I've said many times - and I still firmly believe - that people's stance on firearms is almost completely dependent on the social role guns played in their upbringing and/or the ways in which guns have been used among the people they know.
Given your line of work, this is absolutely the position I would expect you to take, and it's not too far from my own. (I believe in supporting the legal access to guns as current law allows, because to not do so is often to sign on to some horrible stereotyping about race and class and Other Demographic Stuff. However, just because I think people have the legal right to have the things within the scope of current law, and I will oppose limitations on that right that prioritize the banning of cheap guns over the banning of expensive guns, doesn't mean I think gun ownership is a good idea outside of a small list of very specific situations
( ... )
There were no guns in my house growing up, although my brother did have a BB gun for awhile, so I'm sure that contributes somewhat to where I stand. As far as my job, I'm not sure how much that plays into it, because I was anti-gun long before I started working for the prisons.
This is one of the reasons I'm thankful Australia has anti-gun laws now. Guns scare me, and damn, even going in to countries where the security guards carry massive guns (The Philippines is a good example of this) is scary enough.
I deal with the after effects of guns all the time. And I believe every American has the right to choose whether or not to own one.
I believe the laws should be tougher to get a firearm and the background checks more thorough. This could slow down crimes of passions and mentally ill people obtaining weapons.
But criminals aren't going to be deterred by outlawing guns, they are going to have them. I think the laws need to change if you commit a crime with a gun you face a life imprisonment with no parole.
I own a gun. I have a permit to carry. I took the course and target test to get it. I haven't killed anyone...yet. But if I am driving home at 3 a.m. and someone comes at me, I will use it. And I belong to the NRA.
Yes. Back to everyone has the right to choose. But you wrote your side very convincingly. If I was sitting on the fence yours is strong enough to influence me.
Why keep around implements that serve no purpose but to kill?
There is something really wrong in a country when a mentally ill man can shoot a congresswoman in the face, and gun control legislation is stopped before it can reach the floor of the House of Representatives.
Thanks once again for breaking down a difficult topic like this.
I didn't want to start a political discussion here, as this is a subject near and dear to my heart which I tend to wax eloquent over. :)
But I did want to mention one common sense answer to that question - what the guy did was already illegal. He is being charged under those existing laws. In fact, the rally was in a "Gun Free School Zone", where gun possession is illegal. It really underscores what affect legislation has on psychopaths: namely, none at all. MORE legislation wouldn't have changed this outcome.
Despite high-profile incidents like this, violent crime is actually going down in the US, and has been for years.
Anyway, I'll leave it there, so that I'm not journal hijacking. :) Not trying to step on toes in someone else's house, as it were.
I was married to a right winger and we often fought over guns and hunting...as in, would we one day own a gun for "safety" (I said no way in Hell do I want a gun in my house for the same reasons you listed) and rather or not our future son would hunt (again, heck no because of the gun thing again AND the idea of killing for fun versus killing for food debate). So I certainly agree with a lot of your points here and won't be making an argument against it.
The only thing is, criminals will still find a way to get them, legal or not I'm afraid :( just like illegal drugs and whatnot...I fear that making laws against them won't change that.
My ex used to argue that other instruments, like knives, are also deadly...but they have other uses other than purely to kill, while that's the only reason a gun exists. Plus, I'm not sure gang members would be as successful at drive by knifings ;)
Comments 26
Given your line of work, this is absolutely the position I would expect you to take, and it's not too far from my own. (I believe in supporting the legal access to guns as current law allows, because to not do so is often to sign on to some horrible stereotyping about race and class and Other Demographic Stuff. However, just because I think people have the legal right to have the things within the scope of current law, and I will oppose limitations on that right that prioritize the banning of cheap guns over the banning of expensive guns, doesn't mean I think gun ownership is a good idea outside of a small list of very specific situations ( ... )
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
I believe the laws should be tougher to get a firearm and the background checks more thorough. This could slow down crimes of passions and mentally ill people obtaining weapons.
But criminals aren't going to be deterred by outlawing guns, they are going to have them. I think the laws need to change if you commit a crime with a gun you face a life imprisonment with no parole.
I own a gun. I have a permit to carry. I took the course and target test to get it. I haven't killed anyone...yet. But if I am driving home at 3 a.m. and someone comes at me, I will use it. And I belong to the NRA.
Reply
Reply
Reply
Reply
Why keep around implements that serve no purpose but to kill?
There is something really wrong in a country when a mentally ill man can shoot a congresswoman in the face, and gun control legislation is stopped before it can reach the floor of the House of Representatives.
Thanks once again for breaking down a difficult topic like this.
Reply
Reply
But I did want to mention one common sense answer to that question - what the guy did was already illegal. He is being charged under those existing laws. In fact, the rally was in a "Gun Free School Zone", where gun possession is illegal. It really underscores what affect legislation has on psychopaths: namely, none at all. MORE legislation wouldn't have changed this outcome.
Despite high-profile incidents like this, violent crime is actually going down in the US, and has been for years.
Anyway, I'll leave it there, so that I'm not journal hijacking. :) Not trying to step on toes in someone else's house, as it were.
Reply
Reply
The only thing is, criminals will still find a way to get them, legal or not I'm afraid :( just like illegal drugs and whatnot...I fear that making laws against them won't change that.
Reply
Reply
My ex used to argue that other instruments, like knives, are also deadly...but they have other uses other than purely to kill, while that's the only reason a gun exists. Plus, I'm not sure gang members would be as successful at drive by knifings ;)
Reply
Leave a comment