No, I don't support gun control. I do believe that anyone owning one should have a safety course on them before being allowed to purchase. I say this b/c I've known idiots that are very irresponsible with them.

However, I own a gun and wouldn't think twice about shooting someone if they entered my house in the attempts of hurting myself or family or stealing my shit.

I've had safety course training and even won a rifle contest once.

ditto. I also think there doesn't need to be an assault weapons ban.

*adjusts*

So, when we running away together? Not sure I can wait that long.

How about after the tomatoes come in?

MUAH!

I'm not in favor of gun control but do have an issue with certain rifles being for sale. Like being able to buy a 50cal sniper rifle. In terms of usefulness you might as well let people buy hand grenades.

Yeah, I'm kind of torn on things like automatic weapons. I'm not quite sure how I feel about those being legal.

it's not that I'd buy them, but to me, the purpose of the 2nd amendment was for the people. the Militia was to be regulated. Not the people.

American's are peacable, and need to be able to stand up AGAINST oppression.

anything less than unfettered access to arms means someone else can say, "I get the big ones, you get the small ones and will do as I say." that's not American.

we're all supposed to be equal.

If the militia needs to be prepared for war why not open a explosives shop near your house. Sell C4 and rocket launchers. We will need those too when the time comes. And tanks, fighter jets, heat seeking missiles, etc, etc.

When the second amendment was created we had ball muskets, pistols and cannons. Times have changed.

Tomorrow if we could have a gun that could destroy a building and everyone inside. Seems far fetched but no more so than what Adams would have thought about killing a man with a single shot 2 miles away.

they trusted each other to make good decisions then.

in the event a bad decision was made, the laws that they each agreed on by majority, took over.

have we decided that because one person has made a bad decision we should infringe on the rights of all when it comes to defending yourself?

and yes, I think Americans should be able to purchase C4 though fully loaded Stealth Bombers through M-1A's if they're not convicted felons.

When the amendment was written, it was to keep things equal.

God, I'm so glad I live in Canada. Far less gun violence per capita - and for good reason

Good! The government has atomic bombs too. I'm sure if we sold them no one would abuse the privilege.

LOL at needing a Stealth bomber to "defend yourself".

ahem, "fully loaded."

every single bit is right there.

"Anyone who would trade their freedom for safety deserves neither freedom or safety."

-Ben Franklin

"The Constitution shall never be construed to authorize congress to prevent the people of the United States, who are peaceable citizens .... from keeping their own arms."

- Samuel Adams

"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government -- lest it come to dominate our lives and interests."

-Patrick Henry

"How a politician stands on the Second Amendment tells you how he or she views you as an individual; as a trustworthy and productive citizen, or as part of an unruly crowd that needs to be lorded over, controlled, supervised, and taken care of."

- Dr. Suzanna Gratia Hupp


AND MY FAVORITE

"The Government that governs best ... governs least."

- Thomas Jefferson

"The laws that forbid the carrying of arms .... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants. They serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man."

- Thomas Jefferson

"Only an armed people can be truly free. Only an unarmed people can ever be enslaved."

- Aristotle

"No free man shall be debarred the use of arms."

- Thomas Jefferson

yup. they said it better than me.

I must say I think some of the things in this thread are ridiculous to the point of being loony.

Butter is quoting Aristotle? He died around 300bc, clever guy for sure but I really dont think he was talking about having M16's in people's houses.

But if you all feel better having guns to blow peoples heads off, and if you really would be prepared to kill a person over your Xbox, then fine.

But then I've had this convo at least three times on forums and it makes me fucking glad to live where i do. Actually, change that, it makes me fucking glad I dont live in America.

I think it's hilarious that England was trying to ban certain cutlery.

Asbo - I'm glad I live in the US. I love the fact that I can blow someone's head off if they enter my house trying to kill me. And I love the fact that we don't have a broke ass socialized healthcare system like England's.

Eliminating guns doesn't reduce crime, it has the opposite effect. It just changes the nature of the crime. I don't want to live in a country where all the criminals have them and I'm not allowed. The mistake your country has made is believing a bunch of propaganda that anyone who has a gun is a nutjob, hothead. Entirely not true.

As for your criticism of Aristotle's words, and the insinuation that it doesn't apply to today, tell this to all the individuals who don't have guns in Africa who live under oppressive regimes.