I feel like arguing, so... :)

[nightwind69]

Time to air a probably-unpopular opinion. In the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings (and my prayers go out to anyone at all involved in that whole horrible situation), you just KNOW what's going to happen next: People will start yelling about outlawing guns again in order to prevent something like this from ever happening again, just like they did

Comments

[twilightsocks]

Absolutely agreed.

re:

[silverrose14]

You are correct and I agree.

[rusti_knight]

Not to mention that the second amendment of the constitution in the bill of rights gives me the right to bear arms. I'm so totally not keen on people fucking with the Bill of Rights; those amendments are very important to me, and if they take those away, we're all screwed.

I think that if criminals walked around thinking that that ordinary schmoe heading down the street was packing heat, they'd be a lot less inclined to mug them. I think the problem is that it's ridiculously difficult for the average law abiding citizen to carry a loaded weapon, and criminals know that.

I'm with you. I don't think outlawing guns is going to get anybody anywhere, because it's not going to stop the ones who don't care about breaking the law in the first place.

[dragoness_e]

That depends on the state, you know. States with "right to carry" laws have a lot of ordinary citizens packing concealed heat, and criminals are shy of going after locals. Florida is one example: carjackers went after tourists a few years back because they knew tourists in shiny rental cars fresh from the airport didn't have concealed weapons. The locals often did.

When I first moved to my present state, about 14-15 years ago, used to be some dork tried to hold up a pawnshop every other week. And got shot by the pawnshop owner. They stopped doing that after a while.

Career criminals, unlike amok nutjobs, have a healthy regard for their own skins. If they know people carry concealed firearms, they switch to property crimes like stealing parked cars or burglarizing empty houses.

[rusti_knight]

I think I'd rather lose things than someone I cared about. Property crimes are stupid, but no one is beat up or held at gunpoint. You can replace things (but heaven help the thief I catch in my house, screw the dog, beware the owner!).

At least in those states where people are carrying, they're not attacking them. But according to your post, I rest my case. They won't come after you if you're packing, and they know it.

[rusti_knight]

I should've added, I live in Illinois. If I recall correctly, we're not allowed to carry concealed, and if we have a weapon in the car, the ammo and the gun have to be separated. It may have since changed, but that's how I remember it.

*facepalm*

[tyrrlin]

Not unpopular...just well thought out and not reactionary.

We had a similar discussion at work today during lunch, and I'm in the Army.

[beckyh2112]

Thank you for saying this. *hugs*