Why do you think of me that way ? I am not trying to compete with you, or anyone else. I have never had to do with Hero Worship, to me, a Hero is a large Roast Beef and Mozzarella sandwich. Anyway, I have not tried to impress you, my record of service speaks for itself. Howsoever, I have survived to this age because of my will to survive, and my experiences, and having firearms. How can this be misconstrued as bad or Evil is beyond my abilities to comprehend.
I have a response that I've been considering for a few days to this thread. Hopefully, you will consider this and think hard on the message instead of the personalities. I've witnessed a few people that were killed by gunfire. The last time was in Georgia when a 13 year old boy was killed by a gun show vendor trying to demonstrate to the boy's father that a shoulder holster would fit his revolver. The gun show vendor shoved his pistol into the shoulder holster that was now on the boy's father. The pistol went off, striking the boy in the eye and the bullet exited the back of his head. I was close enough that a few droplets of blood ended up on my shoe and cuff of my pants. The first time I witnessed a shooting was when a guy working in our back yard got into a gunfight with the local cops. He had stolen a backhoe and had the audacity to do jobs in the same county the backhoe was stolen in. The real owner spotted it and reported it. Despite having witnessed several people being killed in the interim, I am the most pro-gun advocate in America. Since the beginnings of recorded history (and definitely before man could communicate) death and violence are a constant that exists, regardless of what you or I do. And we cannot take the firearm statistics from one geographical area and pretend that if we do what someone else did, our rate of violence will be reduced. The most dangerous country on the planet is Colombia. They have gun control. So why the gun violence? I would submit that it is related to the drug trade. America's statistics are driven by many factors: drug users (legal and illegal) along with our defense of hard core drugs that we know, beyond the shadow of a doubt, have homicidal and suicidal thoughts as side effects are a major contributor. Our failure to rehabilitate criminals, instead opting for different classes of citizenship is another factor. At the end of the day, this country was founded on the presupposition that you have a Right to Life. With that Right comes the responsibility, duty and obligation to defend that Life - along with that of loved ones AND others you see that may be in imminent danger. Firearms are the great equalizer and the best tools to insure your Right to Life. You know what your life is worth; I know what mine is worth. I will own and use a weapon regardless of whether you agree or not; like it or not; think it should be legal or not. Unenforceable laws are not worth the paper they're printed on. So, the ethics of those who would pretend to be my God are what should be the real issue here. My firearm is much like your health insurance - and if you thought you needed your insurance policy to cover emergency hospital visits, but the government didn't, you would be just as upset as I am when someone, like yourself, advocates for gun control - which implies that you have determined a value I can place on my Life and Liberty.
I appreciate that; genuinely. I can't say I'm without blame myself, as I've realized I've become more than a little "knee-jerk" at times in my responses to what sometimes were actually perfectly reasonable questions. I've decided it isn't fair for me to demand honest, respectful discourse if I'm not prepared to hold myself to that same standard. So, thanks for your patience.
Okay, so now the question becomes: if there is a right to self-defense, to what extent does that right extend? As I see it, if there is truly a right to self-defense to protect your life, should that right not encompass the ability to possess the most effective means with which to conduct that defense?
Most gun banners or gun restrictionists are reticent to divulge their real motivations: politics rather than saving innocent lives
IF gun banners wanted to help save lives, they would join me in alternatives to gun control as a way to reduce the numbers of people being killed by firearms.
if gun banners really cared about saving lives they wouldn't support crap they know is unlikely to pass due to opposition by patriots. They would get behind laws that actually stomp down on violent criminals (and are not opposed by anyone other than the criminal apologist corner. They also would go after things like medical malpractice and DUIs-far more preventable matters that kill far more than legally owned guns
Well there are alternatives to Gun Control, First, the comprehensive Instant background check is performed in every State in order to legally purchase a firearm of any type, a Federal form 4473 is inscribed of which a false statement constitutes perjury. And a few other standard forms. Second line of defense, there is a long list of people prohibited from obtaining or using or possessing firearms or even touching them. It is a Felony. Ok, here is the problem, failure to prosecute Criminals in violation of existing Firearms laws, Truth is, there are no States with lax firearms laws, and no matter how Criminals get those firearms, these Criminals are caught very quickly, and one can tell at a mere glance if someone is carrying illegally, so those Criminals are not getting away, They are just not being prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. As well as being released early to free up space in overcrowded Prisons. Gun control is not the solution, incarceration of Criminals is the real solution.
Some very good, valid, solid points. Just remember not every legal gun sale in the U.S. is subject to the Instant Background Check. Rich
Yes, but remember that even so, if a Felon gets a Gun in any way, he is getting caught and soon, unless he leaves that Gun at home. Routine traffic stops results in many arrests of Prohibited persons illegally carrying firearms, no if only the Courts would prosecute and imprison these recidivism probe Felons.
Okay; so far so good. With all due respect, I'm confused. You have a right to defend yourself... but not to have the proper means to? Am I wrong to see a disconnect here? I know that your life experiences would certainly give you a strong desire to embrace a violence-free society, and to feel that we should be able to eliminate the means for the vile and corrupt to inflict it upon us, but can you see where I'm coming from on this?
Like those situations (unlikely as they are) where a security guard is shot dead during a bank robbery and then, while the robber is not looking, someone in the crowd grabs the gun off the dead security guard and uses it to stop the bank robber. It's possible to conceive of situations where an individual might be forced to choose between saving innocent lives (either their own or others) or obeying the law.
Well think about it this way, you love your Mother, your Father, your Children, your doggy, are you going to save them, or obey the law ? I would rather save my loved ones and to heck with the law !!!
I have been told off for describing people honestly. I suppose it is just that right-wing Americans use English differently from other people, but that collection of words you offer conveys nothing intelligible to my mind.
And how do people get money in the United States, other than stealing it from those who do the work? Father Christmas dish it out, does he? You've never noticed that fat, sweaty hand in your pocket, eh?
Well, I don't come from the US, thank God, and must assume you do. Some of your superstitions include belief in 'race', capitalism and the 'freedom' achieved by bang-bangs