i do now

XxAxX said:

i do now

what happened? something nasty?

NDRU said:

Guns should be banned worldwide.

Melt them and use the materials for peaceful projects. A lot of people could use a house.

People with guns kill people.

People without guns rarely kill people.

Revolution said:

NDRU said:

No, and I hate guns and think they should be illegal.

But on the other hand I think they are pretty cool and I think I might get one.

Say wha???????

Logical thing vs. having a penis

dJJ said:

Guns should be banned worldwide.

Melt them and use the materials for peaceful projects. A lot of people could use a house.

People with guns kill people.

People without guns rarely kill people.

I think this thread would be more interesting if people added their nationality and sex to their answer...

New Zealand

Male

Never has a gun set foot in any house I've lived in, ever.

I used to be a pretty anti-gun guy. Mainly, I was against guns that were commonly used in the commission of crimes. Handguns. I've never had a problem with rifles or shotguns per se.

I didn't agree with the NRA and their zero tolerance on gun laws. The Second Amendment was pretty vague to me, because it referred specifically to militias and when was the last time any of y'all ever saw a lawful militia?

But then recently, I happened to come across Article I, section 8 of the Constitution, and now I understand the NRA's position a little more. I even agree with large parts of their position, although I can't see how outlawing assault weapons is a bad thing.

For those of you who haven't seen Article I, section 8 here are the relevant parts:

The Congress shall have Power...

To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions;

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia, and for governing such Part of them as may be employed in the Service of the United States, reserving to the States respectively, the Appointment of the Officers, and the Authority of training the Militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress;

Now, so that there was no doubt as to the meaning of certain provisions of the Constitution, the Bill of Rights was passed in 1789. In fact, the first introductory sentence of the Bill of Rights says (with underlining by me of relevant parts):

THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added:...

And then the Second Amendment reads as follows:

Amendment II

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

It's pretty clear now to me that the Founding Fathers undoubtedly believed in the arming of our citizenry, and wanted to make sure that was never infringed upon.

I still believe the Congress or any state has the power to regulate what KIND of gun can be owned - meaning that the citizens can't have assault weapons or RPGs, for instance, if a state or Congress passes such a law.

But to me, there is no doubt that the disarming of American citizens would be unconstitutional.

being necessary to the security of a free State

that, right there, is the single most important reason we should never, ever give up our right to bear arms. whether you personally choose to be anti or pro gun, I support you either way. but thinking getting rid of our right to arm ourselves completely is a good decision is ridiculous IMHO.

JerseyKRS said:

being necessary to the security of a free State

that, right there, is the single most important reason we should never, ever give up our right to bear arms.

you crap me up

that line is sooooooooooooo XVIII-XIX Century...when we were scared of the brits...

males have guns because they LIKE THEM, period, or because in the US, sadly, it's kinda likely that some thug will enter your poorly secured house,...probably a dangerous thug, with a nasty knife or, well, a gun That's why I can understand why many parents keep a gun in the closet...to protect the house/family...american criminals/thugs are INCREDIBLY ruthless...

but...security of a free state?

[Edited 6/15/12 15:40pm]

JoeTyler said:

And by "gun" I mean a projectile-firing weapon

and why?

yes, i have some very old western guns, 2 nice 1942 k98 german riffles and well other guns. i collect guns and besides you have to have a gun to hunt with falcons. most are too rare to be used. and im a lady. not some burly dude. Reason is my families ranching and war history. Plus i will blow your head off if you enter my home to cause harm. Also to protect me and my state frim the federal govt if the need should ever arise

The history of the United States and its relation to "my people"... you'd be wise to be a gun owner. That's being straight up and blunt about the matter. Of course parts of my community have gone "crazy"... you'd have to off your rocker not to have a gun too.I'm a gun owner and will always be a gun owner, period.

JoeTyler said:

XxAxX said:

i do now

what happened? something nasty?

yep

Guns are sooooo silly.

And, you know, guns may not kill people... but they certainly help, don't you people think?

Dave1992 said:

Guns are sooooo silly.

And, you know, guns may not kill people... but they certainly help, don't you people think?

BULLETS kill people, not guns

I have mixed feelings about gun ownership. I believe that guns are a necessary evil but i also believe that there are too many people that own them(criminal and non criminal) that shouldn't. Having a gun changes a person and for some people that isn't a good thing. I had a relative commit suicide with a gun and ive seen up close what guns do to the human body. Ive seen murders and i know murderers. I witnessed someone getting shot in the face with a 44 mag(face blew up like a balloon) and ive Seen someone get pieces of their brain blown out with a 9mm. The thing about getting shot in the the head is you tend to bleed out. Seeing a persons blood,mixed with brain matter drain from their body makes a person think about guns and what impact they have on society. As for the question. No i don't own one. Sometimes i think about getting one but i figure that god has brought me this far. Might as well keep on trusting him with my safety.

