Guns and Gun Rights

[Bill]

After some very contrasting opinions came up over guns in the recent Conservatism thread, I thought the subject could stand its own discussion. So, what do you think of guns in society, and where do you stand on gun control?

I live in the United States, where the right to own a gun is protected by the constitution. I'm from New York, and here very few private citizens own or carry guns. However, I do support the 2nd amendment and consider it among our most important constitutional rights. What do you think?

[Latch33570]

You say you are safer but those few who have to live in bad neighborhoods ARE NOT safer. Only the lucky few who don't live in a dangerous neighborhood. Have you ever been in a gang fight just because of your skin color? I have. I tell you if we had a gun  we would have been safer. 

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

How can it be a lucky few that are safe if our gun crime rates OVERALL are much lower? And that's per 1000 people.

[Latch33570]

OK I should have said the lucky ones that live in better neighborhoods. I am certainly glad I live in the states cause if I lived there and lived in a bad neighboehood I would buy one illegally just to be safer

[Kenny]

Because crime doesn't need to involve a gun to be dangerous to the victims. 

[Abreo]

I don't really have a side in this argument but do you know for a fact that gun-related violence is lower in the UK than it is in the US because of the difference in gun-laws?

[Latch33570]

Gun rights advocates here in the states have a saying "Its better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6."

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

With more guns, you are more likly to be carried by six. It's a recipie for more danger.

Do you not see how fear & guns make a neighbourhood worse. Follow the logic

New person enters neighbourhood, feel's a little bad, gets gun to defend themselves

New person two enters neighbourhood, knows people have gun, place must be bad, gets gun to defend self

New person three enters neighbourhood, knows at least two people have gun, place must be bad, gets gun...

If people keep getting guns to defend themselves because they think somewhere is bad, everyone will have a gun and the neighbourhood overall will be worse.

[CD]

Agreed.

Also I seem to remember there was a time when English bobbies didn't carry guns. Sure, people got beat up by rough cops, but less people were killed.

So it's also the case that some people want guns because cops have them too. And when one country gets a nuke, everyone else wants them too....

[Latch33570]

So it comes down to opinion. As I see it. You think that it is better if someone lives in a bad neighborhood where they are not safe to just suck it up and be unsafe. Whereas I believe that an individual has the right to defend themselves with a gun if needed. If I had to I would aquire one illegally to be safer.

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

No, I think its better for the bad neighborhood to be made better, namely by keeping everyone from carrying guns.

[Latch33570]

Except for the person that IS unsafe.

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

No, everyone. You criminalise the guns to stop people getting them. It won't be 100% effective all the time, but it will be much better than if anyone can have them. See as evidence, the UK