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?

[Vertigo_One [Ops Mod]]

Perhaps, but as Abreo has pointed out in other threads, the vast majority of murders arn't pre-meditated, but more spur of the moment things. It is clear therefore, that if people don't have access to guns which they can reach for at the spur of the moment, people would be a lot safer.

[mikyle]

guns don't kill people people kill people and if you talk the gun they well just kill with something else

[Übereil]

They'll have a much harder time doing so though.

[Alix Laya]

It's not that hard to get a hunting license.  We had an optional hunter safety class in seventh grade.  (I didn't take it.)  My sister has had a gun since first grade.  So would you make it harder to be able to hunt?  That would be culturally disastrous to some areas.  If you didn't, though, how exactly would you regulate gun control?

[Gene Rock]

"Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest." -- Mahatma Gandhi

Im American and i support all Americans to own guns.
I very much dis-like hand guns tho
they killed lincoln and are not used openly in modern militia combat.

it was said by our founding fathers that if ever we lose are freedoms the we must start anew by taking out the old. with-out guns we have very little chance of ever doing that.

[Maffew]

Think there should be the same kind of test you take to get your drivers licsence: Capability, written test, physical test, and if youve got a serious rap sheet, you cant get one. And the minimun for illegal gun use should be 15 years in prison.

[Gene Rock]

agreed. but only for usable guns. old collectable gun should not be even thought about by the government.

"And the minimun for illegal gun use should be 15 years in prison." They should just shoot them in the leg with the illegal gun their carrying.(same with drugs make them take all their carrying.)

[Kirsten]

I have to say you are a sick and twisted individual to think that violent and murderous punishments such as you mention are appropriate for entirely victimless "crimes" that harm nobody.

[Kirsten]

So if a person illegally has a gun in his house and uses it to save the life of a family member whose life is threatened by an illegal intruder, the hero should go to prison for 15 years without a second thought? A disabled person who defends himself successfully from a life-threatening attack should also go to prison for 15 years minimum simply because he owned and used a firearm in a location where said firearm is not legally permitted? A woman who successfully defends herself from an abuser by brandishing but never firing said weapon and thereby deterring the abuser from carrying out his intentions should go to jail for 15 years minimum simply for peacefully showing a firearm in a location where this firearm is not legally permitted?

Thank you for so beautifully illustrating the foolishness of mandatory minimum sentences.

[Whatsername]

I support the right to own a gun. I think there should be a process of some sort to try and determine whether you deserve a gun(This may exist already, i don't really know). I'm not really a fan of gun fanaticism like the NRA, though that is primarily due to my pacifist stance.

Even if you don't like guns, if you say you don't support the right for someone to own one, you can't say you support rights in general. Which many people who dislike the right to arms do. Not all, but many. If you support one constitutional right, you should support them all.

[Chip, A Former Ningmaster]

So if there was a constitutional amendment to say gay marriage is illegal, I should support that one as much as I support free speech for the sole reason that it is in the constitution?

I'm not getting into the gun debate, but not all rights are created equal.

[Whatsername]

That isn't technically a right, it's an amendment revoking rights. Any "right" that within it's creation or existence revokes or cancels other rights is not a right.


After some research I discovered something along these lines exists. It's not an amendment, but it does exist
"In 1996, President Clinton signed the Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage to be a "legal union between one man and one woman." Many other political leaders, Republicans and Democrats alike, have aligned themselves with both Presidents Bush and Clinton."

And by saying marriage is between one man and woman they are revoking 1,042 rights from same sex couples.