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[ggamer]

After reading the topic on the death of the Arizona congresswoman, this idea came to mind.

I, myself, am somewhat moderate on the issue. I believe that People should be able to own low calibur handguns and rifles without too much hassle.
My point of view on restriction is this: remember the 20's? the mob era? scarface, godfather? That was because of the prohibition of alcohol. Imagine how bad it would be with guns.

[Levi]

Although I think most countries understand that its a good idea to restrict gun ownership, its a little bit tougher in the US.  I mean, would YOU want to be responsible for taking away gun rights from a bunch of people who have guns?     I know I wouldn't. 

[Virex]

It is a pretty effective form of population control though...

[Ephemeriis]

I don't have a problem with gun ownership.  It's going to sound a little cliched - but they're tools.  The problem isn't that people own hammers, the problem is that some folks run around smacking people in the head with those hammers.

I don't hunt.  I'm not going to shoot anyone in self-defense.  I don't own a gun.  So I wouldn't be especially put-out if they banned them wholesale.  But I don't think that's going to help anything either.  As they say - then only criminals would have guns!

Which I've always thought was an idiotic saying, honestly.  I don't know that it really helps matters to have law-abiding citizens armed to the teeth...  But the fact of the matter is that banning firearms might prevent a few accidental deaths, but it won't do anything to keep criminals from shooting people.  Because they aren't especially worried about breaking the law.

I do think there's probably a line there somewhere...  Some point where it stops being reasonable to own a specific type of firearm...  I'm not sure that your average citizen really needs a grenade launcher or anything like that.

I think it's probably reasonable to require licensing of some sort.  Hell, we make people take a test and get a license just to drive a car.  But I don't know that it'll really stop criminals from getting their hands on guns - like I said earlier, they aren't terribly worried about breaking the law.

What I do find annoying is how the whole discussion degenerates into mindless catch-phrases and silliness.  It seems to be basically impossible to have any kind of rational discussion on the subject.

[Sir Pseudonymous]

One thing that's hilarious is how whenever someone's trying to defend gun ownership they almost always feel compelled to add in something to the effect of "and most importantly to protect them from the gubmint!" as though some untrained dipshit with low-end civilian gear would have a chance in hell of doing anything but pissing off the government. Even if their nightmare/wetdream came true, and some "gubmint folks" came to their door in order to WHARGLBARGL, what the fuck do they plan on doing? Shooting them? Then the next ones to come will roll up in an armored vehicle, be wearing heavy armor and wielding assault rifles. Or is it supposed to be if "them gubmints" do something they don't like, and they think "hey, why don't ah assassinate one of 'em"?

It's just such a patently ridiculous way of looking at the world. A couple of guns won't protect you from any organization that could even begin to think of enforcing its power, government or not, and there will never be the (genuine) mass revolutionary sentiment that's the prerequisite for even an annoying revolution, let along one that could actually accomplish anything, because hurrdurr you actually vote for your leaders, so they'll be switched out for someone new long before resentment grows that high. That's not to say some wingnuts won't riot in Bumfuck, Nowhere cause Glenn Beck (also known as Jesus 2.0: The TV Edition) totally told them that "them gubmints be evil *cries*," just that they will accomplish nothing but looking like violent dumbshits.


Oh, I suppose I should add that I fall into the supports actual gun control camp, the "stop batfuckingshit insane people from owning guns, and require basic licensing to own one in the first place" variety, rather than the strawman "dey's tekin are guns!" sort. Hell, the NRA supports that (at least openly), since they don't exactly want lunatics and felons running around armed either. But it just wouldn't do for the two sides to realize "hey, we both only want to stop unstable criminals from owning guns? Why are we screaming at each other then?"

[Tellemurius]

this just brought up a point, the NRA is fighting to give handgun rights to 18 year olds using the same reason that we are able to vote, we carry guns in the military. Personally thats awesome cause then i now can legally own some guns my dad gave me and i can target practice with them without him staring over my shoulders.

[G-Flex]

this just brought up a point, the NRA is fighting to give handgun rights to 18 year olds using the same reason that we are able to vote, we carry guns in the military.

Wait, really? That's just about the worst argument possible. I mean, it's the military. Of course you're allowed to do things in the military you aren't allowed to do in civilian life. It's the freaking military! "You can do X in the military at age 18, therefore you should be able to do it in civilian life at the same age" is hardly good reasoning.

[Tellemurius]

Hey man i don't know how they got the idea in the first place, i got my rifle so im happy. NRA's objective is to give every citizen the right to carry arms and technically when we hit 18 we are full citizens. (alcohol doesn't count, MAKE YOUR OWN)

[Leafsnail]

Well, there probably wouldn't be much point in banning guns in America since they're already kindof out there.  You'd need some kindof mass recall for it to have any effect.

On the other hand... I'm fine with keeping it here.  It is actually quite difficult to illegally get hold of a gun (not to mention you face long jail sentences just for owning the gun illegally before you've even tried to use it) and the murder by firearm and murder rates are significantly lower.

Hey man i don't know how they got the idea in the first place, i got my rifle so im happy. NRA's objective is to give every citizen the right to carry arms and technically when we hit 18 we are full citizens. (alcohol doesn't count, MAKE YOUR OWN)

Uh, every?  Doesn't sound like such a great idea.

[Tellemurius]

what do you mean by that, criminals?

[G-Flex]

(alcohol doesn't count, MAKE YOUR OWN)

I don't know what to say to this except "what?" because I don't see any implicit reasoning for me to (dis)agree with.

[Tellemurius]

i had friends telling me you aren't a full citizen until you can by booze, i put it up there just in case.

[Leafsnail]

what do you mean by that, criminals?

People with serious mental illnesses?  Convicts?

[Tellemurius]

well if you are a Felon in the United States you revoked some of your freedoms due to your actions, you can't vote and you most certainly can't buy any gun. Also you really want to give a psychological Examination for every gun owner? people would find that wrong plus it would be even hard to find mental cases and how can you determine which illness is safe or not?

[LoSboccacc]

what do you mean by that, criminals?

People with serious mental illnesses?  Convicts?

jealous significant halfs?

btw, I think that should the revolutionary sentiment get strong enough, people will find the guns they need regardless of the gun right in the nation at the moment just before the revolution begins. they stormed the bastille mainly for its weapon caches, not for 'the political symbol it were' as french tales later told...