Guns

[JacobHall86]

It was stated in another thread that "Guns are Immoral" but not explained why or given reason. Discuss your thoughts, the discussion also includes Gun Control and your thoughts of how far it should extend if at all.

 

[Blackguard_]

It was stated in another thread that "Guns are Immoral" but not explained why or given reason.

Probably something to do with them only being for killing, with an accompanying attitude of killing always being wrong.
And/Or the idea you should not resist a criminal andjust give them what they want.


But my opinion on guns us "the more the merrier".

We could use some Idiot Control though.

 

[Sketcher]

Guns are about as immoral as knives, ballpeen hammers, and baseball bats. They can be used for good or ill in the hands of people.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

Just because it can be used as a weapon does not mean it's bad and should be taken away from people. I could also choke someone to death with my bare hands or kick someone in the head or stomach til they died, should they be detatched from my body and taken away? I hate to sound cliche but guns don't kill people, people kill people.

 

[intricatic]

Gun control as a means to stop violence is about as smart as putting every dog to sleep because someone might hatch a plot of world domination by infecting every dog with a mind control substance that would transmit to anyone who came in contact with them.

OR

Gun control is about as smart as banning every book ever written out of fear that people might use them to knock some guy out at a convenient store in a half-baked attempt to rob the register.

 

[moerunamida]

In America, we have the right to bear arms. The day Washington decides we don't, I know quite a few people that will march them down. I will be one of them.

As I said in another thread, hunting (guns) is needed, because there are too many deer where I live. They eat thousands of pounds of our crops, and they cause many deadly collisions. The more of them that are hunted the better. Guns are necessary, same as hunting.

 

[Manda_24]

I agree with basically everything that has been posted already. I'm all for owning guns, I own a few myself, whether they be for hunting, protection, or just for fun.
Guns are definitely needed to control animal populations, especially in my area. It's not unusual at times to see over 80 deer in one field, of course during deer season they all disappear but come back as soon as it over, crazy deer
I grew up around guns and I was taught to shoot when I was really young, both my dad and my grandpa are cops so it was basically a given that I learn about guns.
One thing that I really hate is when someone who has never shot a gun or been around them have such strong opinions about them. If they are somewhat educated on them but still don't like them I have more respect for that. One of my friends is that way, we were talking while driving back to school from my house and started talking about guns. I told him I had a few and enjoy shooting and he said he didn't really like them. I asked why and if he had ever shot one. He told me he had and explained why and I left the topic alone with him. Then I have other friends who have never shot a gun, I plan on taking them to my house sometime because they would like to try it at least once.

But my opinion on guns us "the more the merrier".

My thoughts exactly

We could use some Idiot Control though.

wow, just wow. Idiot control is definitely needed.

 

[Rhododendron]

Generally speaking, I don't like guns. The only reason why I like them is for protection. I would never own one, but I am glad that police have them to protect us.

I would only ever use a gun if an animal (a big one) or a person was attacking me.

I'm not sure I like the fact that any person can own a gun. But it's impossible to screen people to see who will use it properly, who won't, and who will shoot someone by accident. You can't tell. There are many out there who are dangerous, and will use guns to purposely kill people. They have a "right" to. (not to kill people, but to own a gun) Where do you draw the line? It has to be all or nothing. I'd rather no one owned one, but that's my personal opinion.

Sure you can say that our own body parts can kill people, but they are not MEANT for that purpose. Guns are meant for that purpose. Guns are more powerful and much more threatening than body parts. There is a huge difference. Especially if one is pointed at you. What will you do, strangle them? It is not a fair "fight". You cannot compare your body parts with a gun.

Think of all the possible scenarios that can happen. A person is in touble. They need to use the phone so they come to the nearest house, your house. You see a person walking on your property, and there's mixed messages, and you shoot them.

Or, you are told you will be home alone. Then your dad comes home at an odd time. You think it's a burglar, and you shoot him.

So many things can and do happen. That's why I believe they should only be used by the police/army for protection. Not for the common household. People panic and don't always do the right thing.

This is just my personal opinion, just as you all have yours.

 

[Rhododendron]

Just to add:

Guns are not toys. I don't agree with using them for fun. They are weapons.

 

[Sketcher]

Just to add:

Guns are not toys. I don't agree with using them for fun. They are weapons.

So I shouldn't enjoy target shooting or hunting?

I agree that you don't do Jackass stunts with guns, but that's hardly an argument against their existence.

 

[Prodical]

Generally speaking, I don't like guns. The only reason why I like them is for protection. I would never own one, but I am glad that police have them to protect us.

I would only ever use a gun if an animal (a big one) or a person was attacking me.

