|
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | Saw this tonight.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-11-20-mall-shootings_x.htm...
Shop on ebay and buy your wife a guitar for Christmas. Or better yet Shop at Al's web site.
Seriously I hope all of our Left Coasters are OK.
Don't know what this guy was thinking. :confused:
A sad thing to start this holiday season. :( |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | another reason for me to hate malls |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by Gospel Guitar Guy:
Don't know what this guy was thinking. Mike, I don't believe 'thinking' was part of his plan. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | It hit a lot of people really hard around here. Not a lot you can do to prevent some people from just going off like a time bomb.
With all of the joy and happiness of the season comes a lot of pressure, depression and loneliness as well. I think the push to have "cheer" only amplifies the hurt and anger that a lot of people are going through. Whether it is drugs, mental illness, a lack of "control" or just screwed up direction there are many who are at or close to the edge of really bad decisions.
Just keep loving those around you and and reach out where you can. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | Scary stuff. I suspect the "mental illness" thing had a lot to do with the spree. Maybe someone should open up a flak jacket boutique. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Yet another example of the need for fewer gun laws (sic).
There will always be nutty people, but we need to do more to keep guns out of their hands. I cant wait to hear how this repeat offender who was ordered by a judge to not possess weapons got his gun. But the media never seems to tell us that information.
Here is my gun control plan; take all the money being spent for the war in Iraq and offer $3000 cash no-questions-asked for every stolen or illegal gun turned in to police who would then destroy it. It would be the best money this nation ever invested. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Interesting plan Brian. My guess is that bad guys would probably start breaking into unoccupied homes even more to look for guns to turn in. This would result in more homeowners shooting and killing the bad guys. I assume that this is your plan?
Criminals aren't going to turn in their guns. Heck, those are the tools of the trade. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | If a few criminals get shot by home-owners that helps improve the numbers. And I disagree about criminals not turning their guns in. Many criminals are stupid, self serving dope-heads, they are not exactly known for their mental prowess. Many of them would jump at $3000 for a illegal gun. If we could get even 30% or 40% of the illegal guns off of the streets that would be a big step in the right direction and hopefully there would be a porportional reduction in gun violence.
Also maybe if legal guns owners knew that all of the sudden their guns were worth $3000 to a crook, maybe they would do a better job of locking them up and keeping them secure. I think it's a brilliant plan. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Well, it's good in theory......
I think most gun owners do a pretty good job of being responsible.
As to your assesment of criminals, it's pretty accurate. But I would guess that most will keep their main gun and try to steal the ones to turn in for cash.
If memory serves this has been tried before with little or no success in reducing violent crime. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | As long as I can keep my AK-47 for, uh...oh yeah, deer hunting... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Hey Brian, now that you've played it for a while, how about a review of your Taylor T5? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | The cash for guns program has been tried and has been very successful, but it was legally challanged by the NRA, I guess the NRA supports the rights of even dope-head criminals and the mentally incompetent to bear arms. also the payout was a bit too low (something like $200-300). To really be effective they need to offer more money per gun.
As far as the T5 goes, I really like it. It really shines through a PA. I also played it with a bass and drums through a Fender Twin amp, it was nearly as good as any Les Paul I have played. It is very light and fast. One negative comment, I am not sure I like the shorter scale (24.5? I think). The shorter scale makes it a bit fussier with tuning, and it seems to lack some of the bass thump that a regular scale guitar has. But I bought it mainly for leads through a PA anyway, and it sounds great doing that. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 4394
Location: East Tennessee | As posted by MWoody:
Just keep loving those around you and and reach out where you can.
Well said.
As posted by Buckaroo:
Maybe someone should open up a flak jacket boutique.
Call it "Victoria's (You fill the rest in)" :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | Victorias Girdle? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | IMHO...Anyone who would turn in an illegal gun for a large lump of cash would just use the money to go out and buy a bigger, better gun. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Old arguments, if everyone was carrying a gun would there be less crime?
We tolerate not carrying our fingernail clippers or 1" pocket knife onto planes or into courthouses when they stock the place with sharp #2 pencils anyway!
