I Can't Understand Why People Like Guns

I read this post a long time ago, but held off on responding. Given the timing of your piece, I'm assuming it written in response to the Orlando massacre.

I understand your position very well. I will also say I abhor violence of any kind. But I also understand human nature, and for that reason, I am a gun rights advocate. I've studied gun control and it's impact on violence for years. There are realities and fallacies on both sides of the debate.

If firearms such as the AR-15 had been banned, do you believe the massacre in Orlando would have been prevented?

It's a difficult question, but the answer is: very unlikely.

Mass murderers are evil. If the Orlando shooter was determined to use an AR-15, even if they were banned, it's highly likely he would have gotten one through illegal channels.

But let's assume for a moment that the Orlando shooter couldn't get an AR-15 or any other type of firearm that would be classified as an assault weapon. Would that have prevented the massacre, OR even lessened the carnage? Again, not likely.

I refer back to the Virginia Tech massacre. Prior to Orlando, it was the worst mass shooting in US history (except for Wounded Knee - but that's another story).

The Virginia Tech shooter used a Glock 19 handgun. He fired 170 bullet using 17, ten round magazines, killing more than 30 people before turning the gun on himself.

He did it with a handgun. He did not have high capacity magazines.

Columbine...similar situation (which occurred during the Assault Weapons Ban of 1994-2004). One shooter used a ban compliant rifle with 10 round magazines.

When I read someone refer to a firearm such as an AR-15 as an assault rifle, a weapon of war, or a firearm designed only for killing the maximum amount of people, I realize the marketing attempts to villify such a firearm has been successful.

The reality...it's not an assault rifle. Assault rifles are functionally different with select fire capabilities (full auto or multi round bursts). An AR-15 has never been used bybthe military and therefore cannot be a weapon of war. It's simply another semi-automatic firearm.

I'm not against guns, even have them my selves but I think it's idiotic to go shopping at your Walmart with two Colts on you're hips, what country are you living when you think that's necessary?

ArnoldJRimmer you're splitting hairs. I don't pretend in any way to be an expert on weapons but I understand the difference between a personal handgun and a weapon that is designed for war.

ilostmypants, Canada has stricter gun control laws than the USA. Canada has FAR fewer mass shootings than the USA. Coincidence? I think not.

BrigidsGarden I agree, it sounds totally made up. But come to think of it, none of the Axis powers did end up invading the continental United States. Maybe they were [b]all[/b] afraid of US citizens exercising their right to bear arms! Oh but wait... they didn't invade Canada either!! Hmmmm. Could distance and the fact that there were enemies nearer at hand have [b]anything[/b] to do with this?? smh

ilostmypants you're right. and in America it's incredibly easy for sick and twisted people to walk out and find a gun to kill as many people as they can before they're shot down themselves. Can you get that?? Once again it's people like YOU that want to make it easy for people who should NEVER be allowed to have a gun get as many as they want.

couchpotato "this quote is unsubstantiated and almost certainly bogus, even though it has been repeated thousands of times in various Internet postings. There is no record of the commander in chief of Japan’s wartime fleet ever saying it." http://www.factcheck.org/2009/05/misquoting-yamamoto/

[quote] You with an M16 against tanks and artillery?[/quote]

Look up the battle of Athens 1946

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Athens_(1946)


The Yamamoto quote it apocryphal and unsubstantiated. Japan had no ability to invade the mainland us although Germany did have some plans for it.

But my point in general is that lots of people are screaming to ban something they cannot properly define.

The previous ban was a joke. Ban a rifle by name- re name it.
ohhh..a bayonet lug! (Grind it off and sell the new model)

There are entire freak show models of rifles listed as California compliant models...same rifle, different clothes.

Of course couchpotato. That's always the reason quoted. Know what? I have a much better chance of being mown down by a crazy guy with a gun then my own government going rogue on me.

Any one who thinks that they are going to hold off the government is silly look at Iraq they couldn't do it and they had tanks so I don't give you and your highpower rifle much of a chance

couchpotato "there was a gun behind every blade of grass" is an internet meme but I haven't found any reason to think it is accurate.

