musclebrains said:
Maybe not outlawed altogether but I bet handguns end up being banned.
I still think the supporters of gun ownership are a powerful lobby and though the two sides of the issue do not agree, this does not negate any of the arguments made. If I were a betting man I'd say let's bet 1 dollar (hey you can make a 20 minute phone call for only 99 cents)
musclebrains said:
The majority of Americans opposed the NRA's stand on handguns in polls after the school shootings. And the NRA has consistently liberalized its stand by inches as the tide turns against it.
I cannot recall completely, but were handguns used in the Columbine School shootings? I was under the assumption (perhaps incorrectly) that the guns were primarily shotguns and rifles. If so, then wouldn't that be somewhat a knee-jerk reflex to violence? If you have a link to the data of polls reporting the public's reaction to Columbine then that would at least be a start.
musclebrains said:
No, sorry to say but it's just a matter of time before America joins the rest of the world by radically curtailing access to guns.
Curtailing access to guns can probably be accomplished with enforcement of current laws such as the waiting period and background check. It makes more sense to me that this is a good starting point rather than outright abolishment of any type of gun. However, there have been crimes committed with automatic assault rifles, which incidentally, are banned by those without Federal Firearms Licenses or Military clearance (if that's correct). I'm not sure how those crimes with automatic weapons could have been avoided since enforcement was already in place. At any rate, this is interesting in that there are still crimes taking place with automatic weapons even though their sale/ownership has been banned.
musclebrains said:
But I can agree the debate over gun ownership isn't going to resolve itself soon. I have plenty of good friends who love their guns. Sometimes it seems to come down to that. They LOOOOOOVE their guns the way carpenters looooooove their tools and gardeners love their compost bins and archers love their bows and arrows. People are incredibly passionate about this, and I understand that outlawing guns would mean a sacrifice by these people.
Well,yes that would be a sacrifice. In the very least, it would in the short run give a clear and distinct advantage to criminals who would pretty much prey on anyone they like and have free access to their valuables/families nearly without fear of mortal danger. Whether or not it would have a long term benefit remains to be seen although I doubt it is beneficial.
Anyway, probably the most applicable reason to have guns of any reason is home defense or protection of property. Yes, you're damn right these guns are meant and intended to kill. When reason, responsibility and morality do not exist for a criminal the only voice they will likely listen to is that made by the sound of a 12 gauge pump chambering a round. I prefer an additional .45 snubby for home and car. If someone wants violence out of me they will rapidly be staring into a barrel large enough to resemble a coffee cup. That will hopefully prevent violence right then and there. Should there ever be a situation of American invasion (not likely, but possible) public gun ownership would be one factor making it less easy for the invaders. Okay, okay so this is playing to the highly unlikely Red Dawn scenario.
Do you think that enforcing existing laws would be a good place to start or are you of the opinion that outright ban is the only answer?
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