Guns need to go...or do they?

[CouchCommando]

I used to own a number of firearms, coming from a rural community in the Australian out back they could be claimed to be necessary, but after moving to the city I brought a couple of guns with me and joined the local range for target shooting (not that I actually did much, turns out there's a lot more stuff to do in town). A couple of years later I was cleaning an old .303 lee enfield bolt action of ww2 vintage when a visitor dropped by, before I could say anything upon entering my kitchen he had already snatched up the rifle pointed it at my chest pulled the trigger and yelled BANG!!
Now it was at this point that it dawned on me that I was taking it for granted that most people just are not educated in gun safety, as they are in say a shooting household, so after regaining my composure and explaining to my friend the many points of just how wrong his and my own actions had been and what the potential outcomes could have been. I decided to give up my fire arms licenses and disposed of my gun collection at the police station. So I guess I'm kinda sitting on the fence here. Personally due to that experience I am loathe to have gun around a family home, but then I also understand that some people really do enjoy using firearms both for recreation/land care and are educated in there storage and responsible use.
I also fully support the illegality of concealable firearms in Australia. As a hand gun is ultimately only made for one purpose.

 

[CouchCommando]

If I'm gonna get killed, I'd rather be shot than stabbed.

If I'm going to be attacked I'd rather the guy was holding a knife rather than a gun. Dunno I kinda back myself to outrun the guy running with a knife, but don't really see me out running a bullet.

 

[electric discordian]

For those who say guns are great for home defence, what happens if your out at the cinema when your robbed? oh look you have just armed a criminal well done!

The UK doesn't have a second amendment we don't even have a first one! We are probably one of the most invaded countries in history! Not all of them have been successful but we tend to get around the whole home defence thing by having one of the best trained armies in the world, as opposed to for example arming the unemployed with chain guns!

Guns serve one purpose and that is to kill people, that is there one use that and making films more exciting. If someone makes an AK47 that can whip up a delicious omelette I may change my mind.

Personally if you can't defend yourself with a stout stick and some gumption you have a serious problem. If I was in a situation where someone broke into my home and threatened those I loved I wouldn't want to shoot them anyway, I would want to beat them to death with a cricket bat. But I guess I have certain issues.

In conclusion guns serve no purpose, if you want a projectile weapon use a Longbow!

 

[theamazingbean]

My gun...cold, dead hands...you know the drill.

 

[vxicepickxv]

My own personal fear of anything that makes loud sudden noises makes me hate them. On top of the fact that I don't like weapons.

Personally I think only the police and military should be able to carry guns. People who have been through numerous psychological tests and have sworn themselves to service.

I guess you could call it a psych test I took when I joined the military a little over a decade ago.

 

[kalakashi]

If guns are responsible for killing people, then cars are responsible for drunk driving, and pencils are responsible for misspelling words.

Only bad people will do bad things involving firearms... usually.

No, guns are responsible for people dying from guns, cars are responsible for people being hit by cars. The pencil thing is obviously irrelevant.
Loads of people die by cars every year admittedly, but it is not the purpose of cars; they are obviously there to transport people and items around, which is extremely handy and 100% necessary.
Guns exist solely to damage, that is the only thing they have ever existed for and it always will be.

So we get rid of all the guns. And as many people have mentioned, now only the criminals have guns. So I'm a criminal, and I walk into a bank with my illegal gun and I hold the place up. Somebody twitches, but I know the chances of them having a gun are slim, so I shout at them to keep still and continue with my robbery.
The alternative is everyone has guns. So I'm in the same position: somebody twitches, and if he's faster than me I get shot and he's a hero, fantastic. If he's not faster than me, he gets shot dead, and so does anyone else who's breathing a bit too heavily, or sneezes, or has an itch.

So in the first case, the bank gets robbed, some people are out of money which is obviously bad.
And in the second, at least 1 person is dead, possibly/probably more, and their family's lives are ruined.

