- Vgnut117
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- Fabled Legendary Member
Dating Age
For those looking to vent, get proper advice, or give it to those in need.
Posted by: xGHOST270x
You're twisting my words.
I never said 'devolution of society' attributed to this. Merely the avenue the American culture took to this point. Violence is a part of our culture in cinema and other entertainment outlets. Only the insane and sick take those as incentive or as tutorials to do what they do. Glorifying such violence only further attributes to the problems.
Again, methodology and weaponry is irrelevant. In 1927 a deranged man blew a school and 44 children and adults to high hell with explosives. As indicated by the Oklahoma bombing, such incidents are extremely devastating. The Haymarket Affair killed quite a few people last century, again with a bomb. We've always been able to kill each other throughout history. The only thing that changes are the weapons used. Focusing on the weapon will not solve the problem. Focusing on the perpetrators and those like them will.
Handguns 'aren't capable of so easily killing dozens so quickly and easily"? Columbine and VA Tech would like to have a word with you.
Any weapon can kill. As shown in the UT Bell Tower Shooting, even a bolt action is extremely lethal, with a few casualties reported at 500 yards away. Handguns, rifles, old muskets, flintlocks, they all kill just the same. Banning one based on a minute amount of damage is absurd. Yes, any amount of death is horrible and regrettable, but undermining the freedoms of 350 million people, `150 million being law abiding gun owners, based on the acts of a few individuals is not right.
No one with any sense is saying we need to loosen gun control laws as they stand. The laws we have in place right now are sufficient and necessary, but, their enforcement and supervision does need to be improved so we lessen and eliminate the acquisition of firearms by any people who do not meed the criteria for purchase.
Everyone has a right to life, that is indisputable. The disruption of that right is illegal no matter how it's done, whether it's by a drunk driver at 12 am or Achmed in a suicide vest. We protect that right to the best of our ability. Concealed Handgun Permits are made just for that, the protection of our right to live. However, there's nothing we can do to completely stop evil. The current gun legislation ,and other laws ( Thou shalt not kill, steal, etc), serve to keep the peace. Sadly, some people have no regard for others and keep carrying out heinous deeds every day.
Wanting to something just because it's dangerous to people isn't enough to warrant it. Many things we have in our house have the ability to do great damage to ourselves and others. The thing is, we have the freedom to choose for ourselves what we do. For 99.9999% of firearm owners, our weapons will never kill a human being , ever. For the .0001% intent on harming people, there's not much we can do to stop them. If someone is intent on doing something, they'll find a way.
Punishing 150 million people for the acts of a few men is not fair, nor is it right.
Nor is it fair or right to have such a complacent argument while just this year so many lives, children included, were horribly gunned down. You claim there's a culture of violence but cling to the perceived idea that a lethal firearm is your pass to freedom. You say "But look people can be killed in bombings" and shrug off the efficiency with which the arms we're talking about can slaughter. Yes, the musket can kill. Can it kill with the efficiency a semi-automatic rifle can? Absolutely not but let's equate them anyways.
"But-but-but handguns can't kill so easily! Look at VA Tech and Columbine!" Columbine? They used shotguns, guns with fifty rounds in their magazine. Do handguns kill with the speed and ease these semi-automatic rifles do?
The church of firearms and its often paranoid congregation gives a -blam!- about these massacres for one reason. Public opinion raining down on them and fear that the precious thing they so identity with will be attacked. Want fewer gun related homicides? Honestly? Then take a look at the governments that have adopted measures to successfully do that. It's not like the US would be sailing in uncharted waters. Let's be honest though. Gun extremists, and maybe that's not you or members of this board, will live with a few children being gunned down if it means stroking their M4 carbine that can fire near a thousand bullets a minute.
You want to own a gun, maybe up to three, that aren't semi-automatic for protection and to feel good then sure. Or hunting rifles. All fine. But there's a difference between that and this perverse obsession that's all too rampant.
[Edited on 12.22.2012 10:07 PM PST]