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?

Good questions. My observation is that there are a lot of fearful ppl in this country and after living abroad I don't understand why this country feeds on fear. Fear sells, it is in the news, our tv shows including our commercials.

For my first 34 years of life I lived in houses with guns safely secured away for hunting and sport mainly. In middle school they took us to the state park with a rifle range and we took a rifle safety course. It was just a standard thing you did where I lived at the time. Mostly because of hunting.

When I was 35 I moved to the UK, lived in a small community, on a dead end road, atached houses with our neighbours. Everyone knew everyone, always kept our windows open, exchanged keys with one another in case we needed anything.

I never worried about theft or a break in for the 5 years I lived there.

We travelled in to London on the underground, buses, cabs.... never felt the need for a gun. Never feared for my life.

Now, we live in the US again.

I worry about all of the crazy ppl out there with guns.

I hate living in fear.

Having a gun in the house does not bring a safe feeling.

I don't understand the mentality that guns make you safer.

Facts show that they don't.

[Edited 6/16/12 4:55am]

NDRU said:

RodeoSchro said:

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.

Home intruders get shot all the time. That's about the only example of self-defense I can come up with. I totally agree that you don't see Wild West shoot-outs where the bad guy gets it out in the street.

BUT, defense of one's home is pretty important, wouldn't you agree?

I'd rather there not be any guns anywhere, but there are over 200 million guns in the US and many of them are in the hands of bad guys.

I feel pretty strongly that the Constitution makes private gun ownership an inalienable right, so we're always going to have guns. Which, unfortunately, means the bad guys are always going to have guns, too.

Shanti0608 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?

Good questions. My observation is that there are a lot of fearful ppl in this country and after living abroad I don't understand why this country feeds on fear. Fear sells, it is in the news, our tv shows including our commercials.

For my first 34 years of life I lived in houses with guns safely secured away for hunting and sport mainly. In middle school they took us to the state park with a rifle range and we took a rifle safety course. It was just a standard thing you did where I lived at the time. Mostly because of hunting.

When I was 35 I moved to the UK, lived in a small community, on a dead end road, atached houses with our neighbours. Everyone knew everyone, always kept our windows open, exchanged keys with one another in case we needed anything.

I never worried about theft or a break in for the 5 years I lived there.

We travelled in to London on the underground, buses, cabs.... never felt the need for a gun. Never feared for my life.

Now, we live in the US again.

I worry about all of the crazy ppl out there with guns.

I hate living in fear.

Having a gun in the house does not bring a safe feeling.

I don't understand the mentality that guns make you safer.

Facts show that they don't.

[Edited 6/16/12 4:55am]

I've never lived in Europe, so I can't speak to the feeling of safety there vs. the US. But I've a feeling that a lot of it goes to the fact that in Europe, you know the bad guy doesn't have a gun.

In the USA, you assume he does. That's the way it seems to me, anyway.

My daughter has taken an interest in sport shooting, and I'm going to enroll her in a handgun safety class. If, when she goes out on her own in a few years, she feels the need to keep a gun in the house to protect herself, I want her to be really good at it.

And if she doesn't need a gun, that's even better!

RodeoSchro said:

Shanti0608 said:

Good questions. My observation is that there are a lot of fearful ppl in this country and after living abroad I don't understand why this country feeds on fear. Fear sells, it is in the news, our tv shows including our commercials.

For my first 34 years of life I lived in houses with guns safely secured away for hunting and sport mainly. In middle school they took us to the state park with a rifle range and we took a rifle safety course. It was just a standard thing you did where I lived at the time. Mostly because of hunting.

When I was 35 I moved to the UK, lived in a small community, on a dead end road, atached houses with our neighbours. Everyone knew everyone, always kept our windows open, exchanged keys with one another in case we needed anything.

I never worried about theft or a break in for the 5 years I lived there.

We travelled in to London on the underground, buses, cabs.... never felt the need for a gun. Never feared for my life.

Now, we live in the US again.

I worry about all of the crazy ppl out there with guns.

I hate living in fear.

Having a gun in the house does not bring a safe feeling.

I don't understand the mentality that guns make you safer.

Facts show that they don't.

[Edited 6/16/12 4:55am]

I've never lived in Europe, so I can't speak to the feeling of safety there vs. the US. But I've a feeling that a lot of it goes to the fact that in Europe, you know the bad guy doesn't have a gun.

In the USA, you assume he does. That's the way it seems to me, anyway.

EXACTLY

RodeoSchro said:

Shanti0608 said:

Good questions. My observation is that there are a lot of fearful ppl in this country and after living abroad I don't understand why this country feeds on fear. Fear sells, it is in the news, our tv shows including our commercials.

For my first 34 years of life I lived in houses with guns safely secured away for hunting and sport mainly. In middle school they took us to the state park with a rifle range and we took a rifle safety course. It was just a standard thing you did where I lived at the time. Mostly because of hunting.

When I was 35 I moved to the UK, lived in a small community, on a dead end road, atached houses with our neighbours. Everyone knew everyone, always kept our windows open, exchanged keys with one another in case we needed anything.

I never worried about theft or a break in for the 5 years I lived there.

We travelled in to London on the underground, buses, cabs.... never felt the need for a gun. Never feared for my life.

Now, we live in the US again.

I worry about all of the crazy ppl out there with guns.

I hate living in fear.

Having a gun in the house does not bring a safe feeling.

I don't understand the mentality that guns make you safer.

Facts show that they don't.

[Edited 6/16/12 4:55am]

I've never lived in Europe, so I can't speak to the feeling of safety there vs. the US. But I've a feeling that a lot of it goes to the fact that in Europe, you know the bad guy doesn't have a gun.

In the USA, you assume he does. That's the way it seems to me, anyway.

My daughter has taken an interest in sport shooting, and I'm going to enroll her in a handgun safety class. If, when she goes out on her own in a few years, she feels the need to keep a gun in the house to protect herself, I want her to be really good at it.

And if she doesn't need a gun, that's even better!

I don't have a problem with the gun really, it is the mentality of the ppl that own guns here.

Hubby just took a 2 day course on gun safety. I feel that the gun laws here are useless and have lots of holes in them. I have have no problems with responsible gun ownership.

As soon anyone mentions tightening gun laws or improving them members of the NRA get up in arms and start whining.

Politicians and lawmakers cave to the NRA because the NRA is a BIG business.

Oh well, I can go on and on about gun laws but they won't change in this country no matter how many children are killed by senseless gun voilence.

I am glad that your daughter is going to take safety classes.

I wish more Americans would do the same.

http://www.nationmaster.c...h-firearms

[Edited 6/16/12 6:19am]

no and i dont need to so i never will - and i'm really glad about that

but i know in some countries it is necessary, which is really really really sad - but also understandable esp when u have kids and need to protect them!!! so just 4 protection i would say its ok..................

but in saying that one thing 4 sure ~ i would never ever use it to shoot an animal ~ EVER!!!! THAT'S JUST WRONG!!!

I think guns are pretty cool, if you use them for recreation.

I watch this Gun show every week on youtube, called FPS Russia, the concept is a "russian guy" testing all kinds of guns, it's pretty funny.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbsgHbXubGU

Going to the US in September and surely will go to a gun range to have a try!

JoeTyler said:

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]

dude, history is history. the easiest way to control people is to limit them from defending themselves.

just 4 the record ~ if i had a gun and had to use it i'd only ever shoot a person in the arse

nd33 said:

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'm gonna give you a pass since you've never seen one before, but...guns don't have feet.

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?

No other country?

What about Somalia?

Serbia?

Hell, even sweet old Switzerland is number 4 in the world in small arms ownership.

RodeoSchro said:

Shanti0608 said:

Good questions. My observation is that there are a lot of fearful ppl in this country and after living abroad I don't understand why this country feeds on fear. Fear sells, it is in the news, our tv shows including our commercials.

For my first 34 years of life I lived in houses with guns safely secured away for hunting and sport mainly. In middle school they took us to the state park with a rifle range and we took a rifle safety course. It was just a standard thing you did where I lived at the time. Mostly because of hunting.

When I was 35 I moved to the UK, lived in a small community, on a dead end road, atached houses with our neighbours. Everyone knew everyone, always kept our windows open, exchanged keys with one another in case we needed anything.

I never worried about theft or a break in for the 5 years I lived there.

We travelled in to London on the underground, buses, cabs.... never felt the need for a gun. Never feared for my life.

Now, we live in the US again.

I worry about all of the crazy ppl out there with guns.

I hate living in fear.

Having a gun in the house does not bring a safe feeling.

I don't understand the mentality that guns make you safer.

Facts show that they don't.

[Edited 6/16/12 4:55am]

I've never lived in Europe, so I can't speak to the feeling of safety there vs. the US. But I've a feeling that a lot of it goes to the fact that in Europe, you know the bad guy doesn't have a gun.

In the USA, you assume he does. That's the way it seems to me, anyway.

My daughter has taken an interest in sport shooting, and I'm going to enroll her in a handgun safety class. If, when she goes out on her own in a few years, she feels the need to keep a gun in the house to protect herself, I want her to be really good at it.

And if she doesn't need a gun, that's even better!

In the UK, since gun ownership is almost impossible to legally procure, doesn't that mean that only the bad guys have guns?

There are plenty of criminals in England with firearms. There are rough areas there and nice areas there, just like the US.

BobGeorge909 said:

NDRU said:

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.

Are u the only one who hasn't heard about George Zimmerman! ...Wow....

NDRU said:

RodeoSchro said:

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.

Over here there is the occasional news about a bodega owner using his gun behind the counter to fight off thieves. And there have been times when the thief has been shot dead. When that particular story hits the local news sites, the reader response is overwhelmingly in support of the bodega owner ("The dead thief had it coming" etc.).

But most times when I read about thieves unknowingly choosing armed victims, they are off-duty cops.

no..being a 2nd dan in Wado Ryu Karate im pretty cool with personal security. I'd recommend it to anyone or maybe a self defence course. How cool would you feel if it was snatched out of your hand and the tables turned?...never carry a gun

PunkMistress said:

RodeoSchro said:

I've never lived in Europe, so I can't speak to the feeling of safety there vs. the US. But I've a feeling that a lot of it goes to the fact that in Europe, you know the bad guy doesn't have a gun.

In the USA, you assume he does. That's the way it seems to me, anyway.

My daughter has taken an interest in sport shooting, and I'm going to enroll her in a handgun safety class. If, when she goes out on her own in a few years, she feels the need to keep a gun in the house to protect herself, I want her to be really good at it.

And if she doesn't need a gun, that's even better!

In the UK, since gun ownership is almost impossible to legally procure, doesn't that mean that only the bad guys have guns?

There are plenty of criminals in England with firearms. There are rough areas there and nice areas there, just like the US.

Yes I am sure there are criminals in the UK with firearms. We lived close to Croydon where the riots were. I have to say that the way the news and police handled the situation kept it from getting out of control.

The mentality was not to go in and shoot or use violence to stop it.

I guess that is where I see the difference, the mentality of the ppl. Mentality of the news media, police & citizens is completely different.

I see so much fear mongering in this country so I guess I should not be surprised that everyone feels safer when they grab their guns. I don't know.

Just my little observation.

[Edited 6/16/12 17:59pm]

No but I need to get one.

I own more than one, can hit you in the dark too. I don't shoot to kill, but you will be very sorry if I

ever have to pull it out.

I am more of a blade woman. I have a large collection of bladed weapons.

LadyCasanova said:

I own more than one, can hit you in the dark too. I don't shoot to kill, but you will be very sorry if I

ever have to pull it out.

I am more of a blade woman. I have a large collection of bladed weapons.

PunkMistress said:

RodeoSchro said:

I've never lived in Europe, so I can't speak to the feeling of safety there vs. the US. But I've a feeling that a lot of it goes to the fact that in Europe, you know the bad guy doesn't have a gun.

In the USA, you assume he does. That's the way it seems to me, anyway.

My daughter has taken an interest in sport shooting, and I'm going to enroll her in a handgun safety class. If, when she goes out on her own in a few years, she feels the need to keep a gun in the house to protect herself, I want her to be really good at it.

And if she doesn't need a gun, that's even better!

In the UK, since gun ownership is almost impossible to legally procure, doesn't that mean that only the bad guys have guns?

There are plenty of criminals in England with firearms. There are rough areas there and nice areas there, just like the US.

Well yes some bad guys have guns but because we don't have a public bearing arms, Criminals have not entered the same kind of arms race with the public in the US: eg.... Because criminals largely don't have guns neither do the people, But the reverse is also true that because most people don't have guns most low end criminals don't feel the need to get them.

Also the averege Police officer here doesn't carry and doesn't want to carry a fire arm. We do have teams of armed Police but because in general the Police arn't armed the criminals have not entered an arms race with the Police.

It's true there are plenty of criminals with guns in the UK, But I would also say it's mostly high end drug gangs that have firearms and they mostly use them on other drug gangs in this country.

