Gun Ownership/Rights?

[Nym90]

No, ...but any gun that is good for hunting is plenty good for self-defense too, usually. Certainly allowances should be made for guns which are particularly good for defense but not for hunting or sporting...but these should be more difficult to obtain.

[??????????]

Allowing anyone right to bare arms is just asking for trouble, just look at colombine and dunblain.
Gun crime is always going to be a problem while guns are easily accesible

Criminals can get guns whether their are laws against them or not. I guess their are no gun crimes in Britian, huh?

[Jezziah]

Allowing anyone right to bare arms is just asking for trouble, just look at colombine and dunblain.
Gun crime is always going to be a problem while guns are easily accesible

Criminals can get guns whether their are laws against them or not. I guess their are no gun crimes in Britian, huh?

Yes there are gun crimes, but there are a hell of a lot less, and the gun crimes tend to be gangs killing each other, not masscre's of children who's only crime was going to school that day

[Jezziah]

Strongly agree, having guns in the hands of law abiding citizens saves lives.

But the guns don't just go into law abiding hands do they, they get into criminals hands who use them to murder people, and unstable people's hands who take them into school and use them to shoot their classmates and teachers

But if you make guns illegal and law abiding people turn theirs' in who still has them? The bad guys aren't going to turn their guns in! I think that makes everyone a bit less safe especially in their homes.

But then you have a very legitimate reason for putting all these 'bad guys' in prison and away from society

[CARLHAYDEN]

No, ...but any gun that is good for hunting is plenty good for self-defense too, usually. Certainly allowances should be made for guns which are particularly good for defense but not for hunting or sporting...but these should be more difficult to obtain.

Why should firearms used for self-defense be more difficulat to obtain than firearms used for hunting?

Is self-defense less important than hunting?

Also, many firearms used for hunting are less than optimal for self defense.  A Winchester 70n SEM is great for Buffalo, but not too handy to use in most self-defense situations.

[Nym90]

Not less important, but the only guns that are really good for defense but not for hunting are also probably going to be used a lot by criminals too (handguns come to mind here).

If you want a gun to defend your home, a shotgun works quite well, and is much easier than a handgun to shoot accurately. If you need defense on the street, I can see the need for a handgun, but it shouldn't be easy to obtain a handgun because they are obviously going to be used a lot by criminals, probably moreso than in defense.

Basically my position is that we need to look at each gun objectively, and ask what its purpose is. Rather than blanket laws that apply to all guns we would be better off judging each on its own merits.

[??????????]

Allowing anyone right to bare arms is just asking for trouble, just look at colombine and dunblain.
Gun crime is always going to be a problem while guns are easily accesible

Criminals can get guns whether their are laws against them or not. I guess their are no gun crimes in Britian, huh?

Yes there are gun crimes, but there are a hell of a lot less, and the gun crimes tend to be gangs killing each other, not masscre's of children who's only crime was going to school that day

Wasn't their a school shooting in Scotland a few years back? Kind of throws your argument out, huh?

[JohnFKennedy]

Allowing anyone right to bare arms is just asking for trouble, just look at colombine and dunblain.
Gun crime is always going to be a problem while guns are easily accesible

Criminals can get guns whether their are laws against them or not. I guess their are no gun crimes in Britian, huh?

Yes there are gun crimes, but there are a hell of a lot less, and the gun crimes tend to be gangs killing each other, not masscre's of children who's only crime was going to school that day

Wasn't their a school shooting in Scotland a few years back? Kind of throws your argument out, huh?

Dunblane

[CARLHAYDEN]

Not less important, but the only guns that are really good for defense but not for hunting are also probably going to be used a lot by criminals too (handguns come to mind here).

If you want a gun to defend your home, a shotgun works quite well, and is much easier than a handgun to shoot accurately. If you need defense on the street, I can see the need for a handgun, but it shouldn't be easy to obtain a handgun because they are obviously going to be used a lot by criminals, probably moreso than in defense.

Basically my position is that we need to look at each gun objectively, and ask what its purpose is. Rather than blanket laws that apply to all guns we would be better off judging each on its own merits.

First, a shotgun is a poor weapon for dealing with an intruder in the home.  Due to the barrel and overall length, it is clumsy to use within a home.

Second, shotguns are by nature not designed to be accurate.  A good handgun can be very accurate within the range for which it is designed to be used.  In fact, it is less likely to result in collateral damage.

Third, statistics are clear, people defend themselves far more often with handguns than criminal use them to committ crimes.

Fourth, if you believe that handguns are designed to be used by criminals you are really nuts.  Probably the best self-defense handgun in general circulation is the 1911A1, which was designed by John Browning for the U.S. military (or are you going to call the military 'criminals?').

Fifth, are you an animst or something?  Firearms do NOT have a life of their own.  Why don't you try punishing those who misuse firearms instead of transferring the blame for individual criminal acts to inanimate objects (tools)?

Six, so far you ignorance and bigotry on the subject have proven to be overwhelming.  Try learning something before posting!

[emotional hardcore]

I have Howard Dean's positon on this.

[The Duke]

I used to be for gun control, but it is a complete failre.  Most of the guns that were banned in the Assault Weapons Ban were back on the street within weeks in slightly modified versions.  All gun control does is take guns away from law biding citizens and leave them in the hands of criminals.

[opebo]

I'm all for gun ownership and I strongly recomend the shotgun.  