If you want to hurt others you will find a way. We just need to find better ways of watching out for each other. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | The whole point is fewer guns on the street, especially illegal guns, equals a good thing.
People always talk about Canada, England, and Austrailia and how they have much less gun violence. And it always comes back to the fact that these countries have significantly fewer guns in circulation.
To reduce gun violence in the U.S. we must reduce the numbers of guns on the streets. So even if a crook turned in one gun and took his $3000 and bought a nicer gun, it would still be one less gun, and that's a good thing.
That one (less) gun just might be the one in the hands of the next wacko that takes his frustrations to the shopping mall, or rock and roll club, or high school, or whatever.
PS - he also might take his $3000 and buy a U681T5 and a small PA and start performing folk songs for a living!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | So even if a crook turned in one gun and took his $3000 and bought a nicer gun, it would still be one less gun, I don't get the math there. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | So even if a crook turned in one gun and took his $3000 and bought a nicer gun, it would still be one less gun,
I am presuming that the crook bought another illegal gun. Even if he bought a legal one fresh from a factory, that would still be better than the illegal one he just turned in.
But assuming there are 1 million illegal guns out there, when he turned in the first one there would now be 999,999. If he turned in the next one there would be 999,998. A good thing. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | MWoody wrote:We tolerate not carrying our fingernail clippers or 1" pocket knife onto planes or into courthouses when they stock the place with sharp #2 pencils anyway! If you want to hurt others you will find a way. We just need to find better ways of watching out for each other.
Imagine two headlines:
(1) "two crazed students armed with assault weapons and a shotgun massacre 10 children at local high school, community in morning"
or
(2) "two crazed students attack classmates with nail clippers and a #2 pencil, a Janitor and a soccer mom kick their asses and they get suspended".
Which school do you want your kids to attend?
Or if you are leaving a resturant late one night, would you rather face a mugger who was armed with a nailclipper or a 357 magnum?
A gun can make even a kid a mass murderer, a pencil or nail clipper makes him a minor pain in the ass. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 6194
Location: Phoenix AZ | Here is the math: The easier it is to own a gun, the more likely it is that someone will get killed by one.
Forget violent murder for a minute. Just focus on innocent children that get killed by gun accidents in their own homes. How many of these deaths happen in homes that do not have guns in them?
I know, the vast majority of gun owners are law abiding hunters or citizens safely executing their constitutional right to own a gun. That's great. But it does not change the equation. I hate that fat-ass fact-twisting slob Michael Moore. But he got it right when he said that he could not think of one reason that anyone should need to own a gun (other than legitimate hunting purposes). Personally, I have no problem with a person going crazy and terrorizing a shopping mall with sharp #2 pencils.
Dave |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Every time I get sucked in to this discussion I try to remember how I said I wouldn't get sucked into this discussion again.
My only point is that you cannot regulate, legislate or mandate common sense, courtesy or behavior.
Not on this earth. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | MWoody wrote: My only point is that you cannot regulate, legislate or mandate common sense, courtesy or behavior.
I agree, however as a society we can have sensible laws that try to insure that "less courteous" or the "badly behaved", or those who lack "common sense" are not armed with lethal fire-arms, against which the average citizen doesnt stand a chance of fighting back.
And sorry for getting all political here, I am just outraged by the endless stream of gun violence. Certainly a forum that can talk about turkey's spreading their legs and fishnet stockings can spare a moment for critical social issues. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | This is what we need:
Everyone is allowed 5 legal "kills" in their lifetime (anything over that, you're automatically executed).
It would GREATLY reduce "stress" (you're not gonna have any "pent up" anger just KNOWING that (IF you wanted to) you could blow away the clown that's pissing you off).
99.9% of the kills would be the "stupid people" that piss off others, anyway.
We don't need 'em.
We'd be thinning out the population, and if the StupidOnes can't breed, it only improves our species.
And Lastly (and Most Importantly):
People'd be a helluva lot NICER to each other . . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Sorry, but I feel the need to chime in here.
