The body count

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Would my Maglite be ok, or would that be too violent if someone attacked my wife?

Only if the Maglite is environmentally safe.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Only if the Maglite is environmentally safe.

Or maybe I should wait until the attacker kills every one and then call the police? I could hide under the bed with my guns until he leaves. I wouldn't want to violate his rights.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Or maybe I should wait until the attacker kills every one and then call the police? I could hide under the bed with my guns until he leaves. I wouldn't want to violate his rights.

There you go with the guns again. No guns! But yes to everything else. Whatever you do you want to make sure you don't use violence against the perps while they torture and kill your family.

[james&olya 1,121]

Am I missing something or are all of you that are '2nd amendment' advocates distracted by the 'shiny ball' of guns for self-defense? Charles made the obviously true comment regarding the superior efficacy of guns as a weapon of personal protection but then refuses to say why. Is it not obvious that this contradicts that oft-repeated canard about guns not being a major reason for our high murder rate? I mean, aren't the same reasons why a gun is superior for self-defense the same reasons that they are much more lethal in the hands of an assailant? Things like the ability to remain at a safe distance as you project your lethal force? Being able to easily generate the force necessary to 'take out' your adversary? Will you all promise to give up on your silly arguments that the murder rate would be much the same even if we could magically get rid of most of the guns out there? No? Lets at least hear how you can spin this!

[^_^ 5,021]

Am I missing something or are all of you that are '2nd amendment' advocates distracted by the 'shiny ball' of guns for self-defense? Charles made the obviously true comment regarding the superior efficacy of guns as a weapon of personal protection but then refuses to say why. Is it not obvious that this contradicts that oft-repeated canard about guns not being a major reason for our high murder rate? I mean, aren't the same reasons why a gun is superior for self-defense the same reasons that they are much more lethal in the hands of an assailant? Things like the ability to remain at a safe distance as you project your lethal force? Being able to easily generate the force necessary to 'take out' your adversary? Will you all promise to give up on your silly arguments that the murder rate would be much the same even if we could magically get rid of most of the guns out there? No? Lets at least hear how you can spin this!

The amount of freedom a people enjoy is directly proportional to the number of opportunities a person in that group will have to abuse said freedom.

That doesn't mean we do away with freedom. It simply means we recognize and accept its costs.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Am I missing something or are all of you that are '2nd amendment' advocates distracted by the 'shiny ball' of guns for self-defense? Charles made the obviously true comment regarding the superior efficacy of guns as a weapon of personal protection but then refuses to say why. Is it not obvious that this contradicts that oft-repeated canard about guns not being a major reason for our high murder rate? I mean, aren't the same reasons why a gun is superior for self-defense the same reasons that they are much more lethal in the hands of an assailant? Things like the ability to remain at a safe distance as you project your lethal force? Being able to easily generate the force necessary to 'take out' your adversary? Will you all promise to give up on your silly arguments that the murder rate would be much the same even if we could magically get rid of most of the guns out there? No? Lets at least hear how you can spin this!

I'm all for getting the guns out of the hands of criminals and only the criminals.

Makes me feel good writing that seeing how I have three felonies and I have four guns in the house atm not to mention I can legally carry my hand guns concealed or open carry with no permit required.

[james&olya 1,121]

The amount of freedom a people enjoy is directly proportional to the number of opportunities a person in that group will have to abuse said freedom.

That doesn't mean we do away with freedom. It simply means we recognize and accept its costs.

Good answer. I don't agree that this 'freedom' is worth the carnage but I have long since realized that there is no possible way that the USA could ever be like most of Europe in its relative freedom from gun violence. I do believe that the same reasons cars and drivers require licenses should apply to guns as well.

[^_^ 5,021]

Good answer. I don't agree that this 'freedom' is worth the carnage but I have long since realized that there is no possible way that the USA could ever be like most of Europe in its relative freedom from gun violence. I do believe that the same reasons cars and drivers require licenses should apply to guns as well.

Carnage? What carnage? A few incidents here and there is not carnage. Quit the hyperbole.

[revtech100 16]

Good answer. I don't agree that this 'freedom' is worth the carnage but I have long since realized that there is no possible way that the USA could ever be like most of Europe in its relative freedom from gun violence. I do believe that the same reasons cars and drivers require licenses should apply to guns as well.

Europe sucks, driving is a privilege and gun ownership is a constitutional right. Just like free speech.

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Europe sucks, driving is a privilege and gun ownership is a constitutional right. Just like free speech.

[james&olya 1,121]

I'm all for getting the guns out of the hands of criminals and only the criminals.

Makes me feel good writing that seeing how I have three felonies and I have four guns in the house atm not to mention I can legally carry my hand guns concealed or open carry with no permit required.

I have the feeling that we are all slightly better off with your being able to possess your guns in spite of your past scrapes with the law. You are certainly far more stable and level-headed than that deranged shooter in Colorado. He had NO record. It seems that a way could be found that would preserve my and your right to have guns that would also make it much more difficult for this kind of unstable person to acquire them.

Notice that I am on record as acknowledging the futility of even trying to get rid of the majority of guns out there! I recognize the same thinking in what Obama has said and done as president. I know that the Beck and Limbaugh types are going to continue trying to paint BO as secretly having a plan to come after all your guns. They do it for ratings. Why do the rest of you otherwise sane and intelligent people not recognize what I do?

Carnage? What carnage? A few incidents here and there is not carnage. Quit the hyperbole.

Tell that to folks who live in Chicago!

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

I have the feeling that we are all slightly better off with your being able to possess your guns in spite of your past scrapes with the law. You are certainly far more stable and level-headed than that deranged shooter in Colorado. He had NO record. It seems that a way could be found that would preserve my and your right to have guns that would also make it much more difficult for this kind of unstable person to acquire them.

Notice that I am on record as acknowledging the futility of even trying to get rid of the majority of guns out there! I recognize the same thinking in what Obama has said and done as president. I know that the Beck and Limbaugh types are going to continue trying to paint BO as secretly having a plan to come after all your guns. They do it for ratings. Why do the rest of you otherwise sane and intelligent people not recognize what I do?

Tell that to folks who live in Chicago!

It's not me being armed that I'm worried about, it's my wife being armed. She has a bad temper when she loses it and she reacts first before she thinks. I'm close to pulling the ammo out of her clip without telling her.

[james&olya 1,121]

It's not me being armed that I'm worried about, it's my wife being armed. She has a bad temper when she loses it and she reacts first before she thinks. I'm close to pulling the ammo out of her clip without telling her.

At least put some blanks in there so she will feel better when she pulls the trigger!

[spookyturtle 9,466]

The criminals will always have guns, even if you take them all away from licensed users. Heroin is illegal too.

[james&olya 1,121]

The criminals will always have guns, even if you take them all away from licensed users. Heroin is illegal too.

There is actually a lot of truth in that trite saying about if you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have them. Why make a huge percentage of the population de facto criminals when you know that they are not a significant threat to society? The feelings on this run so strong among gun advocates that no sane person believes that very many guns would get turned in regardless of what kind of law you passed. Hence you have Obama signing legislation permitting guns in national parks! It is one thing to have a vision of what you think ideal. More important is recognizing what can actually occur and the two are often far apart. Especially regarding guns in society here in the US! Obama may or may not be a great president depending on where your politics are but one thing most people can probably agree on is that he is pragmatic.