Jon Meacham, a gun owner, on restoring the assault weapons ban

[Ban Hammer 13,476]

When food prices spiral out of reach and global riots break out over food shortages

around the globe, we're gonna need all the guns we can get.

don't tell people that, let darwin work!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

You forgot to mention zombies

[mawilson 2,133]

You forgot to mention zombies

Joke all you want, but it'll happen in our lifetime.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

In Modern Warfare 2 the Russians invaded. We should head off that possibility too, with more and bigger guns.

[mawilson 2,133]

In Modern Warfare 2 the Russians invaded. We should head off that possibility too, with more and bigger guns.

The Russians invaded Georgia two years ago and Europe did nothing to stop them.

Europe did nothing to stop Serbia from murdering people and that was in their backyard.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The Russians invaded Georgia two years ago and Europe did nothing to stop them.

Europe did nothing to stop Serbia from murdering people and that was in their backyard.

Why would they?

[mawilson 2,133]

Why would they?

Because you'd probably expect them to, if it was your home town that was being invaded.

Otherwise, why intervene to stop genocide, really?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Why didn't anyone bother intervening in Darfur? Rwanda? Cambodia? Its a pretty long list...

[mawilson 2,133]

Why didn't anyone bother intervening in Darfur? Rwanda? Cambodia? Its a pretty long list...

Well, your argument against guns is that we have an army to protect us from external threats.

How did that work out for Bosnia, Georgia, Darfur, Rwanda and Cambodia?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Well, your argument against guns is that we have an army to protect us from external threats.

How did that work out for Bosnia, Georgia, Darfur, Rwanda and Cambodia?

How is it working in Somalia, where everyonne and their mother has a gun? Safest place on planet? Er no.

On the bolded, no it was not. That was your hijack - that guns are needed in case of complete breakdown of law and order (presumably alongside personal nuclear bunkers, 2 years supply of canned food and anti-radiation medication).

Edited January 19, 2011 by Ron Burgundy

[mawilson 2,133]

How is it working in Somalia, where everyonne and their mother has a gun?

Wrong. The rate of private gun ownership in Somalia is 9.13 firearms per 100 people -

only slightly higher than the UK (6.72 firearms per 100 people). In a comparison

of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Somalia ranks #82 (the US is #1).

The rate of private gun ownership in the US is 88.82 firearms per 100 people - almost

10 times higher than Somalia.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Wrong. The rate of private gun ownership in Somalia is 9.13 firearms per 100 people -

only slightly higher than the UK (6.72 firearms per 100 people). In a comparison

of the number of privately owned guns in 178 countries, Somalia ranks #82 (the US is #1).

The rate of private gun ownership in the US is 88.82 firearms per 100 people - almost

10 times higher than Somalia.

I doubt "private ownership" in Somalia means the same thing as it does in the US.

What is the point of this line of argument anyway?

[mawilson 2,133]

I doubt "private ownership" in Somalia means the same thing as it does in the US.

What do you think it means in Somalia?

If you're thinking of "registered" firearms, then you're wrong again - the number of

registered guns in Somalia is reported to be around 14,000, while the estimated total

number of guns held (privately owned) by civilians in Somalia is between 550,000 and

750,000. Privately, as opposed to government owned (i.e. military and law enforcement).

[slim 1,530]

When food prices spiral out of reach and global riots break out over food shortages

around the globe, we're gonna need all the guns we can get.

We already have them. I think what you meant was "they" are going to need all the guns they can get.

Surprisingly enough... I don't think they'll be able to get them.

don't tell people that, let darwin work!

You forgot to mention zombies

You are the zombies.

In Modern Warfare 2 the Russians invaded. We should head off that possibility too, with more and bigger guns.

Why don't we just head it off by importing all their women and then infusing their culture with fast food, HIV and credit? Because... that's what we're doing now and it seems to be working just fine.

doubt "private ownership" in Somalia means the same thing as it does in the US.

Yeah, their constitution doesn't guarantee their right the way ours does.

What is the point of this line of argument anyway?

Translated = "You just PWND me so I'm going to question your way of posting. You're not playing fair. Let me win."

[The_Dude 1,142]

Aren't people who have been convicted of crimes precluded from owning weapons? Hope some people are off probation before the impending apocalypse.