Or if you are leaving a resturant late one night, would you rather face a mugger with a nailclipper or a 357 magnum? I'd rather have the 357 Magnum when facing a mugger. Just see him/her crap their pants when I pulled it out.
13,000 people die every year from guns (non-suicides). Statistically, this equates to deaths vs. owners of .017%.
80,000 people die every year in car crashes, and far more people are maimed. As a statistic, this equates to deaths vs. owners of .035%.
If we are serious about reducing senseless deaths, let's get rid of all the cars.
More to the point, let's look at some places like Rwanda and Sudan, where political leaders ruthlessly and indiscriminately murder hundreds of thousands of people because only the government has guns. Can't happen here? I don't believe it ... I don't trust our politicians as far as I can kick them. I'm sure there are one or two of them that would have made a move if they thought they could get away with it. And THAT'S what the 2nd Amendment is all about.
P.S. I do not belong to the NRA and I do not own a gun. I prefer the company of my 120 lb. German Shepherd and my 34 oz. Louisville Slugger for personal protection. But my wife is a gun owner and wouldn't hesitate to use it if she or her family were threatened. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13984
Location: Upper Left USA | Then there wouldn't be any more Elctrical Contractors (this ones for Al) or Elected Officials! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | When it comes to Al's GarageProject, he would've "bagged his limit" LONG before the electrician got involved. . . |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2005
Posts: 327
Location: Evansville,IN | They could never get rid of all the guns, because the crooks will still have them regardless. Just like no one is supposed to have automatic weapons either, but the crooks have them, because they don't give a damn about the laws, because they're crooks! All this does is it keeps automatic weapons out of the publics hands. :rolleyes:
The ban on assault weapons was a joke. They didn't need a ban as not that many people had them anyway. Now the the ban has sunsetted, no more people are being killed now by assault weapons than there was before. :rolleyes:
One country (Germany) did confiscate everyone's weapons, but we see how that turned out. They don't bother killing people in the UK with guns they just stab or beat them to death. Guns don't kill people, people kill people. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Lest we forget (as many left-thinking polititians would like us to...), the Constitution protects our right to bear arms to protect ourselves and our families from danger. This includes protecting ourselves from and abolishing our own government if it should become neccesary.
There will always be evil people in this world. I have no intention of giving up my constitutional rights because others abuse thiers. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Stonebobbo commented: 13,000 people die every year from guns (non-suicides). Statistically, this equates to deaths vs. owners of .017%.
80,000 people die every year in car crashes, and far more people are maimed. As a statistic, this equates to deaths vs. owners of .035%.
If we are serious about reducing senseless deaths, let's get rid of all the cars. Gee wiz, lets think about this one, cars do some good things right? Like take people to work, drive kids to school, take old people to see the doctor, etc, etc. What good things do guns do? What other function do they serve besides blasting holes in people? (hunting aside, I've nothing against hunting).
Also a car has to be licensed and insured, the driver needs a license, and has to renew the license every few years to prove they are still competent. Plus cars have to meet loads of saftey regulations. The NRA opposes even gun-lock laws.
What about guns? Any 18 year old can buy a long gun at any gun store or gun show. Most any 21 year old can buy a handgun with minimal checks, and then they have it for life. So even if they were competent when they bought it, years later when they turn crazy they still have it! Very convenient for shooting up innocent people down at the mall! What a country! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Sorry Stonebobbo, but one other issue I have with your comment:
More to the point, let's look at some places like Rwanda and Sudan, where political leaders ruthlessly and indiscriminately murder hundreds of thousands of people because only the government has guns. Can't happen here? I don't believe it ... I don't trust our politicians as far as I can kick them. I'm sure there are one or two of them that would have made a move if they thought they could get away with it. And THAT'S what the 2nd Amendment is all about. There are places where the citizens are better armed than the government, one such place is Somalia. The men drive around in trucks with machine guns and try to hi-jack cruise ships while their women and children starve and die of disease. They are also fond of shooting at aid workers who try to help them. Sounds like a swell place. Or what about that Mexican town where every time someone gets elected as mayor the local drug lords kill them? Also sounds like a great place. Heaven help us if the citizens are ever better armed than the government in the USA.
