Originally posted by StSanta
I have a quicke question to Americans. Please be honest in answering it.
Even emotionally unstable morons have a right to own a gun. Assume you have one of these as a neighbor, and there's a dispute. Would you not be worried that this guy would be so upset he'd get his gun and a shootout would result? Had he not had a gun, he'd punched you on the face and that would be it.
This is what I fear about releasing guns wide open - that emotionally charged situations that leave someone with a black eye today would end up with someone with a bullet to the head tomorrow. It's clear from statistics that a good deal of gun related deaths is caused by emotional distress rather than pure cold calculation.
And that's about the only think I got against an utterly free gun owernship policy. IMHO, it shouldn't be impossible to get a gun, but one should have to go through a certification process - like with cars. You get a drivers license before you get to drive, so you don't needlessly endanger other people. if the same applied for guns people would be able to get one and in the process some education on how to handle, store etc it.
Santa, this same neighbor could come at you with a 12" kitchen knife and kill you too.
I agree that many people should never own a gun, simply because they have poor self control (over emotional?) but then again, I believe many should not be allowed to drive a car either (Road Rage)
In the US, most states now require that the applicant for a gun license attend a special class to learn about basic gun handling and use.
Admittedly, these classes can be very lacking in content and quality. I recieved my gun license after sitting through a 2 hour class at the police station. However, I never handled a gun during this class. There was a written test at the end of the class, however it was a formality and had no real meaning. After leaving that class, I felt there was nothing of real value that would make me feel comfortable with some of the poeple that attended the class with me.
Personally, I think there should be a far more involved process for obtaining a firearms license, including actual testing with real guns and live ammo.
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There are more cases that warrant allowing law-abiding people to carry guns.
1. Single women for self protection
2. Street gang violence against individuals
3. Protection from wild animals
Simply taking guns away from everyone will not in itself reduce crime. Rapists will still rape, Gangs will still fight and cause street violence. Some would argue that Rapists and Street gangs would do more crime, knowing that their intended victims have no potential of having a gun to defend themselves.
It all sounds rather hypothetical, but everyone can agree to disagree. In my opinion, an outright ban won't solve anything.
For the record, I own 2 hand guns, 2 rifles and a shot gun. I carry a hand gun with me everywhere it is legal to do so.