 

[quiet_samurai]

If guns are responsible for killing people, then cars are responsible for drunk driving, and pencils are responsible for misspelling words.

Only bad people will do bad things involving firearms... usually.

No, guns are responsible for people dying from guns, cars are responsible for people being hit by cars. The pencil thing is obviously irrelevant.
Loads of people die by cars every year admittedly, but it is not the purpose of cars; they are obviously there to transport people and items around, which is extremely handy and 100% necessary.
Guns exist solely to damage, that is the only thing they have ever existed for and it always will be.

And yet about ten tmes more people are killed every year by vehicles then they are by guns, at least in the USA. For someone who obviously values the preservation of life you would think that that is a rather big sacrifice for handiness and necessity.

 

[kalakashi]

And yet about ten tmes more people are killed every year by vehicles then they are by guns, at least in the USA. For someone who obviously values the preservation of life you would think that that is a rather big sacrifice for handiness and necessity.

My point is more that if people are more careful and aware of their surroundings, car accidents could be easily avoided, but no matter how careful people are around guns, all it means is that shots will be more accurate and harmful.

 

[anteru]

personally i can see both sides of the issue, but it aggravates me when i hear someone say "guns kill people" guns do not kill people... people kill people... if you take guns away they will either find them on the black market (as already discussed) or use other means.

for me i collect old rifles and pistols from the WWII era, so much history behind them.. i often hold my enfield MK4 and wonder where it has been..

i can see restrictions on certain things... for instance... armor piercing munitions, i have yet to see an elk or a deer that has a kevlar hide!

 

[Ulquiorra4sama]

I don't give a slight damn about guns. I think the fact that every american has the right to keep a gun at home because of some ancient amendment just shows that there's no point for being radical if it takes away the right to "protect one's home". Sure, it must've seemed like a good idea at the time i.e. back in the late 18th century - when the country was ravaged by civil wars and whatnot, but nowadays it's just plain silly.

We manage just fine in our country and there're barely even any guns in law enforcement. If you don't allow people to get their hands on killing devices so easily then crime rates should go down and people wouldn't need to "protect their homes".

Augh... it just seems way too stupid to even be debating, and i'm ranting so i'll stop now.

 

[anteru]

I don't give a slight damn about guns. I think the fact that every american has the right to keep a gun at home because of some ancient amendment just shows that there's no point for being radical if it takes away the right to "protect one's home". Sure, it must've seemed like a good idea at the time i.e. back in the late 18th century - when the country was ravaged by civil wars and whatnot, but nowadays it's just plain silly.

We manage just fine in our country and there're barely even any guns in law enforcement. If you don't allow people to get their hands on killing devices so easily then crime rates should go down and people wouldn't need to "protect their homes".

Augh... it just seems way too stupid to even be debating, and i'm ranting so i'll stop now.

you have a good point... but for people where i live (montana) most people have rifles for hunting. sure you have D-bags that kill the animal and leave all the meat to rot just so they can have a trophy... which is indeed silly... i myself eat what i shoot... for some its cheaper to hunt for your own wild meat... not to mention better for you... no growth hormones and such.

 

[thahat]

id prefer the american system a lot, even if it does give more gun-deaths.
maybe then the government here would think twice about spending money on stupid things and actualy be usefull again. ;/
-the netherlands = here-

 

[Midnight Crossroads]

I see guns as tools. While their are people that abuse them for violence, they do not cause violence, and taking them away won't break that cycle of violence. There is a much deeper problem in American society that can not be addressed by simply taking away guns from people that don't use them for violent purposes. If people are afraid enough that they need guns to protect themselves, then there's something else wrong.

 

[superbatranger]

Instead of outright banning firearms, I say more effort should be put into education people about gun safety.

 

[The Austin]

If you outlaw guns, than guess who's going to have guns? Outlaws.

"Hey Ted, lets Rob a bank!"
"With what? Guns are illegal you know."
"Oh. Shit. We could use silverware?"

