[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by Platapus

Specifically,the purpose of a gun is to propel a bullet down range in an accurate and controlled manner.

I would opine that, in a civilian context, the vast majority of guns are aimed at innocent pieces of paper if they are fired at all.

And why are the guns aimed at that paper?

I practice Shodokan Aikido, holding a 2nd dan. While the practice has numerous physical and mental benefits, the art remains a form of unarmed combat. Specifically, the school was formed as a reaction against the impracticality of traditional Aikido in defending oneself. That I do not walk down the street hip throwing people does not alter the fact that Aikido is a combative art; designed to incapacitate an opponent.

But such arguments are rather silly. Objects are not good or evil. A gun has no concept of.. well .. anything.

That's not what was said. What was said is that the application of the gun was not violent in nature.

As with most (all?) criminal issues, the problem is not an object, but the person.

The first step in problem solving is to properly identify the problem.

I fear that some people have a solution already selected and are trying to make a problem fit that solution.

So, in other words, you want the gun to protect yourself from that criminal.

Originally Posted by August

Olympic events, target shooting and collecting to name three.

I did not know that you were an Olympic shooter. Also, as I asked Platapus, why are you shooting at the target? The end application is self defense, otherwise you would not be so passionate about it.