I'm not sure I like the fact that any person can own a gun. But it's impossible to screen people to see who will use it properly, who won't, and who will shoot someone by accident. You can't tell. There are many out there who are dangerous, and will use guns to purposely kill people. They have a "right" to. (not to kill people, but to own a gun) Where do you draw the line? It has to be all or nothing. I'd rather no one owned one, but that's my personal opinion.

Sure you can say that our own body parts can kill people, but they are not MEANT for that purpose. Guns are meant for that purpose. Guns are more powerful and much more threatening than body parts. There is a huge difference. Especially if one is pointed at you. What will you do, strangle them? It is not a fair "fight". You cannot compare your body parts with a gun.

Think of all the possible scenarios that can happen. A person is in touble. They need to use the phone so they come to the nearest house, your house. You see a person walking on your property, and there's mixed messages, and you shoot them.

Or, you are told you will be home alone. Then your dad comes home at an odd time. You think it's a burglar, and you shoot him.

So many things can and do happen. That's why I believe they should only be used by the police/army for protection. Not for the common household. People panic and don't always do the right thing.

This is just my personal opinion, just as you all have yours.

Not anyone can own a gun.
You have to go through a CBC (criminal background check) and in order to carry one in public LEGALLY you have to go through permit class, gov. fingerprinting, liscensing and some more things to possess a firearm.

And originally guns were meant soley to kill for food (hunting rifles) then the gun was crafted for small pesky animals which in turn gave the idea for self-defense weaponry.

 

[Rhododendron]

Not anyone can own a gun.
You have to go through a CBC (criminal background check) and in order to carry one in public LEGALLY you have to go through permit class, gov. fingerprinting, liscensing and some more things to possess a firearm.

And originally guns were meant soley to kill for food (hunting rifles) then the gun was crafted for small pesky animals which in turn gave the idea for self-defense weaponry.

It still doesn't draw the line for future crimes and tragedies to happen. Not everyone will use them for those purposes you listed. But thank you

 

[Blackguard_]

You have to go through a CBC (criminal background check) and in order to carry one in public LEGALLY you have to go through permit class, gov. fingerprinting, liscensing and some more things to possess a firearm.

Not in the great State of Arizona. Here, you can open carry without a permit. You don;t need any sort of license for the gun, just one to carry it concealed.

And originally guns were meant soley to kill for food (hunting rifles) then the gun was crafted for small pesky animals which in turn gave the idea for self-defense weaponry

Uhhh, no. Guns started out has cannons, then came the hand-cannon (a small cannon barrel on a staff), then someone had the bright idea of putting a barrel on a crossbow stock and the modern long-gun was born. Originally meant to shoot people.

 

[Weasel7711]

 

[Rhododendron]

So I shouldn't enjoy target shooting or hunting?

I agree that you don't do Jackass stunts with guns, but that's hardly an argument against their existence.

I don't think I need to defend why I think weapons are weapons and not toys. Especially if you're pro using them for fun. You are set in your ways about them being for fun, as I am set in mine that they are not toys. Neither of us will convince the other, and both see the arguement as a dead end.

 

[Weasel7711]

Not in the great State of Arizona. Here, you can open carry without a permit. You don;t need any sort of license for the gun, just one to carry it concealed.



Uhhh, no. Guns started out has cannons, then came the hand-cannon (a small cannon barrel on a staff), then someone had the bright idea of putting a barrel on a crossbow stock and the modern long-gun was born. Originally meant to shoot people.

I don't know, I think you have your history wrong. Things like the spear were originally invented to make houses out of lots of other spears. Then in approximately 3000BC the Egyptians decided to throw them at flies. One of the spears hit another person and they got the idea that you can kill people with them. Then came the arrow and bow which was originally used to try to shoot down the sun by early nomadic Saxon tribes. Later, using this magic of ballistics, the gun was invented by Irish leprechauns. Then one day, when Joseph Smith was walking in the woods, he discovered the modern AK-47 rifle, near the golden tablets. But since he buried them, no one could use the gun, so it was re-invented in the 40's.

 

[Blackguard_]

Sure you can say that our own body parts can kill people, but they are not MEANT for that purpose. Guns are meant for that purpose. Guns are more powerful and much more threatening than body parts. There is a huge difference. Especially if one is pointed at you. What will you do, strangle them? It is not a fair "fight". You cannot compare your body parts with a gun.

That's why people have them. my body is no match for many other bodies and especially groups of bodies. my gun is a match for any gun, person or group.

Think of all the possible scenarios that can happen

.
I can make up scenarios where guns are the Good Guys too.

Let's say the news story I linked to in the OP read " 2 men attempted to hijack a vehicle, one suspect was killed and the other fled when the passenger pulled a gun and fired 3 shots"

A person is in touble. They need to use the phone so they come to the nearest house, your house. You see a person walking on your property, and there's mixed messages, and you shoot them.