I have been the victim of crime a few times, but so far my government has never tried to harm me or take me out. Actually, it’s not so much the average criminal I fear (I don’t trade in drugs or hang out in gang neighborhoods). Who I really fear are the crazy lunatics who snap one day and start shooting. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2002
Posts: 8307
Location: Tennessee | Yeah, you're right. Let's throw out the Constitution ... it's made this country a horrible place to live. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Yeah, you're right. Let's throw out the Constitution ... it's made this country a horrible place to live. When they wrote the constitution, there were armed Indians living in the woods. There were also skirmishes with England and Spain. There were also no state police, national guard, or county sheriffs. You were pretty much on your own.
They also did not allow women to vote and Africans were allowed to be owned as personal property. Times have changed a bit. I know it is complete speculation, but I’d bet that if our founding fathers could see how the 2nd amendment is being used to defend firearm insanity, they would be outraged.
One other thing, If the government wanted to take you down, do you really think any fire-arm you might have would stop them? I’ve been in the military, and I can tell you they have great toys. They would go through these little backyard militia clubs like a chainsaw through Jello. Did you see what happened to the armed resistors (criminals) at Waco or Ruby Ridge? What about Manuel Noriega in Panama? This guy had an Army, Navy and Air Force. Do you really think that you could stop them if they wanted to get you? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | What purpose do guns serve? I think at last count, there were about 400,000 uses per year by gun owners in defense of lives and property against bad guys.
As to the car argument, insurance companies and and the federal government agencies (for the life of me, I'm having a brain fart and can't remember the of the agency -- National Traffice something something something), pound into us that "speed kills". If that's true, and we really want to save lives, let's lower the national speed limit to 35 mph. Probably save several hunderd thousand lives a year.
As for Dave's arguments regarding kids getting killed in homes by guns, if you break it down the study, you find out that "kids" are defined as anybody under the age of 18 and the studies basically talleyed whether or not guns were in the home when people died (they could have died from heart attacks, butcher knife wounds, murdered by hand, etc). Those studies are quite flawed.
Lastly, in countries like Great Britan and Austrailia, where guns have been confiscated, gun violence is down, but overall violence is up quite a bit.
I'd personally feel safer in an armed society. It would certainly be a polite society (and in states where it's legal to carry, violence is certainly not up).
Brian, how long did it take to get comfortable with the controls on your Taylor? And how often to you use it as compared to you LX? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10581
Location: NJ | get a grip guys this site is for guitars and linguistic meanderings not hot button political topics take it to private e mail |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | Is this the hygometer post? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
May 2004
Posts: 2850
Location: Midland, MI | Don't trust anyone over 30! The man is keeping you down! Henry's destroying the guitar industry! Are you going to San Francisco? Be sure to wear some flowers in your hair!!!! Down with the establisment! Drop out, tune in, turn on! (or was it turn in, tune on? tuna?)
:eek:
Oh, wait, that thread's been gone for a while...sorry! ;) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Brian's a good guy and I enjoy passing thoughts back and forth with him. Besides, if you'll notice, I did bring the topic back to guitars..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 400
Location: North Texas | I refuse to do any Christmas shopping at a Somalian mall. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | I qualified expert in pistol and rifle for the 22 years in the Marine Corps. Fired just about every Soviet Bloc, Chinese, etc., hand weapons. We won't count things like the Ontos (Greek for "The Thing") with six 106mm recoilless rifles - one of those military "toys" that you'd like to park on your front lawn :D
I have been in areas (last was Cedar fire in San Diego) where there was a disaster and no police support. Personally, glad I had a 12 guage "survival" shotgun. A couple of times, seeing the barrel of a Mosberg was enough to get the "suspected" scavengers moving out of the area.
I never plan to fire the weapon at someone but if we have a quake in SoCal, breaking down support, it may be necessary to protect my family and neighbors.
