I have changed my position on gun control

[Immortal Wombat]

Originally posted by Sprayber
Just so you know, people like that really don't give a **** if guns or legal or illegal. It was illegal for them to assualt him but that apparently didn't stop them.

In Britain it does make a difference. At least in most places in the country, random violence is not perpetrated using weapons. If it is, then at most it'll be a flick knife or a baseball bat. I don't know whether its because guns are hard to get (having never tried to acquire one) or whether shooting random passers-by is just a stop beyond what even the most anti-social piece of scum would consider.

There still seems to be a moral line between lethal force and fist-assault. Thank goodness.

[Sprayber]

Simply introducing a firearm into a situation like this doesn't magically resolve things. You must have both the skill and will to use it or all you will have accomplished is giving the criminal a new toy to use. It's not a cure all of crime.

[Cruddy]

Re: I have changed my position on gun control

Originally posted by Whaleboy
I can't go to the police because technically I think I did them more damage and it's my word against theirs, though admittedly, as snobby as this sounds, my RP accent is likely to cut more ice than their slack jawed Northamptonian drawl.

If you don't even report a crime, you can't complain about the cops being useless.

Certainly the cops want crime reported, because the more crime reported, the bigger their budgets.

Originally posted by Whaleboy
Anyway I can't really be bothered anyway, I'm happier that I hurt them than I would be if I was just a victim.

Ah, the real reason why you don't want to report it - you can't be bothered.

Originally posted by Whaleboy
Anyway all that aside, and the fact that I'm ****ing angry at the moment, ...
So I think handguns/revolvers (I don't know much about guns so probably some Americans could help me out here) should be legalised, but only for law abiding, upstanding people who have proved themselves good, reasonable people and not dilenquent... so obviously criminals and the undesireably element should be forbidden ownership. Now obviously they can get guns anyway illegally and they can be easily hidden which does suck.

One problem here. Banning criminals from having guns doesn't actually stop them acquiring them.

Looser gun control in the UK would mean you wouldn't just have lost your moby and CD, you could quite easily have lost your life.

Originally posted by Whaleboy
However, I've been thinking of short swords. Four unarmed teenagers against one man with a rapier aren't going to get very far, plus you are effectively saying, "attack me, and I have the choice between beheading you, disembowling you, castrating you or simply impaling you", which will make them think twice against the innocent people they attack.

Again you make the mistake of assuming they won't have a weapon if you do. One short sword isn't going to do anything against four short swords.

Originally posted by Whaleboy
Children need parents, rules and discipline.

Amen, brother.

I can understand you being angry.

However, one piece of positive action you can take legally, which might help the next time, and will certainly make you feel safer;

WEAR BODY ARMOUR!

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by Immortal Wombat

In Britain it does make a difference. At least in most places in the country, random violence is not perpetrated using weapons. If it is, then at most it'll be a flick knife or a baseball bat. I don't know whether its because guns are hard to get (having never tried to acquire one) or whether shooting random passers-by is just a stop beyond what even the most anti-social piece of scum would consider.

There still seems to be a moral line between lethal force and fist-assault. Thank goodness.

I wouldn't take much comfort in the moral consistency of criminals but that's just my experience around the states. Go with what works for ya

[Dinner]

My First Sergeant in Iraq was a school teacher from San Francisco who also happened to be licensed to carry a concealed pistol. He's a Vietnam vet who likes to ride large expensive American motorcycles and who also completely believes that the right to own fire arms is an intricate part of a person's right to self defense.

In any event one day he finished lunch and was walking to his bike when he finds four burly Mexican "gangsta" guys who walk towards him saying "That's a nice bike; I think I might just take that bike". Carefully keeping the Harley between himself and the robbers he then unbuttoned his jacket revealing the .45 in his hip holster and says "I rather like that bike". The four Mexican guys decided to piss off and find someone else to steal from.

I do believe responsible citizens are better protected when they own their own fire arms.

[Sprayber]

Cruddy is right, it should be reported.

[Immortal Wombat]

If we keep guns hard to acquire, they can still commit robbery relying on fists and numbers, and so usually its more trouble than its worth to get one (or at least to use one).

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Oerdin
I do believe responsible citizens are better protected when they own their own fire arms.

The problem is all the irresponsible, law-abiding gun owners, and there's a lot of them.

[Dis]

trust me, legalizing firearms in the UK is a bad thing. Your country is a hell of a lot better than the U.S. on crime. I'd kill to live there

The reason why I'm against making firearms illegal in the U.S. is because it is too late for us. There are too many guns out there. Making them illegal now just keeps them out of the hands of people who want to defend themselves. The only way around this is to have the goverment go door to door and collect all the guns. For obvious reasons, this is unacceptable.

As I've said. It's too late. We will slowly kill ourselves off with guns, and when the dust settles, maybe we'll have a peaceful society

[Dinner]

Re: I have changed my position on gun control

Originally posted by Whaleboy
I figure it makes sense that people are nicer to each other when they have the ability to kill each other at the touch of a button.

Your average street thug certainly isn't going to risk his life over a cell phone and a CD player if the other guy might have a 9mm and a legal right to shoot.

[Dis]

Re: Re: I have changed my position on gun control

Originally posted by Oerdin


Your average street thug certainly isn't going to risk his life over a cell phone and a CD player if the other guy might have a 9mm and a legal right to shoot.

he will if he's packin'

[GePap]

Most guns used in crimes are bought legally and then resold.

[GePap]

Most muders are done by people one knows- one is not likely to be packing at home, to make sure honey does not blow you away.

[Whaleboy]

Unfortunately, "undesirable element" is purely subjective. There really is nothing to stop burberry-clad townie ****ers against whom nothing has ever been proven or even accused, walking into a gun shop and going shopping for more phones and CD players.

Well there should be. Wearing burberry? **** off.

You don't own the Mill limit. Once you've explained it, unless you actually change the underlying concept anyone can apply it.

That I have, and I own it until I release it, in the meantime, I will own you if you argue by the old version .

If you don't even report a crime, you can't complain about the cops being useless.

Certainly the cops want crime reported, because the more crime reported, the bigger their budgets.

It's reciprocal really, but then, I'm one guy what difference can I make with a waste of my time?

Again you make the mistake of assuming they won't have a weapon if you do. One short sword isn't going to do anything against four short swords.

An illegal weapon depends on it being easily concealed. You can't do that with a 3-foot rapier.

[Kuciwalker]

That I have, and I own it until I release it, in the meantime, I will own you if you argue by the old version

IIUC, the Mill limit was just the point of maximum liberty, right? Utilitarianism for liberty instead of happiness.