firearms debate.

[[KMA]Avenger]

this is a discussion for those of us who unlike the Americans, don't have the right to keep and bear arms.

IMHO, anybody of sound mind should have the right to keep and bear firearms for many reasons, and we should also have the right to use those firearms in the case of someone breaking and entering into a persons home.

what say you non-yanks, should we have those rights?



i welcome any and all input from our American brethren ( )

[Kit-Fox]

There is little point for 90% of the firearms in private ownership other than to kill or main other people.

Yes I've heard all the arguments such as but its used for hunting or target practice etc etc, but for target practice you dont need to be able to own guns like an M-16/M-4 or a desert eagle. The same same goes for the rather wide variety of ammunition available.

[Colton]

People of sound minds should be allowed to own a basic sidearm for defensive purposes only in their own home at the very least..

[Kit-Fox]

I should point out I am not necessarily against gun ownership, but when you look at some of the stuff trotted out by people in countries where gun ownership is legal in 'defence' of their 'rights' it looks less like the weapons are owned for the professed 'safe' activities or even home defence but to blow away anyone who riles them up

[Phlamingoe]

but its used for hunting or target practice etc etc, but for target practice you dont need to be able to own guns like an M-16/M-4 or a desert eagle.

It's called entertainment. It's fun to shoot guns and compete against your buddies to see who can shoot the best. Maybe there is no real point to it, but who cares, its a short life we live and I'm going to do everything I can to enjoy it.

[agapooka]

I'm all for blowguns, but those are actually illegal where I live. I think that poison darts are much more fun than impressive devices that go *boom*, but I'm all for self-defense.

On a side note, I read somewhere that Canada has more guns per capita than the US, but much less gun violence per capita. See, it has nothing to do with with actual gun ownership. Making guns unavailable only keeps them out of honest citizens' hands, as criminals are always willing to go to the black market. Honest citizens are the least threatening. Why disarm them and not disarm the criminal? Whom does that help? Certainly not the honest citizen!

Agapooka

[Tyber Zann]

In New Zealand, you can gain a firearms license at 16. Get a background check, pass a theory test at a police station, pay the fee - and off you go to the gun store.

Your able to buy hunting weapons - rifles, shotguns etc. You must have a firearms license to do this. No license no gun.

However a special "collectors" license must be obtained if you want to be able to own automatic and certain semi-automatic weapons. These arnt given out willie nilly over here.

[Valume]

[spoiler]Gun HOE YANKY[/spoiler]

I was raised with guns being around me all me life. From little kids to adults having them. To be honest i believe certain class's or permits should be force to have them but its not goin to stop anyone from gettin them. I can walk in Kmark and proly get the b light special on a 12g pump i bet. Let alone walk in my old neighborhood and get a pistal for under $100.

Now i realy do think everyone has a right to own a gun. You abuse your privalage than no more owning a gun. i seen a few people lose gun right for poaching deer out of season, but they only lost right for a year, but than convicted felons can never own a fire arm.

Now what if your on the bad side of town and someone holds you up? What do you do? Alot of case's out there the thug still shots you even if you gave in demands. So why not have the right to protect your self with a fire arm. in the end you know atleast you could have tried

But to end this i did take class's for firearms, not cause i was force. But it was away to learn certain points how to treat them, even though i dont do everything by the book but its nice to know

[Rocky]

i just don't see a firearm as being a form of protection in an everyday home, if someone holds you up or something you don't really have enough time to get your gun and ward someone off, unless you carry it with you 24/7 which like carrying a knife of a certain size in the UK is illegal.

Also if someone breaks and enters in your home although it happens, you cannot legally injure the burglar or in any way harm him otherwise he has a right to sue you, which a criminal will most likely take. and you will end up getting the harsher sentence than the burglar. You can defend yourself but tell me how you plan to do that with a gun other than blowing a hole in the guy

[[KMA]Avenger]

i have old school mentality and if someone is in my home with intent to rob me or harm my family, he will be lucky to leave my home in 1 piece, gun or no gun, law or no law....
if any of my sons was rob someone or break into someone's home, i would chop their bloody hands off...i kid you not!

the laws in the UK are backwards to say the least, and i'm sure i'm not the only Brit who thinks burglars should be left to the tender mercy of the home owner, and the law should only get involved to remove the burglars remains.

the law is an ass, and we should have the right to keep and bear guns.

[Kit-Fox]

To defend your home you dont need a gun or even a knife, what you need is common sense & intelligence along with a somewhat halfway fit body.

If you had all that a simple 1ft length of wood would suffice and be just as deadly as a bullet through the head (and you'd likely miss trying to do that even at point blank if your target was missing, theres a reason marksmen aim for the central torso)

[[KMA]Avenger]

AH!! my bad, i should have been clearer with my response your right, you don't need guns/knives and what not to defend yourself/family or possessions. if your, capable fists, feet or even teeth are more than enough in most cases, i was merely responding to the right to defend ones self by any means at your disposal and that the law is backwards with regards to burglars and victims, which i spose is an all together different argument

[Colton]

I imagine a decent paintball gun with the velocity cranked would suffice

[~Zekk~]

Moi take: Guns have absolutely nothing to do with it, realy. Yup, really.

Take all guns, nukes, cannons, and all other modern weapons, and remove them from the face of the earth--and what do you get? Swords, knives, and all the other old school weapons. Take them, and you go back to sticks and rocks.

All comes down to the violent nature of the people themselves. The gun is just an extention of the owners will.

*points to Ghandi*



~Z~ -- /me crawls back to the temple

[[KMA]Avenger]

:P

Moi take: Guns have absolutely nothing to do with it, realy. Yup, really.

Take all guns, nukes, cannons, and all other modern weapons, and remove them from the face of the earth--and what do you get? Swords, knives, and all the other old school weapons. Take them, and you go back to sticks and rocks.

All comes down to the violent nature of the people themselves. The gun is just an extention of the owners will.

*points to Ghandi*



~Z~ -- /me crawls back to the temple

the problem is the fact that we have not grown up and shed our pettiness, corruption and down right stupidity...you could blame education (or lack thereof) for all that!