Gun right discussion

[Joelene9]

Yup,

  We start them early here. My nephew put up a video of his twin girls shooting with assistance at age 3, I supplied the targets for that. He has another one with his petite wife shooting a .50 cal Barrett sniper rifle with no problem. He's got overwhelming positive responses to both videos.

Joelene

[funkinthenight]

Well, here in Canada our taxes pay for healthcare so I think people not being able to get them as easily is a good thing because I don't want to have to pay for people to get medical attention if they get shot. Gun violence is really not a problem in most places around here.

[Tessa James]

I don't expect to change any hearts and minds here but the data demonstrate that the USA is awash in guns with many times more people harming one another with them than in any other civilized country.  People who own guns commit suicide with their handguns more than by any other method.  The visceral and angry responses to even the most reasonable accountability or regulation seems fear based to me. 
I grew up with guns in the home and was a high school marksman in our gun club.  Then I went to Vietnam as an 18 yo soldier and lived in a situation where everyone had an automatic weapon.  The result was that I saw brutality and "free fire zones" with people and cows shot for sport and as much "friendly fire" damage to our guys as inflicted by our so called enemy.  The carnage in our country is shameful and preventable.  Children and adults are no longer safe just going to school, the mall or a movie.  There is a psychological response/reflex to holding that level of power in our hands that makes me uncomfortable around anyone with a gun.  Our police kill people at an alarming and racially disproportionate level.  People who own guns respond to even proposed legislation by buying more guns.  How much firepower do we need to feel safe enough?
To me this is another situation where ideology trumps the truth about what a healthy community needs.
More guns = less safety. 

Flame on!

[Zumbagirl]

Vermont is a northern state bordering Canada, and northern states except for Michigan (due to Detroit) don't seem to be as much of an issue. I'm not fully sure about Utah. To be honest, I think it's more of a mental thing than anything. It's the "Bible Belt" states that intimidate me. I've collectively spent around 2 months in California and loved each time I went; especially San Diego (which is a very safe large city). The Bible Belt states may not necessarily be more unsafe, but that's just the mental part I guess.

Shows like "Doomsday Preppers" (I think that's what it's called) don't help. There was an episode where this guy built an underground bunker and when they were doing a simulation of a "dommsday" scenario the grandfather was like "everyone put guns in this bin" and like, each of the teens had like 1 or 2. Even the 11 year old girl had one and it was just so shocking for me.

Vermont is a neghboring state for me. I travel to VT quite frequently. The state has literally no gun laws at all. Anyone can walk into a store, buy a gun and take it home. There is in my mind a direct correlation to lack of violent crime and armed citizens.  NH has very lax gun laws as well, and open carry as well. Maine is about to switch to open carry. MA, CT and RI are very strict and have very very violent crimes, some shockingly violent.

In the US the nature of crime has changed. It used to be gangs knocking each other off for rights to deal and other criminal activities. The gangs have stopped knocking each other off and now crime has become more personal. There is a recent case in my own hometown where a guy was stabbed multiple time during a home invasion (still in a medically induced coma) for only a handful of things of any value. It's easier for criminals to ambush one defenseless person by themselves whether by home invasion or on the street than to confront another criminal who may have a dangerous weapon. Massachusetts has very strict gun laws, even a gun registry and yet has very bad gun violence. The crimes aren't being committed by law abiding citizens. It is criminals plain and simple. They know there is a population of people with no weapons and easy to steal, beat, rob, rape, what have you. Heck these days, criminals don't even care if they shoot cops.

At this point I am definitely convinced that there is a correlation between violent crime and armed citizens. If you and I were walking down the street, a criminal would think twice if he saw me carrying a weapon. It's not an easy ambush, because they know it's too easy for me to reciprocate the violence. Wait till your post-op and 5-6 years have passed and your all blended into the world and you will understand what vulnerable means.

Like I said, it's a right in the US. If you don't want a gun, then don't get one. You can opt out if you wish. Don't disparage the people who do. I'm not a doomsday prepper but honestly what do I care what someone wants to do with their free time? If they want to dig a hole in the backyard and hide out underground with a stash of guns, then who cares? They are not shooting at anyone or harming anyone. They are free to live thier own lives as they see fit. That's the American experience, you live your life and I live mine. You don't trample on my rights and I don't trample on yours. Everyone's happy.

