Gun Control

[Mustachio]

The whole world's talking about it... figured we might as well be also.


Thoughts.

[bing!]

A mind intent on committing an atrocity will not be deterred by any means, including gun control (case in point, Anders Breivik).

[ziggy]

When I was younger I was very anti-gun. as I've become older, as far as guns are are concerned I've moved slightly more towards the middle of the pack.

I don't know what the solution is, but as a society of intelligent people there has to be some viable solution to prevent events like this from occurring that doesn't involve the extremes of either:

- Taking all guns from the American populace
- or having every single adult walk around armed 24/7

[SWedd523]

As someone who carries a gun daily, and is fully submersed in my constitutional right to keep and bear arms, I'm a bit biased.

But without retyping, click through this RGM thread and you'll see my position on the topic: http://forums.realgm.com/boards/view...?f=6&t=1220084


Any specific questions, I'd be glad to discuss with (and within) reason

[Chef]

my least favorite thing to hear/read is when someone says "please tell me who uses a semi-automatic rifle to hunt".

first, in this particular incident, the rifle was found in the car, not used to murder the children inside the school.

second, in no way is the second amendment about hunting or even defending yourself against other citizens.

this attack happened in a state with some of the more restrictive gun control laws in the nation. bing said it best.

[SWedd523]

To be fair, if I'm going hunting it's going to be with a bolt action. Probably a Remington 700 in the .30 caliber family. But tons of people use semi-autos to hunt, Not just those evil looking ARs, but more traditional looking ones as well

[Chef]

To be fair, if I'm going hunting it's going to be with a bolt action. Probably a Remington 700 in the .30 caliber family. But tons of people use semi-autos to hunt, Not just those evil looking ARs, but more traditional looking ones as well

my point was that the second amendment (our right to bear arms not being infringed) does not specify hunting. when gun control folks say that it shows their ignorance of the issue. as if the argument is, "any gun that is not used for hunting or is over-kill for hunting should be unavailable to the citizens and it does not violate the 2nd amendment". i own 2 guns. i don't hunt. they are for killing anybody that threatens my family or myself by illegally entering my house.

i don't know how you were able to post on the realgm thread. i can't argue/debate that issue because opponents don't start on logical ground. what part of "infringe" do people not understand. the common argument is the founders never imagined ar's etc. bullshit. there were cannons when they wrote the constitution. you could blow up and entire school with a cannon. it doesn't say "small arms" "for hunting" or anything of the like. it doesn't exclude cannons. the reason for the 2nd amendment is for the citizens to reject a tyrannical government. period.

if you don't like it and want to change it, there are clear rules on how to do it. it is called a constitutional amendment. it is extremely difficult to do, for a reason.

the common argument against you in that thread was something to the effect of "making it harder to obtain one, limiting ammo, preventing mentally unstable from getting them, requiring yearly checkups etc" the last two are absolutely a violation of your right to privacy. the first ones, although sounding good, effectively prevent people from obtaining weapons. this kid had some form of autism. imagine if that was a condition that prevented you from owning a gun. everyday the medical world "discovers" a new form of autism. how easy would it be to get the majority of the population diagnosed with some form of autism? after a car accident you could easily be diagnosed PTSD, does that mean you have to give up your right to own guns? see how this stuff gets applied?

[Keetch]

Resolved then; there is absolutely nothing that can be done to protect our children from gun-wielding psychos walking into schools and firing away - other than assigning fire arms to teachers I guess. I'm down with that.

I can recall a few of my HS teachers who were likely unstable enough that they might have taken out some of the more violently insane students in my class.

[SWedd523]

Resolved then; there is absolutely nothing that can be done to protect our children from gun-wielding psychos walking into schools and firing away - other than assigning fire arms to teachers I guess. I'm down with that.

Only if they're otherwise legally qualified. I don't want a Glock issued to every teacher as part of signing a contact, but I can see the benefits as long as they're trained, proficient, and knowledgeable. Parents trust schools with the safety of their children for upwards of 8 hours every day. Sick criminals see those gun free zones as easy prey.

[Keetch]

Though it might be somewhat simpler to just add security guards specifically trained to spot and take down young adult males in black trench coats. That would probably help.