1. Just as there have been multiple cases of people being murdered by the dozen, before someone stops them, even though, as you argue, lax gun regulations should mean the opposite.
Honestly not sure what you are saying here.
2. True, but than again, the same thing could have been achieve by the police. And if you argue that the police isnt trained well enough, or hasnt enough funds, then why dont you fix that first, rather then compensating by giving everyone firearms.
Answered by Eng. Police aren't/can't be everywhere. And that assumes the police will care enough to respond.
3. And that sentence right there should be the reason you should not be allowed to have a gun. Because you are not defending yourselfs, but rather perform vigilante justice. If you shot someone because he tries to steal something of your property (and kill him), then you have murdered someone. You may get (partly) away with it, but you still killed someone in cold blood. If you believe in god, or rather judgement, then rethink your life choices.
Watching people steal from people who have been hit by a disaster just pisses me off.
4
. It matters, because, if you where serious with your claim of self defence, then the logical option would be to use something that is easy to handle, not unwieldy and easy to store. Why use a rifle of any kind if a handgun does its job just as well, or better and is even cheaper to buy?
Rifles are easy to handle. In some cases, easier than handguns. Also cheaper depending on what you get.
Same goes for going outside. Do you carry a rifle everywhere you go? The woods, the city, grocery shopping, taking your kid to school and so on... Do you go into a cinema with your semi-automatic rifle on?
So if I don't take it everywhere it should be banned?
In general I would like to say, rather than insult commenters you dont agree with, you should try and produce a logical argument that proves your point. And instead of falling back on your argument that "firearms are a constitutional right", you should try and convince people why that is still in need today. No law is perfect. Times are changing (morally, technologically, and otherwise). Laws can be changed.
Defensive gun use far outstrips criminal gun use. I don't need to justify a Right. Do you wish to justify freedom of religion, speech, fair trials, etc?
As far as insulting, being called paranoid or suffering from some unknown trauma tends to irritate me.
I'd say yes to gun control laws (like background checks, registrations, limiting their use) because there IS less instance of gun violence in countries with stricter laws.
Also if you really wanna kill someone be a man and stab them.
Well that's sexist and stupid. Why would I risk serious injury in a knife fight when I can just shoot them instead?
Yup, that's exactly it. Over here in Europe, I don't need to fear PRECICELY because we can't buy guns like you could any other item.
Seems like you fear Americans more than you fear guns.
From my perspective, that's obviously alien and wrong.
Because you refuse to learn anything about guns.
Except this world has changed a lot since the 18th century when the constitution was written, yes? How is that we HAVEN'T become a tyranny yet, again? Sure, USA might have places where the outreach of emergency services are rather limited. But then, nothing lasts forever and these places might get sufficient coverage after all, no matter if it takes years or even decades. That aside, from what I have read, you pro-gun people apparently fear too much government intervention in your lives, yes? That really makes me wonder...
A free people don't need the government acting like nannies taking care of particularly stupid small children.
But, in your scenario we would have a whole riot on our hands. Do you suggest your friendly store owner gun down a dozen people, just so they cant steal from him?
Most rioters will run away after the first couple drop. At is more about not knowing what the rioters are planning. Do you let them burn your house/store down while your family is inside? Do you bring your family outside where the mob can curb stomp, beat, rape and kill them or do you shoot a few and make them run?
If you dont answer this question in your head with a immediate "NO", then sorry, your moral values are screwed.
What are your values if you would let your family die to spare strangers?
Also one thing, if you have worked 20 years for your dream shop, then there is something called insurance any reasonable person with a property available to the public should have.
Not all insurance covers "civil unrest" and payouts can take awhile. Sometimes deductibles are really high.
1. No need to be so cynical, friend. True, crimes do happen over here on occasion. But they will be investigated as expected in a functional society. Got something against law enforcement and other authorities perhaps? Yes, humans can kill without firearms, that's a fact. But really, we are a safe society regardless. And that's something to be appreciated.
Not all law enforcement is honest. And the US is mostly a safe society, Its a big country. Some areas are less safe.
2. True. But hey, we DO remember what happened once Nazis came to power, right? It's all we can do in order to NOT repeat that mistake at all. In case of Poland and Hungary, one can hope EU can intervene before their situation gets too out of hand. Dunno about Turkey but it's certain Mr. Erdogan's a nutcase who should NOT be in a position of authority in first place.
Obvious difference between us. You want outside intervention after things get bad. I believe intervention should be from within and sooner.
So, I don't really have the time for long responses or anything atm but two things did jump out at me from an earlier reply.
Doesn't it seem a bit odd to anyone else that the number of users of a gun in self-defence eclipses the number of guns used in criminal activity? I know that not all dangerous/violet/potentially deadly crimes make use of guns - most probably don't, but I get the impression that there's more than a few people defending themselves with deadly force when it's just not needed?
Its not odd to me. Most criminals want an easy crime and will run from people they either find to be armed or think are armed. Take a purse from an old lady, knock an old man out and grab his wallet, burgle a home thought to be empty. Problem is that the victims don't know what the intent is. Take the purse, then drag the old woman to ATMs around the city, then decide that the old woman is cute and then kill her afterwards because you just committed multiple felonies and she saw your face.
Mugger approaches an old woman, old woman recognizes his behavior as mugger aggressive and grabs her gun in her purse. Mugger recognizes the movement as "she saw me and might be armed." he goes elsewhere post haste. DGU. Person tries to kick in door and homeowner yells "I have a gun and I'm calling the police!" Burglar runs. Maybe it was the gun, maybe it was the call. There was a case of a housewife with kids shooting a guy who kicked in multiple doors to get to them. Front door, then bedroom door and then crawl space door despite clear yells of "I have a gun and I've called the police." Audio on 911 call. If anything, I think the numbers are under reported. Some district attorneys will treat that as "brandishing" and arrest the potential victim.
Second, more of a question than anything, what can be done about current gun control laws not being properly enforced? I think we can agree on both sides that's a problem that needs to be addressed.
Either get rid of the unenforced laws or start fining the people who are supposed to be enforcing those laws.
Make no mistake, I don't wan't go to USA because I don't want someone shooting at me while there. But you could definitely say there's an ideological reason behind it as well. In this day and age, why USA still has that 2nd Amendment is quite a mystery. Again, this isn't the 18th century anymore, yes? Society has advanced since then and it's not unreasonable that someone might see Americans as literal barbarians for 'sticking to their guns' still. Fortunately, I don't hate Americans in general.
I've lived in the US for 38 years and have never been shot at. Stay out of the gang neighborhoods and don't deal drugs and you'll be fine.