[Zumbagirl]

I don't expect to change any hearts and minds here but the data demonstrate that the USA is awash in guns with many times more people harming one another with them than in any other civilized country.  People who own guns commit suicide with their handguns more than by any other method.  The visceral and angry responses to even the most reasonable accountability or regulation seems fear based to me. 
I grew up with guns in the home and was a high school marksman in our gun club.  Then I went to Vietnam as an 18 yo soldier and lived in a situation where everyone had an automatic weapon.  The result was that I saw brutality and "free fires zones" with people and cows shot for sport and as much "friendly fire" damage to our guys as inflicted by our so called enemy.  The carnage in our country is shameful and preventable.  Children and adults are no longer safe just going to school, the mall or a movie.  There is a psychological response/reflex to holding that level of power in our hands that makes me uncomfortable around anyone with a gun.  Our police kill people at an alarming and racially disproportionate level.  People who own guns respond to even proposed legislation by buying more guns.  How much firepower do we need to feel safe enough?
To me this is another situation where ideology trumps the truth about what a healthy community needs.
More guns = less safety. 

Flame on!

People will still commit suicide if all they have are rocks and sticks. People have commited suicide since the days of drinking hemlock and will until our species is finally extinct from this earth. There is nothing any of us can do to change that.

A right is a right, as simple as that. Just like the right of free expression and being able to move to a new gender. No one can stop you (or me for that matter). In that same line of thinking no one can take it away either. Could you imagine having the ability to have a gender transition put to a vote or worse a constitutional amendment? That would be a rotten day for all of us I can tell you if we came up in the losing side.

I've said it over and over like a broken record, if you don't want a gun, then don't get one. Just don't think you have the power to dictate other peoples rights. Some people are boneheads, yes I will say that. Here comes gun ban A or ammo ban B and they go out and buy up all they can, you know why?? So they can sell it back to stupid people for 5 times what they paid for it. This isn't an idealogy of left vs right, because honestly I think both sides are stupid.

[iKate]

Yup,

  We start them early here. My nephew put up a video of his twin girls shooting with assistance at age 3, I supplied the targets for that. He has another one with his petite wife shooting a .50 cal Barrett sniper rifle with no problem. He's got overwhelming positive responses to both videos.

Joelene

I have a friend whose daughter is a 9 year old competitive shooter. She gets good grades too.

[EllieM]

Please tell me how citizens of the Dominion of Canada have the right to bare regulated arms.

Additionally, I really don't care for the race of the gun-holder. Anyone holding a gun is intimidating to me.

The English Bill of Rights 1689, transferred to us in 1867 by the BNA act give us that right.

I am a licensed owner of firearms living in Canada. My license permits me to acquire and possess both the non-restricted and restricted classes of firearm in Canada. To obtain that permission, I had several one on one interviews with Provincial Police, background checks, my spouse and neighbors were interviewed, and I completed several courses on firearms safety, history, technology and laws, and was examined on those subjects by a federally licensed examiner. The avatar (at the time of this post) is me. The picture is (at the time of this post) less than one month old. I don't think I'm intimidating

All that being said, you still won't find me out and about in public with a loaded firearm. I would not want the responsibility of having to decide if I should be using it to defend myself. I know that there are courses in Canada that deal with that very topic, but they are intended for restricted firearm owners who are applying to the US for carry permits, a very rare item in this country.

Just in closing, I would like to relate to you my first experience witnessing open carry. I was in Nevada, attending a professional conference related to my work. I saw a lot of people in this particular town out in public with sidearms holstered in plain sight. I did not feel intimidated, oddly, I felt safe, just as safe as I feel walking around in Ste. Agathe or Cornwall.

-ellie

[Tessa James]

Again, I do not expect to change your minds about guns but I do not see it as a left or right issues but more about what is healthy for our communities.  More guns=more deaths.  We have the highest level of gun ownership and the highest homicide rate of any so called "advanced country."  Fear is the irrational part of the equation and is manipulated by the NRA constantly to stoke the flames.  And then, even most NRA members are in favor of universal background checks.

Suicide is preventable and having seen a number of misses where people blow off their nose or part of their face- it doesn't always work as planned.  Some one cleans up the mess folks.

