The "Guns Are Evil" vs. "Guns Are Good" Thread

[Jennifer]

When people suffer road rage, my first fear is not, "Do they have a gun?" it's "Are they going to ram me with their car?"

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Jennifer

When people suffer road rage, my first fear is not, "Do they have a gun?" it's "Are they going to ram me with their car?"

We tend to judge the likelihood of others' actions by what we ourselves would do.

[Morgan Le Fay]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Call a cop and order a pizza, and see which one arrives first... it's not a matter of "wanting to take things into your own hands," it's a matter of "it's you or nobody."

If I could find a state trooper who would fit in my pocket, I'd carry one of those instead.

That's an argument for police reform. Not gun ownership.
Hell, why not anarchy, while you're about it?

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Call a cop and order a pizza, and see which one arrives first... it's not a matter of "wanting to take things into your own hands," it's a matter of "it's you or nobody."

If I could find a state trooper who would fit in my pocket, I'd carry one of those instead.

So the problem is inadequate policing?

Recon they might be out numbered by all them crims with weapons

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by bluemonday

That's an argument for police reform. Not gun ownership.
Hell, why not anarchy, while you're about it?

Circular reasoning... this can't be an argument for gun ownership, because as we all know, guns are evil.

[sigh]

[rhinosaur]

Firstly, guns themselves aren't good or evil. It's how they're used that is good or evil (and even then morality is relative, but that's a different topic).

Originally Posted by Oberon

One thing to remember is that most criminals don't want a gunfight. They want a victim. If you simply stop being a victim, the criminal usually will go in search of easier prey.

Originally Posted by Oberon

Call a cop and order a pizza, and see which one arrives first... it's not a matter of "wanting to take things into your own hands," it's a matter of "it's you or nobody."

If I could find a state trooper who would fit in my pocket, I'd carry one of those instead.

Secondly, I agree with both of these points.

[Xander]

Originally Posted by Oberon

Well, because your conclusions are based on your assumptions, which I'm really quite hard-pressed to change, I see the odds are quite stacked against me.

I can tell you for certain, though, that among the concealed-carry community violent crime is vanishingly rare.

You miss judge me mousie... I'd love to carry my own para ordnance peacemaker with me... I trust my judgement... other's ... well... errrmmm...

You see my quandary no?

[Trinity]

Originally Posted by rhinosaur

Firstly, guns themselves aren't good or evil. It's how they're used that is good or evil

They are designed to kill though. Why do civilians need to carry something that can kill others unless they are in an environment where wild animals may be a threat? Why would people carry something that would be used to kill other people?

Isn't the only legitimate reason because others may be armed? Once again I ask, how is circulating more weapons and arming more people a solution to this problem?

[JocktheMotie]

Originally Posted by Trinity

Why do civilians need to carry something that can kill others unless they are in an environment where wild animals may be a threat? Why would people carry something that would be used to kill other people?

Criminals are wild animals. Other people can be wild animals. There are a million reasons why you shouldn't carry a gun. But there are a million situations where a weapon can keep you and your loved ones alive. I understand your points. But I cannot come up with an argument why a responsible, trained civilian should not be allowed to carry.

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Trinity

They are designed to kill though. Why do civilians need to carry something that can kill others unless they are in an environment where wild animals may be a threat? Why would people carry something that would be used to kill other people?

As a defensive gun owner, you don't shoot to wound, you don't shoot to kill... you shoot to survive.

Killing people isn't the point. It's making them stop doing crime on you that is the point. They can be killed or wounded, it's true, or they can see the gun and flee. In any even, the gun itself is not a moral agent.