Gun Control thread (merged many)

Originally Posted by Neal Stevens

Then again, I've owned guns for 40 years and haven't killed anyone.

I hope you didn't!
There is no problem in owning guns at all, if the laws in my country would be a tiddy tad more lax, I'd probably be on the range now and then, for now it is too much a pain in the bum to do shooting over here.
However, I think there should be limits to who owns them and how easily they are distributed/obtained though. Why would that hurt? Why are so many people reacting sensitive to stricter gun laws, if they actually have nothing to fear?
As we can see in other countries, that helps a lot bringing the numbers of gun related victims down. Not sure why this is a bad thing...

[Oberon]

Gun control is heresy, heresy is punishable by death, keep moving citizen.

[Onkel Neal]

Originally Posted by Nippelspanner

I hope you didn't!
There is no problem in owning guns at all, if the laws in my country would be a tiddy tad more lax, I'd probably be on the range now and then, for now it is too much a pain in the bum to do shooting over here.
However, I think there should be limits to who owns them and how easily they are distributed/obtained though. Why would that hurt? Why are so many people reacting sensitive to stricter gun laws, if they actually have nothing to fear?
As we can see in other countries, that helps a lot bringing the numbers of gun related victims down. Not sure why this is a bad thing...

I won't argue with stricter background checks. As long as you will go along with my proposal: stricter, longer mandatory sentencing when someone commits a crime with a gun, assault (with or without a gun), robbery, burglary, battery, arson, DWI, domestic violence, and rape, to name a few. If you can agree to 20 years minimum, no parole, I would be happy to go along with stricter limits and checks.

Originally Posted by Armistead

Last night went to the corner store late to get coffee. Came out, sat in car and saw a man take a pistol from his waistline, just sort of walking. Heard guys yell at him from a SUV parked to my left and he walked over showing it to them, then back to his car, shoved it down into his sagging pants, then back, walked near the store with it back in his hand, turned around and walked to his buds. I love the old man that works in there, thought they may gonna rob him. I have a AR in my extended cab, but didn't bring my phone. I did get it, stepped out when his back was turned and drew down on him. He was probably 20ish. I did say I was police for effect. He did turn when I yelled, but followed commands and I was being very very forceful. I was more worried about a car load of friends, but had cover. Anyway, police were called, turned out to be a damn pellet pistol, although very real like. However, the SUV had a few guns in it and I think most had warrants.

Not sure it was so smart of me or not. Anyway, a detective supposed to come talk to me today, hopefully I won't have to get further involved as I don't need my name out.

That happened last night? Whew, well, you may get some heat from the law for impersonating a cop. I think I would have called the police and waited and watched. My training is pretty clear, citizens should not attempt to use their concealed carry weapons unless their safety or property is in jeopardy. Pretty brave of you, none the less.

[August]

Originally Posted by Nippelspanner

I think there should be limits to who owns them and how easily they are distributed/obtained

There are such limits already.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/blnoguns.htm

The Gun Control Act of 1968 prohibits certain people from possessing a firearm. The possession of any firearm by one of these "prohibited persons" is a felony offense. It is also a felony for any person, including a registered Federal Firearms Licensee to sell or otherwise transfer any firearm to a person knowing or having "reasonable cause" to believe that the person receiving the firearm is prohibited from firearm possession. There are nine categories of persons prohibited from possessing firearms under the Gun Control Act:

• Persons under indictment for, or convicted of, any crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding on year;
• Fugitives from justice;
• Persons who are unlawful users of, or addicted to, any controlled substance;
• Persons who have been declared by a court as mental defectives or have been committed to a mental institution;
• Illegal aliens, or aliens who were admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa;
• Persons who have been dishonorably discharged from the Armed Forces;
• Persons who have renounced their United States citizenship;
• Persons subject to certain types of restraining orders; and
• Persons who have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence.

With limited exceptions, persons under eighteen years of age are prohibited from possessing handguns.

[Onkel Neal]

Well, there you go. Problem solved, now on to stricter enforcement and incarceration of criminals and social misfits.