Handguns should be banned

[Timber]

Originally Posted by Negotiator

I'll be the first to say I really dislike guns. I've fired them at a range a couple times, I'm no marksman by any stretch of the imagination. It's just not my thing. Going with my usual skepticism, though, I'd be reluctant to hand everything off to the police and military and say "play nice," not because of any specific distrust towards them but the simple notion that if you give someone all the cards in the deck they're probably going to try using them, given enough time. I'm okay with Joe American owning a gun.

But he damn well better know when and how he should use, store, and respect it.

If you want to have the powers of life and death (mostly death), fine. But I want the government to register the hell out of you and make sure you know exactly what you're doing with it. I want them to be able to trace every gun to their owner. Heck, while I'm at it, make it public knowledge who has what gun. Finally, if you screw up, or if you let it fall into the wrong hands and some kid blows off their friend's face or what have you, it's your ass.

At least, that's how I feel about it.

As a gun owner, I agree with almost everything there. I don't know if I want the neighbors to be able to just search a registry to see who has a gun in the neighborhood. Some people truly think about as negatively of gun owners as they do sex offenders. There is a stigma that can't be overcome.

I am all proving proficiency with firearms before being allowed to use or purchase them. It could be just like getting a motorcycle endorsement. You have to take classes and/or pass a test. I have a bigger fear of being shot by some yayhoo at the range then I do out and about in public(where I never carry).

[SpartanStu]

Originally Posted by Oj

My point was that when the Constitution was written, times were different. There was a need back then for the people to arm themselves to fight for their country. These days I don't foresee the Bristish (or anyone else) invading us any time soon. If they do, you are welcome to use your 12-guage or .22 to protect yourself and your country. You don't need a handgun.

I understand that the Constitution grants the right to bear arms and it would need to be amended or reinterpreted to remove the right to own a handgun. But just becaue it's in the Constitution doens't mean that it's "right". And I agree with you that an Amendment to remove this right will probably never happen (sadly).

Obviously you dont understand why the right to bear arms is in the constitution...

Its not for Americans to fight off foreign nations. That is the job of the military. The right to bear arms is solely for the purpose of overthrowing a corrupt government. Any other reason is frosting on the cake.

[Lenin's Tomb]

Originally Posted by Oj

My point was that when the Constitution was written, times were different. There was a need back then for the people to arm themselves to fight for their country. These days I don't foresee the Bristish (or anyone else) invading us any time soon. If they do, you are welcome to use your 12-guage or .22 to protect yourself and your country. You don't need a handgun.

I understand that the Constitution grants the right to bear arms and it would need to be amended or reinterpreted to remove the right to own a handgun. But just becaue it's in the Constitution doens't mean that it's "right". And I agree with you that an Amendment to remove this right will probably never happen (sadly).

It is unlikely that the US will be invaded in the forseeable future. It is more likely that there would be some kind of revolution against the US government from within, where an armed populace may actually be needed. Of course, as long as the armed forces sided completely with the government it would be a slaughter, as would any attack from another nation.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Originally Posted by Negotiator

I'll be the first to say I really dislike guns. I've fired them at a range a couple times, I'm no marksman by any stretch of the imagination. It's just not my thing. Going with my usual skepticism, though, I'd be reluctant to hand everything off to the police and military and say "play nice," not because of any specific distrust towards them but the simple notion that if you give someone all the cards in the deck they're probably going to try using them, given enough time. I'm okay with Joe American owning a gun.

But he damn well better know when and how he should use, store, and respect it.

If you want to have the powers of life and death (mostly death), fine. But I want the government to register the hell out of you and make sure you know exactly what you're doing with it. I want them to be able to trace every gun to their owner. Heck, while I'm at it, make it public knowledge who has what gun. Finally, if you screw up, or if you let it fall into the wrong hands and some kid blows off their friend's face or what have you, it's your ass.

At least, that's how I feel about it.

I am so glad that I live in North Carolina. We take a much different view of firearms in general and handguns in particular down here. The only permit you need down here is if you want to purchase a handgun (and even then they are not permitted to record how many you purchase or the make or model) and a permit for CCW (and again they don't record make, model or number of handguns).