[Edited 6/15/12 17:42pm]

Dave1992 said:

Guns are sooooo silly.

And, you know, guns may not kill people... but they certainly help, don't you people think?

I've always been curious why we ended up so gun-heavy and no other country did. I mean, everyone had to fight for their freedom, right?

Were we the first country that had to do it with guns? Is that why they stuck here?

No because I don't want to end up like Marvin Gay Sr.

aardvark15 said:

No because I don't want to end up like Marvin Gay Sr.

yeah espeacially if (like me)

you gettin up around that age

KingBAD said:

aardvark15 said:

No because I don't want to end up like Marvin Gay Sr.

yeah espeacially if (like me)

you gettin up around that age

You do realise he'd be like 98 right?

aardvark15 said:

KingBAD said:

yeah espeacially if (like me)

you gettin up around that age

You do realise he'd be like 98 right?

and you realize i'm damn near 60

that shit ain't as far off as you think

KingBAD said:

aardvark15 said:

You do realise he'd be like 98 right?

and you realize i'm damn near 60

that shit ain't as far off as you think

It is when you're not even half of 60

RodeoSchro said:

Dave1992 said:

Guns are sooooo silly.

And, you know, guns may not kill people... but they certainly help, don't you people think?

I've always been curious why we ended up so gun-heavy and no other country did. I mean, everyone had to fight for their freedom, right?

Were we the first country that had to do it with guns? Is that why they stuck here?

the 19th Century was, so to speak, our "medieval age", but instead of arrows and swords, americans had bullets and guns...also, in Europe common folks rarely (very rarely) owned revolvers and similar stuff, I don't know if that was even legal...

i am very anti gun the whole purpose of a gun is 2 kill

cbarnes3121 said:

i am very anti gun the whole purpose of a gun is 2 kill

Or to defend yourself from someone else that has a gun.

RodeoSchro said:

cbarnes3121 said:

i am very anti gun the whole purpose of a gun is 2 kill

Or to defend yourself from someone else that has a gun.

which takes us right back to

"the whole pupose of a gun is to kill"

do water guns count?

JoeTyler said:

RodeoSchro said:

I've always been curious why we ended up so gun-heavy and no other country did. I mean, everyone had to fight for their freedom, right?

Were we the first country that had to do it with guns? Is that why they stuck here?

the 19th Century was, so to speak, our "medieval age", but instead of arrows and swords, americans had bullets and guns...also, in Europe common folks rarely (very rarely) owned revolvers and similar stuff, I don't know if that was even legal...

The upper class used to be allowed to own guns to go hunting (but not carry them in public space!) up until the first first war. Afterwards, it was made illegal in most countries to own guns (unless for sports reasons or for specific hunting reasons). However, the Swiss have a special military system which requires every household to have an assault rifle at home.

And, Rodeo, I think what JoeTyler said makes sense somehow... Plus, if there is something like an "American mentality" and "European mentality", one difference between the two is that you people absolutely love your property. You worked for it and it is yours and if a motherfuckers steps on your lawn you shoot him. No problem, it's your property!

Whereas, Europe, you can get properly busted if you hurt an intruder not in self-defence. Here it is somehow inbred that the crime of stealing doesn't equal the crime of killing.

Yes, I would want to kick the shit out of a motherfucker who comes into my home and wants to take things, but I still know that doesn't make it right. Plus, most of the people who fire a weapon in "self-defense" or to "defend their property" are the ones who would have been able to defend themselves without killing, too (usually men).

I like the way guns are handled in my country, legally. Everything that isn't built for sports is considered as unnecessary and dangerous and therefore illegal. Automatic weapons are not for sports - they were merely designed to kills as many people as possible in a short period of time. If, however, you like to aim properly and keep cool, learn how to hold your breath and learn how to shoot a target a hundred metres away, that's some kind of sport and that's cool with me.

But, in the end, guns are our modern interpretation of our animalistic instinct to throw with rocks and kill to gain power. In my opinion, we should grow beyond that shit and learn to work as a collective, gaining power by helping each other.

RodeoSchro said:

cbarnes3121 said:

i am very anti gun the whole purpose of a gun is 2 kill

Or to defend yourself from someone else that has a gun.

But how often do you hear of someone (outside of the military) heroically saving himself from bad guys with his gun? Don't you much more often hear of a senseless murder?

Personally, I have NEVER heard that first story.

NDRU said: