Who owns guns and you carry?

[youbeyouibei]

^
Thank you for your thoughts. I appreciate you taking the time to write this post out and I wouldn't consider you trigger happy.

Although, some people in this thread seem to be and that's what scares me.

People are people; good, bad or otherwise. Thanks for being willing to hear both sides of an argument and not trying to sensationalize things simply for the sake of starting an argument.

[OsirisRa32]

Would just parking a large APC or Tank in the front yard maybe dissuade people enough from attempting to break in?

Or just an automated laser sensor based 50 cal defense system like in the movie "Congo"....I think I'll go with the laser sensor based 50 cal defense system....

or a roof mounted R2D2 unit from the Navy....

[youbeyouibei]

Would just parking a large APC or Tank in the front yard maybe dissuade people enough from attempting to break in?

Or just an automated laser sensor based 50 cal defense system like in the movie "Congo"....I think I'll go with the laser sensor based 50 cal defense system....

or a roof mounted R2D2 unit from the Navy....

I doubt it. Ever met a meth head who's been awake five days straight sampling the wares watching dirty movies and...wellllll...doing what meth heads do?! Good luck getting through to those folks, APC or not, lol!

[KMG]

To the people willing to answer.

Have you ever shot a gun? Any reason other than self defense.
Did this experience sway your opinion on guns? Good or bad
What was it that gave you your opinion?


I'm just curious to see your background with guns to try and understand your side more.

I come from a law enforcement family. I have been around guns all my life. I knew where they were when I was a kid and let them be. I started shooting young and started collecting guns then.

Being a country boy guns were a tool and hobby. I would hunt, shoot Skeet, and target shoot for fun. I didn't want to grow up and kill people they were just fun.

Now I carry one for work and depend on it. It is there when my backup may not be. Its still a tool though. I don't see it as a killing machine.

Being an officer has also showed me the dark side of humanity. I don't think of myself as paranoid but prepared. I have learned that you can be a victim anywhere at anytime. I just want to have the RIGHT available to protect myself and family.

I share the same view on the issues with saying the pledge or praying. If you don't want to say it, don't. But how does me doing it hurt you?

I just don't see how people who believe they have they right to not do something should be able to decide i don't have the right to do it.

[CatandDiallo]

To the people willing to answer.

Have you ever shot a gun? Any reason other than self defense.
Did this experience sway your opinion on guns? Good or bad
What was it that gave you your opinion?


I'm just curious to see your background with guns to try and understand your side more.

I come from a law enforcement family. I have been around guns all my life. I knew where they were when I was a kid and let them be. I started shooting young and started collecting guns then.

Being a country boy guns were a tool and hobby. I would hunt, shoot Skeet, and target shoot for fun. I didn't want to grow up and kill people they were just fun.

Now I carry one for work and depend on it. It is there when my backup may not be. Its still a tool though. I don't see it as a killing machine.

Being an officer has also showed me the dark side of humanity. I don't think of myself as paranoid but prepared. I have learned that you can be a victim anywhere at anytime. I just want to have the RIGHT available to protect myself and family.

I share the same view on the issues with saying the pledge or praying. If you don't want to say it, don't. But how does me doing it hurt you?

I just don't see how people who believe they have they right to not do something should be able to decide i don't have the right to do it.

Yes, I have. A shotgun, though. At a shooting range.

I was younger, it didn't sway my opinion any way because I see nothing wrong with having guns for hunting.

Most people here have grown up without guns, that's just the way it is. I live in the Toronto area, and the crime rates are extremely low for the size of the city. It's just not dangerous here.

Most of the gun violence that occurs here is by gangs, aiming at other gangs. It is EXTREMELY rare here for non-gang members to get caught up within it, but it has happened. However, as I've said, those are rare anomalies.

I just don't like guns, period. I see no need for hand guns to be in the hands of civilians. That's just it.

Praying or saying the pledge weren't designed to kill someone. Saying the pledge or praying can't kill someone. Guns were and do.

We just don't have the problems with gun violence like you guys do (neither does Ireland, Scotland, England, etc), and I think having extremely tight restrictions on guns is the main reason why.
There's a common denominator here: the less accessible guns are for the average Joe, the less gun violence there is. Period.

[Rob]

To the people willing to answer.

Have you ever shot a gun? Any reason other than self defense.
Did this experience sway your opinion on guns? Good or bad
What was it that gave you your opinion?.

- yes, no
- I no longer thought guns were "cool".
- not getting into it.

[TheSnakeGeek]

Yes, I have. A shotgun, though. At a shooting range.

I was younger, it didn't sway my opinion any way because I see nothing wrong with having guns for hunting.

Most people here have grown up without guns, that's just the way it is. I live in the Toronto area, and the crime rates are extremely low for the size of the city. It's just not dangerous here.