Rights are reasonably subject to regulation.  We also have a right to our "pursuit of happiness" and I expect no one is happy about the daily loss of life in the USA to gun violence.  We all have a stake in creating a climate of peace.  My not owning guns does not stop criminals from looking for guns when they break into homes nor does it prevent gun owners from going nuts and killing people---every day!

Don't people have the right to reduce violence and to work for a safer neighborhood?  Gun rights end where the killing and wounding begins.  If guns were primarily being used for hunting and sports we would have much less to be concerned about.  Gun violence impacts and costs us all of us, not just gun owners.  http://assets.motherjones.com/politics/2015/04/graybubble.jpg

[Devlyn]

First some facts about murder: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_intentional_homicide_rate

Then some fun!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzFWRPiNXOI&feature=youtube_gdata_player

[stephaniec]

I don't know did Adam and Eve carry concealed weapons, Oh sorry that was paradise.

[Serena]

I'm anti-gun (Is that how you call it or gun-free? I don't care), I really don't understand this american obsession with guns, I was born in Europe (more specifically Italy) and moved to the US, and I wouldn't feel more safe with a gun, nor I like the fact that they are used for fun, they are not for fun. I also don't like that kids are using them, regardless if the parents are assisting them, or for some competition. No, you don't need a gun as much as you need transitioning, and you don't move your gender. I was always the same gender, my body liked to differ, and I'm changing that.

[enigmaticrorschach]

after earning my boy scout rifle badge, i was deemed to sharp of a shooter and suggested i never buy one whether for self protection or not. however, this seems to be one of the topic discussions in politics since they can't seem to stop gun violence itself

[stephaniec]

One problem is for me is that in moments of deep despair , it's so much easier to put the barrel of a loaded revolver in your mouth and pull the trigger. You can't after the fact say well maybe it will get better.

[enigmaticrorschach]

i actually know someone who would pull a madea on someone else.

[ChloëAri]

Serena: I swear that I'm not judging you, but why would you leave Italy for the U.S.? I've visited Italy over a collective period of a month and cried when I had to leave both times. I would love to move there.

[Kova V]

I don't know did Adam and Eve carry concealed weapons, Oh sorry that was paradise.

Let's not bring religion into this.

Related question for the non-US folks. Is it okay for blades or bow/arrows?

[Serena]

Serena: I swear that I'm not judging you, but why would you leave Italy for the U.S.? I've visited Italy over a collective period of a month and cried when I had to leave both times. I would love to move there.

Because Italy is a deeply transphobic country, just the fact that most trans women there are seen as crossdressers who escort for money, and even just italian is really transphobic, because the whole language is genderized and use most of the time to misgender us.

But anyway, I didn't leave Italy, I am 18 now, but when I left, I was too young to decide to stay, because I was a minor so I had to follow my family with their decision, which I am happy about right now, beside the american selective service, and gun stuff.

[CB]

Let's not bring religion into this.

Related question for the non-US folks. Is it okay for blades or bow/arrows?

No but they are far far less effective mass killing weapons than guns. But as a Dual UK/Irish citizen I can tell you that publicly carrying a knife will get you into EXTREMELY serious trouble. Again carrying pepper spray will also get you arrested.

Which lead me on to something else. I believe there is a whole cultural difference at play here which goes much deeper than the simple "right to carry a gun". A whole cultural difference of what are acceptable levels of violence.
I've been following this thread for a while and held back from contributing simply because I need to get my thoughts on these cultural differences straight in my head.

[iKate]

One problem is for me is that in moments of deep despair , it's so much easier to put the barrel of a loaded revolver in your mouth and pull the trigger. You can't after the fact say well maybe it will get better.

It's easy to jump off a bridge or drop a hair dryer in the bathtub, walk into traffic etc.

[iKate]

I'm anti-gun (Is that how you call it or gun-free? I don't care), I really don't understand this american obsession with guns, I was born in Europe (more specifically Italy) and moved to the US, and I wouldn't feel more safe with a gun, nor I like the fact that they are used for fun, they are not for fun. I also don't like that kids are using them, regardless if the parents are assisting them, or for some competition. No, you don't need a gun as much as you need transitioning, and you don't move your gender. I was always the same gender, my body liked to differ, and I'm changing that.

The "obsession" is quite simple.

This country would not be possible without guns. The founding fathers did not ask the British for independence. Quite simply, they shot them.