Your voice on guns

[Woodlouse2002]

But your Constitution was written in the 18th century under different circumstances (indians and so). Don't you think it's a tad..."outdated" ?

Not only that but the Firearms that the constitution had in mind are also out dated. I could not be more positive that if Herr Maxim had invented his weapon in time for the war of independence then the bit in the constitution about the right to bare arms would not have been written in. Now, if you want my opinion, if you want to keep your right to bare arms then allow only the weapons in mind when it was written. It would solve the gun problem in one go! Imagine a drive by shooting with a flint-lock musket! And anyother shooters would be arrested before they'd fired off their second shot. A brilliant idea in my mind!

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]

[Scottler]

"A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed."

This can be interpreted any number of ways.  I personally view it as saying that a military force has the right to bear arms, but not private America.

That said, I disagree with this philosophy, as anything, when in untrained hands, can become a deadly weapon.  I think that if I want to own a gun, I should be held responsible for ANYTHING that occurs as a result of having said firearm.  I also think there should be a limit on what I may own.  I don't need a howitzer in the back yard to defend myself.

[Woodlouse2002]

[quote]"

[Scorpiоn]

Some people use guns to sustain life, some use it to end life, and some (such as me) use it for leisure.  With no other activity have I been able to concentrate and reach a state of... nirvana, I suppose, than while shooting.  I honestly don't care what happens with guns in the near future, as it will most likely affect people with assault rifles, scopes etc.  As long as I have my open sight Remington 30-.06 and semi automatic side arm and a big bulls-eye, I'm a happy bunny.

If one person really wants to kill another, they'll do it. You could probably kill someone with a dog bowl if you really wanted to.  Knives, baseball bats, cars, nail guns, hands and molotov cocktails can kill people.  All guns really do is increase crimes of passion.

[ozzy72]

Felix I might be able to get you a nice deal on a Lee-Enfield

[Hagar]

All guns really do is increase crimes of passion.

You might like to tell that to this boy's parents. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,3604,1312388,00.html
While you're about it tell the parents of the 13 year-old boy who was killed in a similar incident the previous week. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/devon/3649160.stm

I've heard all the same old arguments for & against private gun ownership for longer than I care to remember. These arguments will still be going on long after I depart this mortal coil, not I hope from gunshot wounds although this seems more likely now than in my whole lifetime. I won't pretend that I like guns but I know that whatever I or anyone else says won't change a single person's opinion on this subject.

[Politically Incorrect]

You all knew I had something too say about this didn't you

I firmly belive it is my right to own guns, and I feel it is my right to use one to protect myself, my family etc.
I do however like the ideas mentioned about training and periodic training to obtain a liscense. I can't see nothing wrong with that at all, but the problem is the criminals will still have them and will be able to get them without the training, so in a sense it will be pointless. After all we already have laws that make drugs illegal but are they gone? NO.
Like stated by others there are many debates and opinions on the subject and I don't see anyone being wrong.
I personaly own a few firearms, but do not hunt, I like target shooting and I keep one loaded in the home at all times just in case, of course there are no children around.
Accidents happen with children are the fault of careless parents, no other excuse and all the gun laws in the world won't prevent them from happening it is the responsibility of the gun owner to make sure that saftey is always the number one concern.

I'm already sick and tired of having my rights taken from me and there is no end too it, so even if they outlaw firearms they will have to take mine from my cold dead hands! Because that is what it'll take a cop too shoot me dead before I freely hand over another of my rights!

see I kept it pretty calm now didn't I

[Tequila Sunrise]

Dunblane and Columbine, nuff said.

I can appreciate what people have said about hunting for food, however all it takes is one nut and one gun and this can and no doubt will happen again.

So would it be prudent to throw out the Queen

God willing. The Brittish royal family are leaches on the UK and have had no practical use whatsoever for longer than I care to think about.

[Woodlouse2002]

I know that being scottish you don't much care for the royals but I feel that they help keep a sense of national identity. I know that the government is desperately trying to take it away from us but I think that as long as we have a royal family then England will remain England. I know they don't provide any real useful role but they are part of our heritage and personally I would like to see them stay.

Besides, we kicked them out for 10 years or so in the 17th century and ended up inviting them back again. We can hardly go kicking them out again.

[Blackbird971]

You can pry my guns from my cold dead fingers, provided I somehow don't kill you first.

I cannot wait to go back to school this winnter becuse the place where I go tends to very open to gun ownership, especialy in the "hi rate of fire" weapons and I almost have enought for an AR-180.

But your Constitution was written in the 18th century under different circumstances (indians and so). Don't you think it's a tad..."outdated" ?

Don't you think socialism is outdated as well?

[farmerdave]

I think guns should be legal, althuogh I think there shuold be tests, etc. before you can own one. As for banning guns, this would only prevent your average law-abiding citizen from purchasing them, because if someone wants to commit a murder, do you seriously think that they won't do it because their gun is illegal?

[Travis]

I know that being scottish you don't much care for the royals but I feel that they help keep a sense of national identity. I know that the government is desperately trying to take it away from us but I think that as long as we have a royal family then England will remain England. I know they don't provide any real useful role but they are part of our heritage and personally I would like to see them stay.

Besides, we kicked them out for 10 years or so in the 17th century and ended up inviting them back again. We can hardly go kicking them out again.

Replace "England" with "US" and "royal family, et al" with "guns" and you have one of my major points.

[BFMF]

You can ban, or create all the gun laws you want, but it will only keep the honest people honest, and the criminals will still use guns

[Bazza]

The rights and wrongs of this subject simply revolve around this question  -  "which part of the world do you live in?"

My views on firearms are based on 31 years as a serving front-line Police Officer, but in a country where there are strict rules on the ownership and the carriage of weapons.  No-one here carries "self-defense" weapons and semi-auto assault type gear is restricted to bona-fide collectors (who really have to work hard to get their classification.)

All firearms owners must be registered after testing and Police vetting.    First time owners are required to sit exams under certified testers.    There are problems with this system like all others but compared to the alternatives...?

All firearms must be kept in serious security which is officially checked before licenses are issued.

When we constantly see and hear of the shambles, and death statistics, stemming from liberal gun laws in other parts of the "civilised" world we can only shake our heads and wonder.