Gun = Violence??

[Phoenix_22]

To be honest, we shouldn't even have guns, because a lot of the people with them are idiots and don't know how/when they should be used. We use a very vague and antiquated part of the United States Constitution to justify that we can walk around wherever we want with an assault rifle, but that is simply not the case. The reason we have a right to bear arms is because 220+ years ago we didn't have a standing army, we didn't have a national guard, satellites, radar, fighter jets, nuclear weapons, etc. and if we needed to fend off an invasion by the Spanish or the British or whoever else, the only way to get a standing "army" was to use the militias, a bunch of farmers who really didn't know how to by a soldier, but who had guns and could be called upon to hopefully defend either the local area or the nation as a whole.

Some people like to use the argument that the people need firearms so that they can overthrow a tyrannical government, but in reality, after having our freedoms stripped under the PATRIOT Act, and having our dollars fund the cronies on Wall Street, I doubt this country would ever muster up enough to overthrow the government. Also, one of the major ways revolutions actually go through is if the people have the military on their side. It doesn't matter if we have guns or not, because we would need the military on our side either way.

Now, having said that, I do think that owning a gun with a permit shouldn't be a problem. I don't have a problem with people with pistols or rifles or shotguns, or whatever, as long as it isn't some assault rifle that is just insane for legitimate uses like hunting and protection. As long as we do background checks, people can feel free to buy guns and use them for hunting and protection, or even just shooting off some rounds in the backyard (or gun range) at some targets. However, this whole thing falls to pieces if we have irresponsible parents that either don't teach their kids about what a danger a gun can be and how to use it properly (or if they shouldn't use it), and the illegal gun sale/trading going on in the black market. If people are responsible, there wouldn't be a problem. Question is, can they be responsible?

[wjlasloThe2nd]

If guns cause violence, then pencils cause spelling mistakes. As far as I know it's not copyrighted, use that if you want

Still, guns are too easy to get. I don't know what a good way to lower how many guns get into criminal hands is but that's definetely the direction things need to go. Giving almost everyone a gun would also work but would present its own set of problems...perhaps less gun vs. gun violence, but more gun suicides (not sure how to say "other" kinds of gun violence). Either way either, it can't keep going the way it is.

[EO Violation]

I'll let this guy do the talking for me. I find myself oddly in agreement with what he has to say...

+ YouTube Video

[Junk angel]

If I had to form a similar speech, I'd probably go with those old behavioral experiments. The ones where they gave one person a button and whenever said person pressed the button it would shock another one.

The closer the button holder was to the victim the less inclined he was to shock him.
Also the more actions the button holder had to do himself the less inclined he was.
(I think it was the Milgram experiment, not certain though)
Guns can work somewhat like the distance and the reduction of actions. You don't have to be too close to the person to fire on him, you also don't have to directly contact him. In this guns can lead to a higher rate of actual injuries with them. They can act as violence caalysators.

That would probably form the basis of the speech. Plus the other side might not be prepared to counter this behavioral analogy.

[KwisatzHaderach]

Authorities in Ohio say Winston was shot and killed Wednesday after he barged into a hotel room with a gun demanding money. There were six people in the room and they’d left the door open to the first-floor room so the adults in the room could stay within earshot of two girls in the room next door.

One of the people in the room, a 70-year-old great-grandmother, reached into her purse on the floor, pulled out a .357-caliber Magnum pistol and shot Winston once in the chest, the newspaper reported.

Winston stumbled to the parking lot, where he was later pronounced dead.

The woman was interviewed at police headquarters and was released. Police have not identified her.

Lapine told the Columbus Dispatch that Winston’s probation came after a December 2008 arrest in St. Louis County for first-degree tampering with a vehicle, a felony. Court records show that arrest was by Webster Groves police.

Winston had just been released from prison three months before that arrest after serving seven years for crimes that included burglary, stealing a firearm and three counts of stealing a motor vehicle, Lapine said.

Columbus police say they don’t expect to file charges against the woman who shot Winston but the case will be presented to a grand jury, the Dispatch reported. County Prosecutor Ron O’Brien said it is a long-standing policy to present any case of a death caused by a weapon to a grand jury, even if prosecutors are not seeking an indictment.

Nuff said. Go Grandma!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Anlushac11]

"God created man. Samuel Colt made men equals".

A gun is a tool, it can be used for good or bad just like any other tool. A gun is no more capable of killing a person is than a knife or a pointy stick.

A gun lying on a table never jumped up and shot someone. It takes human will to pick up a gun and use it, be it for good or evil, for offense or defense.

Banning guns removes one of many tools used by people who would do ill will. It does not remove the dark emotions that drive people to want to kill and hurt others.

You don't need to ban guns or knives or..well stop people from making pointy sticks, you need to create a society that respects one another and respects life and liberty.

[Nemmerle]

Originally Posted by Anlushac11

"God created man. Samuel Colt made men equals".

I mean seriously, if you have a gun you're not equal to someone who's good at shooting it, who's in no way equal to the guy who actually knows some tactics, who's in no way equal to the guy who's good at observing his environment, who's in no way equal to the guy with body armour, the guy who has some mates with him, the guy who went to the trouble of learning to communicate with said mates... and then you go on. Equality ain't happening.

[Crazy Wolf]

You can become skilled with a gun within a month. You can become expert with a gun within a year (this assumes dedication and some proficiency).

The gun itself doesn't make things equal, but it brings things much closer. It doesn't matter if your opponent has some friends with him, if you have enough ammunition. Situations always favor the observant, there's no weapon that changes that.
Body armor is nice, unless you're shot in the head. Tactics aren't needed in most situations, showing that you have a gun and aren't afraid to use it discourages most criminals.

[Skanker]

This brings me back to a conversation I had last week with my black friend. My black friend said "Guns don't kill people... Black people kill people..." I thought it was hilarious coming from him though considering he is black lol.

[Nemmerle]

Originally Posted by Crazy Wolf

You can become skilled with a gun within a month. You can become expert with a gun within a year (this assumes dedication and some proficiency).

Skilled, expert; those are meaningless terms considering you and I obviously have massively differening opinions on what capabilites someone needs to have to qualify as skilled or expert.

Originally Posted by Crazy Wolf

The gun itself doesn't make things equal, but it brings things much closer. It doesn't matter if your opponent has some friends with him, if you have enough ammunition.

Numbers are a great advantage, you fill in the picture of the situation for each other - your communications keep you thinking at a certain level, you provide something for him to shoot at which isn't your budy - or vice versa - which makes your budy more efficient at shooting back, you put out a superior weight of fire which convinces the other guy to keep his head down. And that's not even mentioning the tactics that are only possible with mulitple people.

Originally Posted by Crazy Wolf

Body armor is nice, unless you're shot in the head.

Which most people aren't.

Originally Posted by Crazy Wolf

Tactics aren't needed in most situations, showing that you have a gun and aren't afraid to use it discourages most criminals.

Just showing you know they're there discourages most criminals. That has little to do with you being skilled or equal and a lot to do with you not being worth their time when there's easier prey around.