No permits needed for long guns and no registeration of any guns.

What are the Gun Laws in North Carolina?

[Statepug]

Teaching people to respect human life would go much further than a handgun ban.

[FC Juventus]

Originally Posted by Timber

As a gun owner, I agree with almost everything there. I don't know if I want the neighbors to be able to just search a registry to see who has a gun in the neighborhood. Some people truly think about as negatively of gun owners as they do sex offenders. There is a stigma that can't be overcome.

im ALMOST FOR the government setting up a registry so people can see who owns a gun in the neighborhood... this way Mr. Burgler can do a simple search and then he knows what house to target and im betting he will stay away from mine. just think whos house Mr. Burgler is going to go into... Rosie O'Donnells or Tom Sellecks ?

[Lenin's Tomb]

Originally Posted by Statepug

Teaching people to respect human life would go much further than a handgun ban.

Could that lesson be embedded in the backdrop of an illegal war waged by our country halfway around the world where hundreds of thousands of people have died?

[Timber]

Originally Posted by FC Juventus

im ALMOST FOR the government setting up a registry so people can see who owns a gun in the neighborhood... this way Mr. Burgler can do a simple search and then he knows what house to target and im betting he will stay away from mine. just think whos house Mr. Burgler is going to go into... Rosie O'Donnells or Tom Sellecks ?

I have wondered in the past why people with guns for home protection didn't post stickers in the windows or something like ADT does. The people I associate with become visibly uncomfortable when they find out I have firearms. Then I take them to the range and they see why I love blowing up clay discs and paper targets.

[Zakath]

Originally Posted by Lenin's Tomb

It is unlikely that the US will be invaded in the forseeable future. It is more likely that there would be some kind of revolution against the US government from within, where an armed populace may actually be needed. Of course, as long as the armed forces sided completely with the government it would be a slaughter, as would any attack from another nation.

Given how the American military is comprised, coming from every town and village across the country, from all different backgrounds, I don't believe you would see the armed forces side completely with the government. Besides, most of the military believes (rightly so) that they are defending the nation, not the government.

And there is a significant difference between an isolated group preaching revolution, and a general public uprising. In the face of the latter, I don't believe the military would be uniform in its opposition to that uprising, and there would potentially be enough ex-military in such an uprising that the "slaughter" wouldn't be guaranteed.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Originally Posted by Timber

I have wondered in the past why people with guns for home protection didn't post stickers in the windows or something like ADT does. The people I associate with become visibly uncomfortable when they find out I have firearms. Then I take them to the range and they see why I love blowing up clay discs and paper targets.

You can post one these in your window:

[Dr. Strangelove]

Originally Posted by Zakath

Given how the American military is comprised, coming from every town and village across the country, from all different backgrounds, I don't believe you would see the armed forces side completely with the government. Besides, most of the military believes (rightly so) that they are defending the nation, not the government.

And there is a significant difference between an isolated group preaching revolution, and a general public uprising. In the face of the latter, I don't believe the military would be uniform in its opposition to that uprising, and there would potentially be enough ex-military in such an uprising that the "slaughter" wouldn't be guaranteed.

That and there are a ****load of weapons in this country and I would venture a guess that there are at least 1 million automatic weapons in the hands of private individuals.

[Timber]

This is going to sound weird like I am a nut job, but when it comes to the whole overthrowing the gov., I think guns will be more important in seeing what faction of people gets to lead the new government.

Like if it happened today, the government crumbles from lack of support, then the Conservatives and Liberals get to battle it out.

Some of you take it so literally like we need them for the inevitable storming of the white house.

Again though, I am not a whack job and this is not why I have guns. This will not happen in my lifetime.