[angus]

I like this one.  I had forgotten.  Reason number 3 for being a Republican.

keep reminding me.  

[classical liberal]

I'm all for gun ownership and I strongly recomend the shotgun.  

.44 magnum revolver

[classical liberal]

Strongly agree, having guns in the hands of law abiding citizens saves lives.

But the guns don't just go into law abiding hands do they, they get into criminals hands who use them to murder people, and unstable people's hands who take them into school and use them to shoot their classmates and teachers

But if you make guns illegal and law abiding people turn theirs' in who still has them? The bad guys aren't going to turn their guns in! I think that makes everyone a bit less safe especially in their homes.

But then you have a very legitimate reason for putting all these 'bad guys' in prison and away from society

you didn't before a gun ban?

[CARLHAYDEN]

Suggest everyone read Steve Chapkman's new column, "Assault-weapon ban follows a curious logic."

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi0405270288may27,0,3497464.column

[??????????]

Suggest everyone read Steve Chapkman's new column, "Assault-weapon ban follows a curious logic."

Corrected link. I don't know how yall mess this up.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi0405270288may27,0,3497464.column

[Nym90]

CarlHayden--

Your ad hominem attacks aside, I own several shotguns and are quite adept at firing them accurately. Maybe that's why I have a bias in favor of them...I didn't realize they were so hard for everyone else to handle. I personally find them a lot easier to fire accurately than a handgun...longer barrel, easier to aim. Maybe that's just me though.

A good deer rifle, such as a 30/30 or 30 aught 6 would be more accurate than a shotgun, true, though at close range it would hardly matter that much. The shotgun of course deliberately disperses the shot over a wider area, which therefore gives you a greater chance of hitting your target but also a greater chance of collateral damage, too.

I'd appreciate we keep the name calling out of this. Don't make assumptions about me based on my statements with no other proof to back them up. I'll extend you the same courtesy. I'm not anti-miltary or anti-prosecuting people for gun crimes, for example.

I strongly support punishing people who commit crimes, too. I know that people kill people...but guns make it a lot easier to do that.

My point is, where do we draw the line? I'm all for having a gun for self-defense. I just feel that if you want a handgun, which has no legitimate use really other than for self-defense, you should have to provide a reason for it.

Personally, if I needed defense on the street against robbers or such, I'd take a knife over a gun any day. Even more accurate, and simpler and easier to use (important considerations when time is of the essence), and just as deadly. The only advantage the gun has is the fact that you can shoot someone from a distance. At close range, though, a good long knife is going to be a much more effective weapon.

[CARLHAYDEN]

Once again you contradict yourself.

Please carefully read what I said.

Due to the "pattern" created by a shotgun it is more likely to result in collateral damages, something either you do not understand, or simply refuse to admit.

Self-defense is a right which does not have to be proved beforehand.  Either you do believe in self-defense, or you don't!  Knock off the contradictory language (i.e. stop acting like Kerry).

Are you of Italian descent?  Why do you want to bring a knife to a gunfight?

[Nym90]

I admitted it increases collateral damage. I stated that clearly in my last post. I realize this is a drawback. The closer the range, though, the less the collateral damage would be, as the pattern doesn't have time to spread far apart yet.

A knife is just as effective as a gun at close range, perhaps more so. Now if someone has a gun pointed at you from a distance, yes, you need a gun too...most robbers or other street assailants, however, are going to be right up close to you I'd think, within knife range. I'm not Italian, no.

I do believe in self-defense, but I don't think it's too much to ask someone to at least state why they specifically need, say, a handgun, when something else might be just fine. Handguns are concealable...that's their main advantage, but they are both less powerful and overall less accurate (yes, I realize the shotgun patterns...).

I'm not saying it should be difficult to get a permit necessarily, but I do feel that anyone who wants a handgun should have to apply for a permit, yes.

[angus]

Are you of Italian descent?  Why do you want to bring a knife to a gunfight?

carl,  this is tacky.

but funny  

[opebo]

I'm all for gun ownership and I strongly recomend the shotgun.  

.44 magnum revolver

Better be a good shot.

[angus]

I think a fully automatic large-caliber rifle is best.  Just tell 'em for hunting  

[CARLHAYDEN]

I admitted it increases collateral damage. I stated that clearly in my last post. I realize this is a drawback. The closer the range, though, the less the collateral damage would be, as the pattern doesn't have time to spread far apart yet.

A knife is just as effective as a gun at close range, perhaps more so. Now if someone has a gun pointed at you from a distance, yes, you need a gun too...most robbers or other street assailants, however, are going to be right up close to you I'd think, within knife range. I'm not Italian, no.

I do believe in self-defense, but I don't think it's too much to ask someone to at least state why they specifically need, say, a handgun, when something else might be just fine. Handguns are concealable...that's their main advantage, but they are both less powerful and overall less accurate (yes, I realize the shotgun patterns...).

I'm not saying it should be difficult to get a permit necessarily, but I do feel that anyone who wants a handgun should have to apply for a permit, yes.

Well, we're making progress.

Now, with respect to the merits of a knife versus a handgun, I suggest you check with the experts.  Unless you really know what you're doing, you are going to get hurt in using a knife.  Also, the stronger, faster party in a knife fight has an advantage (not to mention things like 'reach').

Next, do you understand the difference between a 'right' and a 'priviledge?'  You are treating the right to self-defense as a priviledge.