Around here, "someone walking on my property" is not jsut cause to shoot them, you need to be in fear of your life, difficult when they have not produced a weapon.

Or, you are told you will be home alone. Then your dad comes home at an odd time. You think it's a burglar, and you shoot him.

What if what you think is dad is actually a psychopath escaped from the looney bin? Or some copy-cat serial rapist/killer?

BUt seriously, this is why they stress knowong your target and not prowling around the hose when you think it's being roobed (in addition to that being dangerous even if you are being burgled)

So many things can and do happen.

Not all people are dangerously incompetent jackasses. Jackasses shouldn't have guns, how does this mean non-jackasses shouldn't?

That's why I believe they should only be used by the police/army for protection. Not for the common household.

Yeah, we mere commoners can't handle a firearm, not like the superhuman cops and infantry, who need all sorts of specialized training to learn a simple machine and 3 basic rules

Are you agaisnt commoners having the vote as well? If we can't be trusted with a gun, we sure as heck can't be trusted with a country.

People panic and don't always do the right thing.

People stay calm and do the right thing.

 

[Rhododendron]

That's why people have them. my body is no match for many other bodies and especially groups of bodies. my gun is a match for any gun, person or group.

.
I can make up scenarios where guns are the Good Guys too.

Let's say the news story I linked to in the OP read " 2 men attempted to hijack a vehicle, one suspect was killed and the other fled when the passenger pulled a gun and fired 3 shots"



Around here, "someone walking on my property" is not jsut cause to shoot them, you need to be in fear of your life, difficult when they have not produced a weapon.



What if what you think is dad is actually a psychopath escaped from the looney bin? Or some copy-cat serial rapist/killer?

BUt seriously, this is why they stress knowong your target and not prowling around the hose when you think it's being roobed (in addition to that being dangerous even if you are being burgled)


Not all people are dangerously incompetent jackasses. Jackasses shouldn't have guns, how does this mean non-jackasses shouldn't?


Yeah, we mere commoners can't handle a firearm.

Are you agaisnt commoners having the vote as well? If we can't be trusted with a gun, we sure as heck can't be trusted with a country.



People stay calm and do the right thing.

Not everyone can stay calm and do the right thing. No one means to shoot innocent people. How do you screen and not give guns to non "Jack...'s"? There is no way of telling. Just like you can't tell who will steal or not. Some places require everyone to leave their bags at the door. But I'm not a theif. It's all or nothing, right?

No, I'm not against commoners having to vote, I'm talking about guns. You can take anything and stretch it to suit your arguement. A country is a country. A gun is a gun. Lets stick to talking about guns. Not sure how that fit in.

 

[Manda_24]

Think of all the possible scenarios that can happen. A person is in touble. They need to use the phone so they come to the nearest house, your house. You see a person walking on your property, and there's mixed messages, and you shoot them.

Or, you are told you will be home alone. Then your dad comes home at an odd time. You think it's a burglar, and you shoot him.

So many things can and do happen. That's why I believe they should only be used by the police/army for protection. Not for the common household. People panic and don't always do the right thing.

This is just my personal opinion, just as you all have yours.

First I want to say that I'm not tearing your opinion apart, you're right, you are entitled to your own opinion just like we are.

The scenarios are a little extreme, most people aren't sitting in their room with a gun on their lap waiting for a stranger to break in. Strangers have come up to my door or have pulled into my driveway and I have never once gone to the door with a gun. The dog would bark if a strange car went slow down our road, he knows our neighbors and our cars and doesn't bark at them if we go slow. When someone pulls in the drive way as soon as they stop he's staring at them through the window.
Just because someone is on my property doesn't mean I'm going to shoot them, to even draw a gun on them there has to be a pretty significant reason, and even if you do have a gun it doesn't mean you are going to shoot, just them seeing the gun may be enough for them to change their mind if they were planning on doing anything to you.

Just to add:

Guns are not toys. I don't agree with using them for fun. They are weapons.

What I meant by using guns for fun is just target shooting. We go into my back yard and shoot targets or bricks down the path in the woods. Other times we'll go out on a dry day and shoot rocks in the field. It takes talent to group all your shots together or to hit the clay pigeons in the air. It's just a fun time for people to get together.

 

[simmeringabsolute]

I'm a big fan of guns and I got plenty of them. Guns are good. I'm very cautious about when I shoot and where. That said, I've known many people who are irresponsible with their guns. But that doesn't make guns any more intrinsically immoral than cars, knives, or alcohol. Gun control would be a not-so-humorous counterproductive fiasco and only give the government unearned and undeserved power.