Most of the gun violence that occurs here is by gangs, aiming at other gangs. It is EXTREMELY rare here for non-gang members to get caught up within it, but it has happened. However, as I've said, those are rare anomalies.

I just don't like guns, period. I see no need for hand guns to be in the hands of civilians. That's just it.

Praying or saying the pledge weren't designed to kill someone. Saying the pledge or praying can't kill someone. Guns were and do.

We just don't have the problems with gun violence like you guys do (neither does Ireland, Scotland, England, etc), and I think having extremely tight restrictions on guns is the main reason why.
There's a common denominator here: the less accessible guns are for the average Joe, the less gun violence there is. Period.

you may find this interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooa98FHuaU0

[youbeyouibei]

Yes, I have. A shotgun, though. At a shooting range.

I was younger, it didn't sway my opinion any way because I see nothing wrong with having guns for hunting.

Most people here have grown up without guns, that's just the way it is. I live in the Toronto area, and the crime rates are extremely low for the size of the city. It's just not dangerous here.

Most of the gun violence that occurs here is by gangs, aiming at other gangs. It is EXTREMELY rare here for non-gang members to get caught up within it, but it has happened. However, as I've said, those are rare anomalies.

I just don't like guns, period. I see no need for hand guns to be in the hands of civilians. That's just it.

Praying or saying the pledge weren't designed to kill someone. Saying the pledge or praying can't kill someone. Guns were and do.

We just don't have the problems with gun violence like you guys do (neither does Ireland, Scotland, England, etc), and I think having extremely tight restrictions on guns is the main reason why.
There's a common denominator here: the less accessible guns are for the average Joe, the less gun violence there is. Period.

I'm not by any means trying to put words into your mouth but if I understand your argument correctly and take it just a little further, you're essentially arguing the state has the right of parens patriae, yes? Or that "the state is my father" and as such is responsible for me and my actions whether to prevent them or to intervene against me or on my behalf when I or others make decisions? Using that logic, couldn't you apply that to anything? If people didn't drive cars, there would be no automobile deaths. If people didn't have snakes, there would be no invasive species problem in the Everglades or children being injured/killed through irresponsible ownership, etc. If we outlawed sugar, people wouldn't be fat. Again, I understand what you're saying but given what a spectacular job the government in my country is doing running things and has done for the amount of time I've been alive, I take exception to willfully giving up a right that is guaranteed to me with a woefully misplaced belief that the government will take care of me as their "child" and they as my "father". Thanks but no thanks to that. I am absolutely in support of responsible gun ownership for anyone that is legally allowed to, for whatever purpose they see fit to own such weapons rather than relying on Uncle Sam to tend to my wants and needs.

[Seanjackmc]

Yes, I have. A shotgun, though. At a shooting range.

I was younger, it didn't sway my opinion any way because I see nothing wrong with having guns for hunting.

Most people here have grown up without guns, that's just the way it is. I live in the Toronto area, and the crime rates are extremely low for the size of the city. It's just not dangerous here.

Most of the gun violence that occurs here is by gangs, aiming at other gangs. It is EXTREMELY rare here for non-gang members to get caught up within it, but it has happened. However, as I've said, those are rare anomalies.

I just don't like guns, period. I see no need for hand guns to be in the hands of civilians. That's just it.

Praying or saying the pledge weren't designed to kill someone. Saying the pledge or praying can't kill someone. Guns were and do.

We just don't have the problems with gun violence like you guys do (neither does Ireland, Scotland, England, etc), and I think having extremely tight restrictions on guns is the main reason why.
There's a common denominator here: the less accessible guns are for the average Joe, the less gun violence there is. Period.

Totally respect your opinion. I happen to be a gun lover and a huge proponent of the second amendment. I believe it is very hard to compare a country to another country directly. There are many factors that relate to america having a higher violent crime rate. Those are for a whole separate forum. I started enjoying firearms as a hunter and my passion grew from there.
Also not to be a pain but could you please back up your statement regarding 'less accessible guns are for the average joe, the less gun violence there is. Period' who is the average joe. Where are guns bought that are used in crimes? How many average joes commit crimes with a gun? I don't like vague comments that are said as factual statistics. That can be dangerous.
A gun has never aimed itself at a person and pulled its own trigger, remember that. An evil person who wishes to commit a crime will do it regardless. Think Oklahoma bombing, basic farm supplies. We need to fix people not guns.

[youbeyouibei]

you may find this interesting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ooa98FHuaU0

Absolutely. And the disparity between the murder rate versus the violent crime rate as compiled by the FBI in their UCR data. Medical technology saves a lot of people who previously would have been in the morgue. That gives the appearance of the murder rate being lower and technically it is but when compared to the violent assault rates, there is a noticeable gap. We live in great times, sure but the safest times in in human history? I don't know that I'd buy that one.