That's ridiculous! Guns and gun culture are heavily ingrained in American culture. If you choose not to participate in it, you don't have to. That's called freedom!
@SunshineGirl Then we should get get rid of all those cars and trucks on the road. Do you know how many people are killed in vehicle wrecks every year!? It's unbelievable!
@Nitedoc On the one hand you’re actually right, we would be better off by using public transport more. Much fewer Europeans than Americans are killed in automobile accidents every year, and it’s not because Americans drive more recklessly, they don’t. It’s simply because Americans drive more. The more you drive, the more chances you have of getting killed in an auto accident. We could live longer, happier lives by building our cities more compactly and relying more on public transport.
On the other hand, just because you want to restrict gun availability, it does not logically follow that you must want to ban automobiles. When used properly, cars and trucks provide the service of transportation, which benefits society. By contrast guns used properly still do nothing but kill people and animals.
No, to like shooting per se is understandable. It's a pastime a lot of people enjoy. I'm guessing the person was referring to America's obsession with guns and the thrill of violence that infects American culture, and is mainly centred around guns. I understand that guns are a big part of American culture, but to the rest of the world the obsession appears immature.
@Ceci13 Where did I say anything about gun control? My point was that guns are a part of your culture, but the rest of the world regards America's obsession with them as immature, which it is. Patriot's aggressive reply amply demonstrates that macho immaturity I described perfectly. As does your's.
Small minded, judgemental people say a lot of stuff I ignore beyond what it tells me about who they are as people.
Among a lot of outdoor things, I hunt game animals for food. I also shoot sporting clays and trap and target shoot occasionally for recreation. I raised two sons who know how to safely and effectively store, handle and use firearms.
I'm not obsessed with guns, but I'm going to continue to pursue what I do and support the right to no matter what others think.
It's only a red flag for the hoplophobes. I worked at a company and had several co-workers from Canada, Europe and Asia. When we hosted company events in the US, guess what they all wanted to do? Yep...they wanted to go the shooting range.
I would disagree. I can see the appeal of guns and I'm sure that many can, whether they are pro gun or not. Shooting as a test of one's skill is arguably as compelling as any other accuracy-based competitive activity such as archery or darts. Guns themselves can be compelling too, whether to feel like your favourite hero from a Western or action movie or simply to feel safe/powerful. They can empower those who would otherwise feel afraid. Guns themselves are not the problem, much as tigers themselves are not a problem. Their safe place in society is the question.
No I don't agree with that small minded person. My husband has shot competition shoots for money since he was 14 yr.s old (skeet and trap). I enjoy target shooting and have hunted both birds and deer with him. Neither of us have had thoughts of hurting a person and are safe to a point of being almost religious about it. The way I see it most bad people were not raised doing shooting sports, had terrible parenting growing up and those folks have some kind of mental problem. Some other thoughts. More people have been killed every year with hands, feet, knives, clubs and other means than guns. If they banned guns a bow and arrow would kill just as effectively and can do out to 50 yards with a modestly accurate shooter.
When guns are used to make another law, be careful. Americans may love guns, but so do a lot of other countrys. Guns can't harm anybody, politics however do it well.
@JPWhoo Have you paaid attention to 911, all the wars the usa started and soldiers who died there. And I won't even mention the photographers that must still be on the moon. @JPWhoo
Your logic: Some people enjoy shooting for sport, therefore enjoying shooting shouldn’t be a red flag for anyone. 🤨
That said, I don’t personally consider it a red flag just because someone enjoys hunting or even target practice; however, I definitely understand where they’re coming from. Guns are made to kill people and animals, and the gun culture in America is out of control.
Guns would be easy to regulate if politicians and the NRA weren’t quite so fearful that all rights would be taken away. I’m not sure that’s anyone’s goal.
@Adogslife that's a lot of guns just automatic weapons to take. I think he means laws about not altering guns or converting them. If they take the automatics away people will just build them at home.
@Adogslife The implication there are no regulations .. is complete b.s..
Guns are regulated. I've gone through a new background check for every gun I ever purchased. Felons are not allowed to purchase/own guns. There are age restrictions, some tighter than others, in every state. There are varying laws around types of guns, magazine capacities, access to ammo, etc, around the country. Yes .. there are some gaps .. gun shows and private sales, etc and as a responsible and law abiding owner, I actually support tightening those laws.
@BrandNewMan BNM, good post. I’m sorry for not clarifying. I’m simply one that prefers additional regulation on “new” guns or new” gun owners. Current legal owners would/could be grandfathered in.
The basic test(s) you go through are seemingly fine for low capacity non-semiautomatic arms, like a hand gun for instance.
I’d prefer more sophisticated weapons to require tiered licenses and longer wait times. Think of it like a driver’s license. You start with a learner’s permit, which requires supervision and carries restrictions as far as usage. Typically, after six months and “x” number of training hours, you test for a full license.
Even that license is technically not all inclusive. You can’t drive a motorcycle nor a semi. That would require further licensing and testing. Apply similar logic to guns. Some hand guns, shotguns and rifles would be in the basic tier of licensing. But, there’d be a wait time, perhaps two years, to attempt to get a license for something like an AK.
There’s a way to provide for greater safety and not eliminate the rights of those that would like to own guns. That tiering alone would’ve prevented some of the mass shootings because it eliminates impulse buying with the intent to harm. I’ve not heard of many shooters that planned for years…
@Reason10 By the way, I do not like guns. I do not like shooting (maybe because the gun is so damned loud and I can't hit the side of a barn.) I don't like the idea of being in a room with something able to inflict such efficient death. But I don't hold everybody else to my views. The Second Amendment exists and my neighbors can own cannons and machine guns for all I care.