Prior to buying, waiting period and background investigation. A lot of the 18-year olds in this city might have trouble with the background check. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | oops, didn't see Al's comments...back to guitars. how do I put a couple of pups on my Mosberg? |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I'm too new here to jump into a gun thread, but...
I only wish guns and gun operators were licensed like cars and drivers. If they were, I could get an operator's license in any state and expect reciprocity in the other 49. Try that with a right to carry permit and see how far it gets you in New York.
Up until a few years ago, I was a pretty good handgun shooter. A shoulder injury pretty much ended that for me, but in my prime I was good for ten for ten in the X ring at 50 yards with either my .22 or my .45. The guy at my range used to make comments like "I wish I had your ammo budget", because I shot at least 100 slow fire rounds per day. For me, it wasn't about the cost of the ammo, it was about the time. It is amazing how accurate you can get if you have good eyesight and a steady hand. I'm talking eyeball accuracy at 50 yards. With iron sights. One handed.
I've largely gotten away from that now. My right shoulder is hamburger, and my left elbow is a nightmare of tendonitis. I'm not sure how much longer I will be able to play guitar. But for now, I get by. Serious shooting is out of the question. I can't hold my target .22 for more than a moment before my shoulder breaks down. Time was I would spend two or three minutes sighting in a shot. No more. The only pistol I have that I can hold is my 10 meter Olympic target Brno Chameleon. That thing is sick. It shoots like it has eyes.
Anyway, Brian, don't impune all gun owners. The vast majority of us know what we are doing, and are no more a threat to you than the average golfer. I agree that in a perfect world, we would keep guns away from the crackpots, but don't loose track of the fact that they are dangerous because they are crackpots, not because they have guns.
Cheers!
Jeff |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | "average golfer" :eek: :eek: :eek:
I've seen some "golfers" that can be pretty deadly. Shanks, slices, et al. One guy must have hit 300yds at a right angle across three fairways. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | ". . I refuse to do any Christmas shopping at a Somalian mall . ."
Agreed.
(The FoodCourt SUCKS.) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | " I refuse to do any Christmas shopping at a Somalian mall . ."
Agreed.
(The FoodCourt SUCKS.)
LOL!! :D
Good one Cliff!! Hey, I wonder iftehy have any Guitar stores there??? :eek: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 338
Location: SE Michigan | Alpep, I stopped posting this thread when you asked, but since others have commented please allow me one last post then I promise I’ll stop.
P.I.Moody commented I think most gun owners do a pretty good job of being responsible. I have been doing some research. Did you know that Mark Chapman (murderer of John Lennon), Nathan Gale (Murderer of Dimebag – Darrel Abbott), and John Hinckley – (Shot President Ronald Reagan) all used guns that they legally owned? Also many of the people acquainted with these criminals commented that they were once normal guys, nothing to make you think they would become psychopaths.
I am not in favor of banning guns or gun ownership; I am however in favor of some sanity in licensing guns. Once you legally purchase a weapon, it is yours for life. What happens if you go crazy later?
You have to renew your drivers license every four years and pass a basic test, if we do this for automobiles such a measure seems completely reasonable for gun ownership. Remember a gun is a lethal tool, and in the hands of a wacko is a deadly weapon of mass destruction.
Al asked us to stop, if any one wants to continue this discussion email me. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Ok, last comment for me as well. You named 3 people out of millions of legal gun owners. Want to take a guess at the death rate on the highways by legal drivers who have to renew their licenses every 4 years? I would guess that it's much much much (tack on a whole lotta much's) higher than the rate of deaths attributed to legal gun owners.
Out here in SoCal, a few years ago, we had somebody plow his car into a children's day care center.
By the way, has anybody noticed that Brian and I are conducting a discussion, not an argument? I'm guessing that Brian's having as much fun with this discussion as am I and that next year in CT, people will see us laughing together as friends should, and picking a little guitar together. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Now there's a thought. Picking guitar in CT!!
2006 OFC Factory Tour!! Man, I can't wait! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 4028
Location: Utah | All right, then. Keeping calm.....
