NEVER point a gun at a person, even unloaded. We all observe gun etiquette and thus we enjoy our 2nd Amendment rights safely. Sadly, this isn't the case a lot of times. People are scared of guns and their power, and the fear is what makes them unsafe.

 

[Tomorrow]

i hope you have other guns you probably cant scare a robber away with a sub (but god i would love to see you try)

"stop or I'll SUB you!"

...funny!...

Yep, got more in case I want to shoot a bad amp!

 

[mustang_steve]

I'm pretty much against any gun bans for one reason:

The actual intent of the founding fathers was so we, could defend ourselves from anything, even within.

The part where we are failing on this, is with freedom does come responsibility...in this case responsible gun use....as in:

not letting the kids get hold of them

not using them when unsure of the target

not using them to settle a dispute over something stupid

etc, etc.


I do believe certain weapons do not have any just reason to be in civilian hands though....fully automatic weapons fall into this category, as does any weapon with an externally threaded barrel ( externally threaded barrels are for mounting silencers and the like).

On another note, many states won't allow rifle hunting, so many hunters use handguns of various types....revolvers being the most common. So just allowing rifles is not an answer.

Shotguns are also legitimate sporting arms, especially for fowl.

Plus we all forget one thing: if you make firearms illegal, it won't stop the criminals from getting them. Something I heard this week that disturbed me was in some country (I forgot the name) the criminals are getting guns by mugging the police officers. So basically all you have are unarmed citizens, and even more incentive for a criminal to do as they will, since they can be pretty sure they won't get shot.


For me, I won't keep a gun in my house, just out of principle....I've hunted before, and then I had a gun, but now I don't hunt, so I won't keep one.

 

[Sheep]

guns guns guns, I am not suprised one of these threads came up.

I think, the less guns, the safer. Some argue the opposite, but they probly own a gun, and are willing to shoot someone.

Canada, the land where it takes a year to get a gun


Sheep

 

[mulester7]

BTW Mule, the guns designed for killing four legged animals are even more effective at taking down the two legged ones, they just aren't as easily concealed

....that is correct, Algernon, I just pictured someone walking into a bank trying to conceal a 30-06 with the scope slung to the side, haha....maybe, if your clothes were made by Omar The Tentmaker.....

 

[mulester7]

.....guys, I own some handguns, an old 22 remington single-shot rifle, and two shotguns....I came by one shotgun quite strangely....a guy who lived down the street was a hothead type....his wife brought his shotgun to the door one day and asked me if I would keep it in my closet for awhile....I said ok, and derned if they didn't move out of state two months later....I didn't even know they were gone until they were....oh well, it's a single-shot 12 gauge break-opener, with what looks like an improved barrel....I like to use it quail hunting....trying for two with one shot once they get in the air is why I use it....my other shotgun bees a shotgun....a Browning Belgium-made Magnum 12 gauge with factory butt-pad and 32 inch full-choke barrel....buddy, I can skybust ducks with #4 buckshot like you woundn't believe when the family is hungry for duck burgers......

....the 22 rifle is special to me since it was my Daddy's when he was a kid up through him giving it to me....I watched him take the head off a redbird one day from about 50 yards when I was about 8.....

.....my favorite hunting....that I don't do anymore, haha....back in college, about three or four of us would load up in a pickup truck and cruise the dirt roads away from the town after dark, and spotlight rabbits, shooting shotguns over the top of the cab taking turns driving....buddy, that was fun....we always cleaned and ate whatever we killed too....Jaxvon, you ever clean a gutshot rabbit?....does anything smell worse?.....anyhow, we would clean and wash the rabbits back at the dorm, and flour and fry rabbit pieces in a popcorn cooker with the pan thing full of grease....man alive, guys would come out of rooms half-asleep and go back to bed full....we was country boys at college, and had a great time.....I majored in Student Center.....

 

[nibhaz]

guns guns guns, I am not suprised one of these threads came up.

I think, the less guns, the safer. Some argue the opposite, but they probly own a gun, and are willing to shoot someone.

Canada, the land where it takes a year to get a gun


Sheep

Sheep...not trying to ruffle feathers, but it seems with that kind of thought process...well...sheep is a good name for ya.

 

[jeffsg4mac]

Wow, wonder how I missed this thread. Lets start with this. Reduced violent crimes can be directly connected to states that have allowed concealed carry permits. Also, there are more lives saved and crimes stopped with guns then ever get reported. The figures are amazing.

 

[ironlung]

This thread reminds me of a little story. A burgular breaks into someones house and gets shot and killed. The mans family sued the homeowner for wrongful death.

The reason: "He ws just trying to steal your stuff, not hurt anyone."


If a person enters a strangers house without invitation the person should have the thought that they are taking their own life into their hands.

Why ban guns and give a criminal peace of mind that they are relatively safe when they attack, rob, rape a law abiding citizen? They might think twice if there is a possibility of some bullets flying.

 

[RJB]

Being from Canada, we have a very different view of firearms, unfortunately it's mostly driven from the view of political correctness...

I do favor strict laws regarding who can obtain firearms but the most important issue, IMHO, is the lack of laws setting out severe minimum penalties for the illegal use of firearms. The old BS about someone doing an armed robbery and getting 3 - 4 years drives me nuts! There should be no concurrent sentence where firearms are involved in the comission of a crime. There should be a minimum sentence of 5 - 7 years, with no reduction possible for the firearms offense before the robbery sentence starts...this would, I hope, provide some sort of deterrance...

I can't support a ban on firearms for the simple reason that the "bad guys" will always find a way to obtain firearms if they so choose.

Unfortunately, our political leaders here in Canada like to follow the school of "knee jerk reaction" when it comes to firearms legislation rather than good old common sense!

For the record, I have been a firearms owner for over 20 years. I was a competitive shooter for many years and am looking to get back into the sport.

My current collection includes: Beretta 92FS ( Italian made ), Ruger MK II target pistol, S & W 686, Colt Match HBAR rifle and my pride and joy, a Vostoc free pistol.

 

[mike c]

The reason: "He ws just trying to steal your stuff, not hurt anyone."

here where i am, robbers inside the house are presumed to have the intent to kill (when discovered by the homeowners) and in effect, robbers killed inside the house [sometimes even outside the gates after giving chase] is considered self defense.

although it also helps that we have an extra "loose firearm" lying around to "give" to the robber just in case he didn't bring any.

 

[shokhead]

Melt all guns. Ever notice some other countries police dont carry them? I know melting all guns wont happen but i always thought that guns arent much good without bullets. Why not regulate ammo more?