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headsplice · 07-11-2002, 01:55 PM

"Gun control is hitting the bull six times in a row with a .357"
-someone in the NRA, I'm sure.
Not really the point I'm going to make, but, I like the quotation.
Jaguar: You're completely right, I did fall for it, but, in my defence, it was the only data I saw.

More generally, isn't the problem with gun use/abuse (a very important distinction) similar to that of drugs? There are people who use drugs (including caffeine) in a moderately responsible fashion (i.e., they do no harm except to themselves). Is the same not true of guns? I neither plan nor want to ever harm anyone with a firearm. Ever. That are vastly destructive, both physically and emotionally. But, who is anyone else to say that I am not responsible enough to make that decision on my own? I am an adult and I take responsibility for my actions. I don't give a rat's ass what anyone else has ever done. Why do you (in general) want to take away my choices? What have I ever done to you. The actions of others are not relevant. You can show me all the statistics in the world, but they don't have doodie to do with what I have done. The actions of those who have abused their privileges is an entirely different matter. How can you take away my rights (at least, as a USian) based on the (mis)behavior of people with whom I neither associate nor want to be associated?
Something else to think about:
It is impossible to eliminate weapons entirely. Government would never stand for its own disarmament. Therefore, do we have any ultimate recourse to prevent flagrant violent abuses (of us) by said governments? Further, how do you prevent (especially military, in the case of a disarmed populace) weapons from getting into the hands of criminals?

07-11-2002, 01:55 PM	#56
headsplice Relaxed Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Minneapolis Posts: 676	gun CONTROL "Gun control is hitting the bull six times in a row with a .357" -someone in the NRA, I'm sure. Not really the point I'm going to make, but, I like the quotation. Jaguar: You're completely right, I did fall for it, but, in my defence, it was the only data I saw. More generally, isn't the problem with gun use/abuse (a very important distinction) similar to that of drugs? There are people who use drugs (including caffeine) in a moderately responsible fashion (i.e., they do no harm except to themselves). Is the same not true of guns? I neither plan nor want to ever harm anyone with a firearm. Ever. That are vastly destructive, both physically and emotionally. But, who is anyone else to say that I am not responsible enough to make that decision on my own? I am an adult and I take responsibility for my actions. I don't give a rat's ass what anyone else has ever done. Why do you (in general) want to take away my choices? What have I ever done to you. The actions of others are not relevant. You can show me all the statistics in the world, but they don't have doodie to do with what I have done. The actions of those who have abused their privileges is an entirely different matter. How can you take away my rights (at least, as a USian) based on the (mis)behavior of people with whom I neither associate nor want to be associated? Something else to think about: It is impossible to eliminate weapons entirely. Government would never stand for its own disarmament. Therefore, do we have any ultimate recourse to prevent flagrant violent abuses (of us) by said governments? Further, how do you prevent (especially military, in the case of a disarmed populace) weapons from getting into the hands of criminals? __________________ Don't Panic