gun laws

[taranaki]

The membership of AF is spread across countries with vastly different attitudes to firearms ownership and use.I'd like to know if people think it would be possible to standardize gun laws,and at what level such laws should be set.

[Tireburner]

I believe everyone has the right to own and bear arms. The only contigency would be No guns for convicted felons.

[YogsVR4]

The problem is that laws cannot be on inanimate objects. They are on people. Enforce the laws that the US has on perpetrators who use guns to the fullest extent and put a gun in every law abiding citizen who wants one and crime will drop. Criminals are cowards, thats why they want powerful weapons and a victim who cannot defend themselves.

[SickLude]

i think this world would be a better place overall without the use of guns. i see no need for them.

[Tireburner]

Originally posted by SickLude
i think this world would be a better place overall without the use of guns. i see no need for them.

So, are you saying we should have no option? That no one should be allowed to have guns?

[V.S.]

Car enthusiasts advocating bans on guns are about as hypocritical as one can get.


I don't think its possible to standerdize gun laws, yet. For one thing, many undeveloped countries couldn't enforce laws that other countries would strongly desire to have(including armed rebels and such).

[YogsVR4]

Originally posted by SickLude
i think this world would be a better place overall without the use of guns. i see no need for them.

'

And how would it be a better place? I still haven't seen a gun commit a crime.

[ragt20]

it not the guns but the people who use them that are dangerous.......

[V.S.]

full denial of the dangers of gun's doesn't help anyone.

[MattyG]

Almost any object used in a dangerous manner can hurt somebody.....but guns are purpose built to cause harm - you cant wave a garden gnome at someone from 30ft and take their life away in a second.

Thats why I don't think the general public should be allowed to use guns - with the possible exception of licences granted for the use of hunting rifles (for sporting use) after stringent checks carried out on the applicant.

My 02.

[JD@af]

Originally posted by YogsVR4
The problem is that laws cannot be on inanimate objects. They are on people. Enforce the laws that the US has on perpetrators who use guns to the fullest extent and put a gun in every law abiding citizen who wants one and crime will drop. Criminals are cowards, thats why they want powerful weapons and a victim who cannot defend themselves.

Enthusiastic 100% agreement. Well put, Yogs.

Originally posted by V.S.
Car enthusiasts advocating bans on guns are about as hypocritical as one can get.

I'm curious about what you are saying here. Care to elaborate?

[texan]

Originally posted by MattyG
Almost any object used in a dangerous manner can hurt somebody.....but guns are purpose built to cause harm - you cant wave a garden gnome at someone from 30ft and take their life away in a second.

Thats why I don't think the general public should be allowed to use guns - with the possible exception of licences granted for the use of hunting rifles (for sporting use) after stringent checks carried out on the applicant.

My 02.

But then what do you do when the ruling government (who has the military) of whatever nation decides to perpetrate crimes against it's own citizens? It's a quandry that would plague all deomcratic nations with bans on the public's right to own firearms: the people have the power in terms of voting, but can't have the military power to convey the popular idea should the government choose to change things without their consent. And it's not about whether or not that has happened (it of course has), it's about the right itself. Which is why America's constitution gives the individual the right to bear arms and even form militia. It's how we threw the English off our backs in the first place.

[V.S.]

Originally posted by JD@af
I'm curious about what you are saying here. Care to elaborate?

Cars kill people. Cars kill lots of people. Then again, we can't exactly just go ahead and get rid of them without really hurting society. But we do a lot less than get rid of them. We praise them. Us car enthusiasts spend as much time as possible in them, driving them, seeing just what we can do with them.

What if we were forced to drive only unmodified 50hp volvo-esque mobiles with governors set at.. 60? Actually, lets just force public transport on anyone that can't prove their job requires a private car. Racing series lead to driver deaths and encourage car fans to become more interested in racing, so lets ban all racing while we're at it.


Don't take this as a "judgement", I consider myself a car fan, despite knowing two people to have died in the past few years in car wrecks at a high school of 500. I'm just putting the risk of death in perspective when its your hobby thats at risk. Just because the media tells you that you want it, sensationalist legisation isn't the way to go.

[JD@af]

Originally posted by V.S.


Cars kill people. Cars kill lots of people. Then again, we can't exactly just go ahead and get rid of them without really hurting society. But we do a lot less than get rid of them. We praise them.

That's what I thought you were getting at. Just wanted to make sure. Any car is many times more dangerous than your average hand gun, or even most assault rifles. However, there are stark contrasts between cars and guns. I focus here on the fact that cars can do many other functional things than just kill people. Guns, on the other hand, are far less versatile.

[SickLude]

guns to me just seem so sinical. i feel theres always other means in which we can get our point across, rather than being a coward and taking someones life 100 yards away. also, i see where your coming from with the cars reference, but i think there are, as JD said, stark contrasts between guns and cars.

you may be right, who knows? but personally, i just feel as though they are pointless and serve no purpose but to hurt in every way possible. i think this world would have been better off had they not existed in the first place...

and guns, i know, do not commit crimes. people do. but they are tools in which those people use to commit those crimes.

all im saying is, i see no positive side to owning or using a gun.