FORGET ALL KNIVES

If a weak man with a gun is attacked by a stronger man, he's fine, but the stronger man is just as likely to have a gun.

I have mixed feelings on actual LAWS affecting gun ownership, but I have no doubt in saying that guns are bad. Yes, guns DO kill people. I would not take away citizens' rights to own guns as it stands. As I said, if I had my way, there would be no need for them.
 
Amendment 2
A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state,
The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.

Argue all you like, and when you're done, get a Dictionary, and (if you possess sufficeint faculty) look up the following words.
Right
Keep
bear
arms (You'll find that arms includes edged weapons.)
infringed
When you're done, be mature enough to admit the truth about what you've learned.
You may not LIKE it, but the right is ours.

Citizens govern and have rights, Subjects are ruled and do not.


------------------
I cut it, and I cut it, and it's STILL too short!


 
Originally posted by Howie Lintz:
If a weak man with a gun is attacked by a stronger man, he's fine, but the stronger man is just as likely to have a gun.
Click to expand...

Yes, but at this point the strong man no longer automatically has the situational advantage. Do understand my point -- I have no problems with the idea of a world where everyone gets along, just with the idea of a world where some big gorilla can attack anyone smaller than him with impunity because he knows there's nothing they can do about it.

"They can learn other ways to defend themselves"? Sure, but so could the theoretical gorilla. Martial arts? Gorilla who knows MA still has the advantage, as I think I pointed out earlier. I wouldn't mind your vision if it included "and we all turned into strapping 6-foot 21-year-old lads of equal defensive ability".

(Okay, I wouldn't mind it as much.
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)

Admittedly firearms are not the perfect solution for self-defense. However, they are one of the best equalizers we have available.

Again -- people, not things, are the problem.

It concerns me when people, especially knife people, pass character judgement upon inanimate objects. If guns are "bad" because they are weapons, would the same standard apply to anything else that can be used to kill people, like automobiles, chairs, fire, sharpened pencils, pint glasses, and vending machines? I know it's the old cliched argument, but its overuse doesn't make it any less valid.

"Ah, but their intended purpose is to hurt others," you might say. Okay, so if guns are "bad" because they are created *specifically* for the purpose of hurting others, whether offensively or defensively, then push-daggers, nunchaku, throwing knives, batons, swords, ninja stars, shuriken, bows and arrows, slingshots, and closed fists are also, by their very nature, "evil". So are martial arts.

"All the others can be used purely for sporting purposes"? I was under the impression that marksmanship was a valuable and enjoyable skill to practice, as well as a legitimate sport. I believe the International Olympic Committee agrees with me.

"They're just inherently bad." This is the kind of anthropomorphism that creates idiotic legislation like our current knife laws banning automatics, "dirks/daggers", and balisongs.

When I was young, if you asked me what I thought of guns I probably would've responded, "well, they're bad, I guess"; I'd never bothered to give the issue any thought beyond what popular culture told me to think, since the only exposure I ever had to firearms was watching some television personality tearfully pleading, "Destroy your evil, bad, bad guns! We have to do it for the children!"

Having said that, you have the right to your own opinion, and I respect your right to argue a point of view that differs from my own.

FTC -- Anti-rights folks already like to believe that all pro-RKBA-ers are bible-thumping, camo-clad right-wingers who marry their sisters and eat human flesh or something. I know you were only kidding, but I'd just like to state that I'm really, really not like that.
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(To be fair, I don't think FTC was saying "guns bad" like Howie is, he was saying "criminals and irresponsible owners bad". And IIRC neither is saying "there oughta be a law", but saying "I personally don't like..")

Will someone please move this discussion to the politics forum already?
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Update: Okay, just did:
http://www.bladeforums.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/000683.html

[This message has been edited by Novadak (edited 10-19-2000).]
 
Thanks Novadak,

At least understood my point. Why would I support strict gun-laws -- as some are implying -- when I myself would like to buy a .357 Colt Python one day? I just think that a minimum of a "training certificate" (like a one day safety course) should be required. Hell, I know some people who can't even properly hold a gun safely!

P.S. I won't think you're a right-wing, hillbilly if you don't think I'm some sort of left-wing, pinko, hippy type!
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Ken Cook,

I'm neither agreeing with you, or disagreeing (a dangerous thing here at these forums). However let me be the devil's advocate:

Does well-armed militia, as stated in the U.S. Constitution, refer to the common citizen taking up arms though? One could argue that the U.S. already has the strongest militia in the world in place; it's known as the U.S. ARMED FORCES. You also have police forces at state, and local levels which represent your communities; can this not be considered a well-armed militia of the people? Also, some critics argue that it was written at a time when the U.S. territories were conjuncted and local militias were the only means of defending territories in absence of armed forces, local police, etc.

I know you can argue it all you want, as you say, but it comes down to how you interpret it.

U.S. Constitution aside, how do you feel based on your own common sense, and beliefs? Should everyone be allowed to own guns regardless of age, mental/physical faculties, etc.? Should they have to take a safety course? Should guns be as accessible to ANYONE as a candy bar in a vending machine?

Let me say that I respect the fact that you argue your opinions in an educated way.

I enjoy hearing differing opinions as it makes me question my own opinions. However, I only appreciate others' opinions as long as they do it in a respectful and civil manner, without being degrading, or condescending towards other people's beliefs.

I can't stand when people take the meanings of messages totally out of context by selectively choosing quotes, and passages to pick on. It's like judging a movie by only looking at the opening credits!

Worse are people who attack other opinions without offering reasons for theirs.

I second the motion to send this thread to the political forum. Better yet, nuke it! Let's just talk knives.

[This message has been edited by Full Tang Clan (edited 10-20-2000).]
 
OH - Hmmmmmmm what did i do ????? Fvvvvvvvv!!!!!!

is everyone still alive ? Hope so !!!!!

Look where i started this theme and recognise
it started as a joke !

Please cool down. thanks.

 
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