For those who are open minded on gun control, there is a good book called "More Guns, Less Crime" by Dr. John Lott. It is certainly not the only study out there, but it is a very good summation of the overwhelming data on gun control.
At every level from local to national to international, it is clearly and irrefutably true that when the barriers to gun ownership by law abiding people are lifted, violent crime goes down significantly. When barriers such as prohibitions, licensing, fees, waiting periods, etc are enacted, violent crime increases.
Another very important factor to consider is that criminals commit their crimes regardless of the laws against murder, rape, mayhem, carjacking, child molestation, home invasion, robbery etc. So, laws prohibiting gun possession or that make lawful possession difficult, expensive, or time consuming, will have zero effect on the criminals. And, as is irrefutable, when law abiding citizens own fewer guns as a result of the onerous laws, the violent crime rate increases. Gun control is counterproductive.
Rates of suicide and domestic murder are not affected by gun ownership. The method of the crime changes, but the frequency of the crime does not.
When discussing child shooting deaths, the devil is in the details. Many times you will find that the definition of "child" includes youths up to age 19 or even 23. The vast majority of those over age 14 who suffer gunshot deaths are involved directly in a criminal activity that leads to the shooting. The incidence of accidental deaths to those under 14 is quite low compared to what the mainstream media and political activists would lead you to believe.
There are many things vastly more dangerous to our kids than lawfully owned guns, yet there is no clamour to outlaw them. The list includes things like footballs, swimming pools, doctors, mothers, motor vehicles, and bicycles.
Of course we all want a safe society and we want our kids safe from accidents. The facts show that the hype about gun control is just politically or ideologically driven.
If you want to point to Britain as an example of low gun crime or low violent crime, you would be wrong. They have seen an explosion of gun crime and violent home invasions since they have enacted draconian gun restrictions.
Lastly, there is the moral aspect. All of the above is a practical argument, but the moral aspect is critical. The Second Amendment protects a human right that exists for all people. It is not a right granted by the government, but rather the entire Bill of Rights was written to protect "natural rights" and to limit the power of the government. The 2A was written in order to secure our individual rights to self protection, to secure the homeland against invasion, and to secure the right of the people to secure their liberties against an oppressive government should one arise.
Gun control only affects law abiding people, and it directly infringes on your individual rights to self protection, to protect your family, to protect your country, and to protect your liberties.
OK, now I'm going to do my best to avoid postingon this issue again. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Token reference to guitars - is owning an Ovation or Adamas a right or a privilege?
Ok, back to the discussion.
Is gun ownership a right or a privilege? Driving a vehicle is not a right. You can drive without a license or insurance - that is until caught. However, you can be denied issue, or have it suspended or revoked.
We limit legal gun purchase. Felons have lost that privilege. This ties to identity and trust of our government. I favor the most accurate national ID - I carry for life my Marine Corps ID which says "INDEFINITE". Anyone who served in the military has a national ID, whether on active duty, reserve, former, or retired. As our resident P.I. would affirm, it wouldn't take that much to find someone who had gotten off of active duty in 1980. What about DNA, medical records, etc. Good enough for the military, good enough for all.
So, I also agree with weapon restrictions, registration, and certification (both initial and requal). Ever check out the requirements for a concealed weapon? At least in California, this is not just "given".
Sorry, I don't believe in government "storm troopers" or "black helicopters" searching out gun owners. Register them, license them, require renewal, etc.
Going back to a credit card advertisement...
cost of weapon and lock: $450
cost of shells: $10
cost of case: $35
cost of license: $50
cost of protection, if needed: PRICELESS
cost of an Ovation/Adamas: always a great deal for the value.
What would Jefferson do? As his 1st cousin, believe he'd buy an Ovation. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15654
Location: SoCal | Well said.
George Jefferson? Depends on Wheezie would let him do..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 2503
Location: Fayetteville, NC | Good one Moody!! That's Funny! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | Hell, I'd allow it. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5327
Location: Cicero, NY | Oh, you meant the OTHER Wheezie!!
Never mind. |
|
| |
Christmas Shopping Isn't Safe Anymore