And seriously people, anybody defending the current situation with guns in the USA after Orlando, please. just. stop. 😢😭

Not a fan of them either .... Sadly, many people here care more about them then they should

once again it's people like you wanting to put the sole blame inanimate objects. it just shows your ignorance. guns don't shoot themselves, it's the sick and twisted people who use them. they are the ones to blame. banning guns will not solve anything and you know it. they tried to do that will alcohol and that made it even worst. the same would happen if they tried doing it with guns.

I do find the topic boring.
One day you may get your wish and ban everything. Im sure at that time no one will ever die by violence.

I mean Mexico has it illegal to own any firearm in a military caliber. To buy a firearm you can only go to one state run store in mexico city.

Im sure its a paradise where people dont show up murdered in a ditch down there when they irritate the local cartel.

CinnamonBun, yeah I might be wrong but I find it hard to believe that the Japanese weren't afraid of the US military in a possible invasion but cowered in fear from US citizens. Also being a student of the Japanese language and culture that phrase sounds more like something somebody made up to sound vaguely Japanese-ish.

ArnoldjRimmer, here's the difference between me and you: I dare to dream that man can be better, that man can spiritually evolve to a level where we get past the violence and killing. That we don't have to be the barbarians that we have been since we first appeared on this planet. That the love we show for our families and friends can be extended to everyone. You believe we should just stay in the muck and never better ourselves. Now I'll be the first to admit that my ideal is a dream. But we have never ever gotten anywhere without dreaming. And man is capable of bettering himself. There are more examples than I can count. But as long as the majority thinks in your way we will never better ourselves as a species, we will continue to create violence wherever we go and call it the normal state of things.

The nra is a strong lobby and many political parties have won and lost because of them and their money people will have to look down on the nra b4 I am afraid anything will be done the nra mostly tries to soften gun laws after a mass shooting

CinnamonBun if it really was all about being prepared for conflict, like the Swiss do, then I wouldn't have such an issue with it. But we don't put our guns away for an emergency in America. We take them out with us and shoot each other.

You with an M16 against tanks and artillery? ore are LAW's also free to civilians in the US?
And no, never heard Japan considered to attack the US mainland and didn't because of what you told.

Actually.... those guns didn't get banned when it was a Democratic congress either. Politicians love to hear themselves talk but they never take action.

Im not splitting hairs. This same issue came up in the original AWB.

Many hunting rifles were originally military designs.

I own many different types of firearms, i used to repair them in the military and i study engineering and history.

An assault rifle is capable of fully automatic function. Automatic weapons were regulated in 1934.

A civilian copy like an AR15 is not more powerful than a typical hunting rifle...in fact its not legal for deer in some places as its not powerful enough.

Coutchpotato, do you really think civilians with handguns can resist a regular army lol?

Brigid, i dont believe we should stay in the muck. But i also believe there always will be those who want what others have.

Thats why communism an other redistributive forms of government fail.

Waiting for a crack head to develop brotherly love is wishful thinking.

I think your viepoint is lovely, i dont blame you for wishing for. world thats peaceful.

I agree. I will never understand what people think they're going to do with an assault rifle, unless THEY plan to kill several people.

This beats my comprehension too.

Thank you for saying this!

KingKyrie: you need a history lesson my friend...did you know that Japan was about to invade the US during WW2 but didn't, because they feared "there was a gun behind every blade of grass"...and I thought we were talking about assault rifles here, or am I missing something

when under a threat of tyranny or invasion, I think you will change your mind..that's why the forefathers put the 2nd amendment in the constitution..they were escaping tyranny and saw first hand what tyranny can and will do to a populous..

Define an "assault weapon"
Im not being flippant or rude. Most people have no real knowledge beyond snippets heard on the news or from hollywood movies.

One of the most popular handguns in the us is the M1911 .45 automatic...
A military sidearm.

http://www.skylighters.org/quotations/quots6.html

You are more likely to be killed by a car or truck than being shot