Stephen King on US gun contols.

[Armistead]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

We already know where I stand on the issue, so I feel no guilt about taking a different stance on this statement. The anti-gun people do have a point that can't be denied. While most guns are never used in that way, it really can't be denied that the sole purpose for the existence of a gun is to kill. Target shooting is for practice killing. The purpose of hunting is to kill, whether for food or for sport. Skeet shooting was created to practice bird hunting. Yes, guns are made for killing and nothing else.

On the other hand I find this a good thing.

I agree with the point, guns are made to kill, except guns don't kill people, no more than knives, arrows, baseball bats, etc.. 99% of people don't buy guns to kill, the legal purpose of guns is defense, sporting and hunting, the illegal purpose is murder.

Like stupid Pierce Morgan stating the fact that certain nations suicide rates went down when guns were outlawed, but someone nicely pointed out that why gun suicides went down, suicides didn't, people just turned to other means of death.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Armistead

I agree with the point, guns are made to kill, except guns don't kill people, no more than knives, arrows, baseball bats, etc.. 99% of people don't buy guns to kill, the legal purpose of guns is defense, sporting and hunting, the illegal purpose is murder.

I agree, but the two of your "legal purposes" involve killing, or at the very least maiming. As for the "99%", anyone who buys a gun to hunt intends to use it for killing, just no humans. Anyone who buys a gun for defense does indeed realize he might end up using it to kill, though we all hope we won't have to.

I've never shot anybody with any gun I've owned, and as far as I know neither have any of my friends. One friend said the sound of his .45's slide racking as he came up the stairs scared off a burglar on two different occasions, but that if it hadn't he would cheerfully have shot them. Another friend lives in the valley over from us, on a couple acres of horse property. He and his wife each have their own shotguns and handguns, mainly for what he calls "Kitty problems". They get occasional visits from mountain lions. So yes, they call it defense, but if it comes to that it will involve killing, which is why they bought the guns.

What I'm saying is that rather than deny the banners' cry of "Guns are only made for killing!", embrace it. If you live in a place where big cats, bears or bad people can kill you and yours, having a device designed to kill is not a bad thing.

[MH]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

What I'm saying is that rather than deny the banners' cry of "Guns are only made for killing!", embrace it. If you live in a place where big cats, bears or bad people can kill you and yours, having a device designed to kill is not a bad thing.

The thing is that anyone can own a gun regardless of circumstances and with minimal check.
The right to self defence and gun ownership is very nice on philosophical level but in practice it also bring a lot of problems.
I personally believe that for most it is the matter of owning the toys while the issue of the second amendment and freedom is just nice excuse.
(sort of know what is going on in heads of people who like guns )

Driving cars comes with injuries and death .. same is with guns .
Question is if this is good enough reason for you to continue like this.......
Question is if it helps at the end of the day when every criminal knows that every citizen might be amened...does it help to fight the crime or makes them more violent.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by MH

The thing is that anyone can own a gun regardless of circumstances and with minimal check.

And?

The right to self defence and gun ownership is very nice on philosophical level but in practice it also bring a lot of problems.

Yes it does. So does any other right. Should we get rid of them all just because they cause problems?

I personally believe that for most it is the matter of owning the toys while the issue of the second amandment and freedom is just nice excuse.
(sort of know what is going on in heads of people who like guns )

You are certainly free to believe what you want. Now ask yourself the other question. How many members here who claim to own guns also claim to have ever shot anybody? Do you honestly believe I should be deprived of the only form of home defense I can use anymore because you see problems elsewhere? Yes, there is a problem. It's not caused by the gun, or by 99% of the gun owners.

[MH]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

You are certainly free to believe what you want. Now ask yourself the other question. How many members here who claim to own guns also claim to have ever shot anybody? Do you honestly believe I should be deprived of the only form of home defense I can use anymore because you see problems elsewhere? Yes, there is a problem. It's not caused by the gun, or by 99% of the gun owners.

The issue is not with people who had not shot someone.
Issue is about the people who did and why they did.
Many of them got their guns legally.I think the most crazy killers did.

You can defend your right to have fun with assault rifles and accept the damage off course.....because that what it is mostly all about.
The matter of personal freedom is also worthy but just maybe it would be reasonable thing to give in a little bit on this issue.

Im not into bashing anyone or anything here.
It is all matter of perspective.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by MH

The issue is not with people who had not shot someone.
Issue is about the people who did and why they did.
Many of them got their guns legally.I think the most crazy killers did.

Possibly, and certainly worth looking into.

You can defend your right to have fun with assault rifles and accept the damage off course.....because that what it is mostly all about.
The matter of personal freedom is also worthy but just maybe it would be reasonable thing to give in a little bit on this issue.

Maybe. It certainly needs more honest discussion, and less rabidness from both sides. The biggest honest question from the gun side is whether it would actually do any good. The Australian and Canadian contingent will say yes, it definitely works. The Americans will say the situations are different. I'll say "I don't know". My only worry is that if it doesn't how long do we wait before changing our minds, if that's possible at all.

The other worry is that if it does work the next step will be to try to ban other guns. Or, as a friend of mine once said, "I'll give up my guns when you can absolutely 100% guarantee that you can take away all the bad guys' guns.

Im not into bashing anyone or anything here.
It is all matter of perspective.

I agree, and it needs more discussion. What it doesn't need is more vitriol and the old "I'm right and you're stupid" attitude.