[FC Juventus]

Originally Posted by Timber

I have wondered in the past why people with guns for home protection didn't post stickers in the windows or something like ADT does. The people I associate with become visibly uncomfortable when they find out I have firearms. Then I take them to the range and they see why I love blowing up clay discs and paper targets.

i do believe there are such items. im almost positive ive seen stickers that have said "this house protected by Smith & Wesson" or the like.
my sister is soon to be a first time home owner (by herself) and i took her to the range and once she got over the "its too loud" aspect... she become very comfortable and had a great time. now she is bugging me to let her try out the 30.06.

[Lenin's Tomb]

Originally Posted by Zakath

Given how the American military is comprised, coming from every town and village across the country, from all different backgrounds, I don't believe you would see the armed forces side completely with the government. Besides, most of the military believes (rightly so) that they are defending the nation, not the government.

And there is a significant difference between an isolated group preaching revolution, and a general public uprising. In the face of the latter, I don't believe the military would be uniform in its opposition to that uprising, and there would potentially be enough ex-military in such an uprising that the "slaughter" wouldn't be guaranteed.

You're probably correct, and I agree that there would likely be a split of some kind. But if the brass sticks with the government with enough of the military personnel, then most of the sophisticated weaponry would probably be under the control of the government, and small arms against that isn't going to mean much even with overwhelming numbers.

But as SpartanStu pointed out, the point of private arms is to overthrow a corrupt government, not fight off foreign invasion.

[Dr. Strangelove]

Originally Posted by FC Juventus

i do believe there are such items. im almost positive ive seen stickers that have said "this house protected by Smith & Wesson" or the like.
my sister is soon to be a first time home owner (by herself) and i took her to the range and once she got over the "its too loud" aspect... she become very comfortable and had a great time. now she is bugging me to let her try out the 30.06.

Ever shot an M1 Garand ? Great weapon.

[FC Juventus]

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

Ever shot an M1 Garand ? Great weapon.

thats a negatory. the mythbuster guys put one in a tank of water to see if it would fire "lethally"... and i think the round only went like 6feet. i hope they didnt ruin that beautiful piece of u.s. history.
my father-in-law has several "old" firearms... but they are all "lookie-no-touchie"

[SpartanStu]

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

Ever shot an M1 Garand ? Great weapon.

works great in the Call of Duty games...

[Dr. Strangelove]

Originally Posted by FC Juventus

thats a negatory. the mythbuster guys put one in a tank of water to see if it would fire "lethally"... and i think the round only went like 6feet. i hope they didnt ruin that beautiful piece of u.s. history.
my father-in-law has several "old" firearms... but they are all "lookie-no-touchie"

My FiL has one - very nice. 8 round magazine / semi-auto and not much of kick. Of course, my FiL also has an arsenal that I get when he dies. Including a Thompson Submachine Gun with a 100 round drum.

[Statepug]

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

My FiL has one - very nice. 8 round magazine / semi-auto and not much of kick. Of course, my FiL also has an arsenal that I get when he dies. Including a Thompson Submachine Gun with a 100 round drum.

If you need any spare clips let me know. I've got a box of em on my back porch. Mostly 8's and possibly a couple 15's.

[FC Juventus]

Originally Posted by Dr. Strangelove

My FiL has one - very nice. 8 round magazine / semi-auto and not much of kick. Of course, my FiL also has an arsenal that I get when he dies. Including a Thompson Submachine Gun with a 100 round drum.

nice job!! ... the second thing my FiL said to me when i asked for his daughters hand (after he gave me his blessing) was that he was excited that he has someone to pass along all of his firearms (~24 pieces) too when the time comes. this occured on the way home from a successful hunt (only problem is his youngest daughter has already laid claim to the Ruger .357 Magnum Blackhawk. ).

[Statepug]

Originally Posted by FC Juventus

nice job!! ... the second thing my FiL said to me when i asked for his daughters hand (after he gave me his blessing) was that he was excited that he has someone to pass along all of his firearms (~24 pieces) too when the time comes. this occured on the way home from a successful hunt (only problem is his youngest daughter has already laid claim to the Ruger .357 Magnum Blackhawk. ).

I've got a red dot scoped Ruger 44 magnum Super Blackhawk with Pacmyr grips I use for deer hunting. Nice gun.