We have a much bigger problem with knife crime and drunks with broken bottles than fire arms.

As a nation I think in general we are most comfortable with guns being hard to obtain and really don't see how having a hand gun under your pillow makes for a safer nation.

I've lived for 34 years in London and hung out on what would be considered rough council estates and not seen or met anybody but Police or licensed people who hunt who own one.

LadyCasanova said:

I own more than one, can hit you in the dark too. I don't shoot to kill, but you will be very sorry if I

ever have to pull it out.

I am more of a blade woman. I have a large collection of bladed weapons.

i think i love you...

ain't nothin like a good 'slice and dice'

to make a muffucka feel the nissesity for

makin major changes in they 'life discisions'

KingBAD said:

RodeoSchro said:

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"

which brings me back 2 my point im tired of the killings and guns in the black community its ruining us our black kids rather use a gun than their minds its heartbreaking no matter what race u are 2 see all these people dying senseless of crimes committed with guns

BobGeorge909 said:

NDRU said:

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.

Are u the only one who hasn't heard about George Zimmerman! ...Wow.... [Edited 6/16/12 4:15am]

george zimmerman is one of the main reasons man dont need a gun 2 run yo punk ass up on a child like a superhero and then like a bitch 2 pull a gun. i hope george zimmerman burn in hell and all those who have contributed 2 his fund is a big sign of racism cuz if this had of been a white child killed by zimmerman the mass majority would of lynched his spanish ass by now

PunkMistress said:

nd33 said:

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'm gonna give you a pass since you've never seen one before, but...guns don't have feet.

Lame. I'm gonna stick to a cat as pet of choice then.

JerseyKRS said:

JoeTyler said:

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]

dude, history is history. the easiest way to control people is to limit them from defending themselves.

Still. It's limiting somebody else his freedom to life.

There are countries doing pretty well without an army. They can spend their taxes on more usefull purposes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...med_forces

dJJ said:

JerseyKRS said:

dude, history is history. the easiest way to control people is to limit them from defending themselves.

Still. It's limiting somebody else his freedom to life.

There are countries doing pretty well without an army. They can spend their taxes on more usefull purposes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...med_forces

I do have limited agreement with that.

JerseyKRS said:

dJJ said:

Still. It's limiting somebody else his freedom to life.

There are countries doing pretty well without an army. They can spend their taxes on more usefull purposes.

http://en.wikipedia.org/w...med_forces

I do have limited agreement with that.

that's a limited standpoint.

(don't even know if that's English)

Dave1992 said:

JoeTyler said:

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.

I know I love the hell out of my property. I don't own a gun but one of the main reasons I don't own one is because I am fortunate enough to live in a low crime rate area. Well, lucky enough is a better word for it because considering my salary, it's a wonder if I don't live in one of the roughest neighborhoods there is. But if anything ever happened to the apartment complex I live in and I had to move into a rough neighborhood, I would definitely be buying a gun.

I see people all the time saying things like "objects can be replaced but lives can't" and a lot of those same people have all the latest, most high speed versions of computers that were ever invented, or the new flat screen TVs, and all the latest gadgets and are always talking about upgrading at the drop of a hat. Well, a computer is a major purpose for me that takes either years of saving up money or using an income tax refund to buy and that's only if I don't need the money for something more important. Plus years of collecting records, CDs, DVDs, etc. many of which are rare and out of print. When that stuff is gone, it's gone forever, there's no replacing it. And what am I supposed to do then? Sit around and listen to current radio for entertainment because some crackhead stole my shit and sold it for whatever he could get out of it? And as for electronics such as TVs, stereos, computers, etc. Those are very expensive items and when I buy them, I run the damn things until they don't work anymore because I don't have the luxury of just simply upgrading every time a newer version of something comes out. Yes, I love my property because I've worked and saved damn hard to get it so if someone steals it, yes, I want them dead. I respect life but I don't respect a damn thief's life at all. There's a very easy way for a thief to continue living....keep his grubby paws off of other people's stuff.

Oh, but the main reason I don't own a gun is because I have a temper as you can clearly see above. But temper or no temper, if I ever have to move into a high crime rate neighborhood, I will definitely be buying one.

.

.

.

[Edited 6/17/12 10:07am]

JerseyKRS said:

JoeTyler said:

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]

dude, history is history. the easiest way to control people is to limit them from defending themselves.

It seems like another popular way to control people is to arm them (often while another county arms the other side). But that seems to get out of hand eventually