Everyone on this forum seem focussed on the frequent occurrance of home-break-ins where the family gets shot up all the time. If you could convince me that this is even a minor problem, then ok - i could see a greater need for firearms ownership by the general populace.
Not at all (at least not me) I dont say that everyone should have a gun, neither do I say everyone should be able to have a gun. Nor do I think that home break-ins and defending the family are the primary reasons to own a gun (as in someone breaking into your home, not using it to break into someone elses). I think that people should be able to own a gun if they so choose, providing they meet the requirements (such as a “clean” criminal record, primarily no violent crimes), are legally sane, at least 18 years old, etc. Im not trying to make guns available at the corner store, Im just trying to keep them from only being available in the trunk of some guys car. And while defending the family is one of my main arguments, Its not the only reason (people familiar with guns make better soldiers, and like it or not, having a better military is always a good thing), people familiar with guns are less likely to cause an accidental death (their own or someone elses) because they understand how to use it safely, and among other things, frankly, guns are cool :wink: .
Yes TG, knives and cars and fireworks kill people.
I said that, not TG
Knives - the stabbings i’ve seen in the ER required very minor surgery. No one died, everyone walked away.
Im glad no one died, but they could have. A knife is not a great weapon, but when someone is threatening you with a knife, thats not a very comforting thought. Its easier to get a knife away from someone without suffering any injury, but Id say the majority of people would be too frightened for themselves, or loved ones to act on that knowledge.
The fact is, you have to be very aggressive, very close, and very determined in order to kill someone with a knife.
Not necessarily. The average criminal yes, but there are always those criminals who are trained to use a knife lethally, and those guys are badass. More commonly though, it is relatively more work to kill someone with a knife, but you dont have to kill them, often the presence of the knife threatens the victims into inaction, so even if they sustain no injury, their home is burglarized, or whatever else the crime may be occurs.
I think that the odd time you hear of someone dying of 20-odd stab wounds is because it was so difficult to damage someone seriously in the first throw (yes, it’s possible . . . ).
Again, even if they dont die, they are still stabbed, thats an injury that could have been prevented if they had a gun. If a criminal threatens you with a knife, and you have a gun, whose going to back down?\
At the same time you may be very passive, very far away, and simply pull a trigger in order to kill someone with a gun. If the bullet is anywhere around the abdomen or chest - immediate surgery, and much much higher chances of serious complications and death. And you don’t even have to work very hard to cause this much trouble. A child can do it to an adult very easily. Ridiculous.
I dont know about actual statistics, but I would think the majority of people who commit crimes with guns are not serious criminals, and arent very smart. They are petty thugs most likely, and are probably almost shitting themselves as they try to rob you (weve all seen the type in movies), again, this is speculation. these people also probably have an itchy trigger finger, and will be very jumpy, and likely a poor shot. If you have a gun, and any skill, you could put him down before he becomes a serious threat. serious criminals (badass guys that are good at what they do) probably are more likely to have a knife, because they can be just as effective with it, and its not a gun for legal purposes. you could put them down as well. as for those with guns, you could save yourself there too, but in that case, its probably best to let them do their business unless they directly threaten you.
On the same note, while they can kill you easier with a gun, same goes for you. You have a much better chance of immobilizing them with a gun than with a knife, bat, etc, or unarmed.
As far as cars killing people - true, and far too often. I am all for banning drunk-drivers, limiting alcoholics from driving, and a series of other moves designed to limit the carnage.
I agree with that as well, though I was just using it as an example, and if you want to continue that discussion, thats another thread.
Fireworks - well, i don’t think that people not trained in their use should be permitted to use them either, but firecrackers and 8 year olds go together like pie and ice cream.
Again, just an example showing how many things are dangerous.
As far as Switzerland and other countries go - it is inappropriate for American society to measure itself up against these.
and in my opinion, its innappropriate for a canadian to comment on, and try to dictate american policy and society.
To sum up, a gun is a dangerous weapon. Yes. So is a knife, so are some people, so is just about anything in the right hands, and used the right way. (My uncle could kill you easier with a knife than a gun, and he has plenty of em. luckily, hes not a criminal). I am not against taking efforts to lessen the violent use of guns, but fully disarming the public is not the way to go. IMO, if you take away a citizens right to bear arms (a Constitutional right) than I will take away your right to freedom of speech, or freedom from unlawful searches and seizures. It is along the same lines, and I personally have less problem with the right people owning guns than with the wrong people having the right to freedom of speech, or freedom from unlawful searches. And if you want to pursue that, please do so in another thread, because I will ignore it in this one.
