Poll How Many Of Us Are Armed?

[ground crew]

But the assumption that there are no limits on the actions of parliament's (for example allowing them to declare war, and to license the killing of thousands of people)
Implicitly hark back to the old assumption of divine warrant

My point is that by pulling the trigger, no matter who pulls the trigger, is assuming god like powers. I am worried the state will abuse its power, true. I am also aware of places like Las Vegas, a class of first graders, an elected official, where mad men shot up croweds with military grade hardware. I suggest the constitutional definition of "arms" involved a piece of flint and a ram rod. If we stick to that definition, churches and schools and concerts will no longer be killing fields. Am I the only one aware there are MASS SHOOTINGS almost every day! So comon you need at least ten dead just to make the evening news! And nation wide, by lunch there are 10 shot, just one at a time, only a couple are fatal so I am getting all worked up about nothing.

But I need to worry the feds are going to take the guns away. Really?

 

[Anarchy]

There's really good analysis of the ineffectiveness of legislative banning, going back centuries.

William Graham Sumner and H L Mencken give a succinct analysis of it in the late 19th and early 20th centuries respectively. Analysis that hasn't been refuted either empirically or logically. A search for "mencken, uplifters" will find you a copy.

Unfortunately blind optimism in the effectiveness of politicians and of overweight people with a bad sense of entitlement, continues. Mencken uses the example of the alcohol prohibition that was still on the constitution while he was writing. The ineffectiveness of the war on drugs would be an equally good modern illustration.

 

[EveHarrington]

I’m never armed.

I’m freakin’ fearless! (Yes, this upsets everyone I know. I have no fear, they carry it all for me.)

If I owned a gun, let’s just say I’d be dead right now. I will never own a gun.

 

[anonymous]

deliberately carrying an umbrella

Yes, these sorts of things, absolutely. Items handy beside bed too, and have a quite firm plan of what i'd do if someone tried to break in in the night. Put it this way, they would be f*cking SORRY. LOL.

 

[Sunfl0wer]

Owning a weapon in France is not common, unless you're a hunter or an outlaw.

 

[Anarchy]

It's an interesting one,

The small arms project, estimates that the number of unlicensed guns in European countries far outnumber the licensed and recorded ones.

Obviously they're impossible to estimate directly because by the definition of the statute book, they're held by outlaws, who aren't going to come forward and admit what they've got.

But it is still worthwhile being cautious against making any sweeping statements in this area, because no one knows, and no one can know what the true figures are.

 

[Sunfl0wer]

The small arms project, estimates that the number of unlicensed guns in European countries far outnumber the licensed and recorded ones.

I would not honestly not be surprised. You would be an outlaw if you got one without registering as a hunter but it is really easy to get one. My brother was even able to and he isn't known for being bright, not to mention the fact that there are many airsoft guns around that you don't need to register for, since it is not supposed to shoot anything else than small plastic balls.

 

[Cyberluddite]

Swiss Army Nerds don't need to own weapons.

To us, everything is a weapon. :sneaky:

 

[Anarchy]

The construct of "weapon" only exists in the individual human minds and in individual human intentions and actions.

So yes, absolutely. It's the human intent that turns a piece of stone lying on the ground into a weapon in the hand.

 

[Cyberluddite]

In Switzerland, all male citizens over the age of 17 are required to own a gun. However, they are required by law to be trained on the proper use, care, and ethics of owning their guns. Women aren't required to own a firearm, but they are encouraged to do so.

Their gun violence rate is so low it's almost unheard of. Normally, the conclusion would be "more guns!", but there's more to why this isn't the case. Firearms are part of Switzerland's culture of national defense, and in fact the Vatican recruits its Papal guards from there as well.

Plus, there's some debate as to whether or not Wayne LaPierre (of the NRA) has a mental illness, as "nervous disorder" was a rather unique medical deferment during the Vietnam War. Should this be accurate, it would help explain why the U.S. Congress can't pass legislation regarding the mental health version of the background check.

And even if it could avoid violating current federal laws regarding patient medical privacy, LaPierre's reputation wouldn't be the only one destroyed if he was flagged by the database. Again, no official confirmation, but even Snopes isn't 100% sure how to rule on the claim.

No wonder the Japanese samurai didn't want to use firearms. They told the Western traders it was too simple a weapon to use against others.

Sources:

BBC, "Switzerland and the Gun"

Motley News, "Was Wayne LaPierre Deferred from Vietnam Due to a Nervous Disorder?"

Swiss Info, "Swiss Papal Guard Preserves its Tradition"

 

[Ahhlia]

I keep a gun, one from my late husbands' collection. It is a 25mm small Italian one... it can't kill, it will only piss off the intruder. I paid for a gun for my boyfriend, a Sig Sauer but he hides it especially when I get really down and having thought. Course, I would not shoot myself like my late husband.