 

[Wadders]

You tell 'em Charlton.

 

[Sn1P3r M98]

I love my guns, and I love the Second Amendment. As Charlton Heston once said, "I'll give up my gun when they pry it from my cold dead hands"

When you take away guns, only criminals will have them. I'm a total gun nut, and my life would be empty without guns.

Spoiler: 2nd Amendment Baby!

I like NRA (National Rifle Association) supporters. We should start a group here on the Escapist for us Gun Nuts.

There's already one.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/groups/view/Gun-Nuts

 

[Kryzantine]

I am also a firm believer in the guns-reduce-crime model. Look at the Texas State Capitol, I believe. They allow people with guns to skip the lines to get into the building if they have a conceal carry license. This would normally spell disaster: all it takes is one guy with a chip on his shoulders to kill off a politician. But everyone else has a gun. You try anything and you'll have hundreds of guns on you instantly. The security have guns. Some of the civilians have guns. Even the politicians themselves all have guns. How many incidents have occurred in that building? None.

 

[Twad]

I dont care much about guns. I find them a useless, deadly "idol" in our modern society. Of course some ppl like them to hunt and sport shooting and its okay in my book, heck it even look fun. I like the FN Herstal designs (bullpups just look cool and efficient imho) I even own an Airsoft mp5 (with an orange tip so bright im sure it can be seen from orbit)

But for anything else? Not for me.

Home defense? I dont buy that. In the -extremely- unlikely event you are attacked in your home while your there.. i dont think anyone will have time to get their gun prep and ready..
If you use it you are just as likely to panic, miss and hurt yourself or someone else (because most bullets arent stopped by basic wood, plaster or whatever.. so familly behind the walls isnt protected at all).
Chances are the robber just want your TV and wahtever easily taken shiny is lying around.

(snip)
The less guns the better. Period.

i agree with that.

 

[DeeWiz]

I don't give a slight damn about guns. I think the fact that every american has the right to keep a gun at home because of some ancient amendment just shows that there's no point for being radical if it takes away the right to "protect one's home". Sure, it must've seemed like a good idea at the time i.e. back in the late 18th century - when the country was ravaged by civil wars and whatnot, but nowadays it's just plain silly.

We manage just fine in our country and there're barely even any guns in law enforcement. If you don't allow people to get their hands on killing devices so easily then crime rates should go down and people wouldn't need to "protect their homes".

Augh... it just seems way too stupid to even be debating, and i'm ranting so i'll stop now.

I'm not normally one to call people out but you are dead wrong sir.
First I am an American living in Japan (Japan has a no weapons of any kind rule, and in general is very pacifist) Having said that there is a reason why the gun amendment comes right after free speach. It is the second most important right we have as American's. And i'll explain that right after this question, who do guns laws hurt? It is not the criminals since they are CRIMINALS!! They do not abide by the law in the first place. It hurts the normal every day citizen. Here's a thought game. Imagine if the government issue a gun to every female in the country, now one everyone would have to get behind gun safety educating, but even if only half kept their guns that would mean any potential mugger or rapist would have a 1 in 2 chance of being shot, not exactly the odds even depraved lunatics would play with their lives.

The main reason for guns in America is because we the current government was formed by a bunch of terrorist overthrowing the legitamite government, the British. Thats right we Americans were TERRORISTS. The basics tennents of governmwnt should be that a government should be afraid of its people, not the otherway around, ask anyone from the former Soviet bloc, or many of current countries where people "dissidents" are pulled of the streets and disappear. The founding fathers knew that at some point our government would get so corrupt that there would no solution but to overthrow it. And yes of course the government wants gun control, every gun they can get out of the hand of a citizen is one less citizen they have to care about.

No I do not own a gun and never would for recreation purposes, however if it happens in my lifetime I will fly back to the US and take part in the peoples revolution, gun in hand proud to be an American.