Guns Master Thread

[churnbabychurn]

Starting to seriously believe that we would all be safer if guns would be nearly non existent-like in the UK- if a guy losses his marbles all he has is a cricket bat and a steak knife.
I know that its part of the US culture and constitution but seriously, things have changed since then- I would like to declare a war on guns. Whose on board?

[Side incomer]

I would like to declare a war on guns.

Good luck

[Dan]

Yup, because if you ban them then every criminal will just hand them in and will never be able to obtain another one on the black market.

[U-no-me!]

Yup, because if you ban them then every criminal will just hand them in and will never be able to obtain another one on the black market.

+1

[sky121]

I have my pros and cons with each side but I feel at this point we'd be better off having more of the "good guys" carry guns so they could take care of situations quicker if/when necessary, like in Israel for example.

[HelpMe]

You would need to change the Constitution in order to ban guns.

[U-no-me!]

You would need to change the Constitution in order to ban guns.

I know, slight problem there... the d*** constitution keeps on getting in the way.

[ChAiM'l]

Yup, because if you ban them then every criminal will just hand them in and will never be able to obtain another one on the black market.

I personally don't think that that guns should be banned, and people should be allowed to own guns to protect themselves and their families.

That being said, your point about criminals not handing in guns, and criminal access to guns on the black market, is not entirely relevant. Here in the UK, any criminal/gangster that wants to obtain a firearm, could do so if they wanted it bad enough. I, on the other hand wouldn't have a clue as to where to start looking for one. In the US, I would Google the closest gun shop, walk in with my drivers licence (in applicable states) and walk out 5 minutes later with whatever gun I fancied.

From my understanding, most of the major massacres that took place in recent history (Columbine, Virginia Tech etc.) were perpetrated by individuals with no criminal links/history. My guess is, that in a place like the UK, these individuals would not have been able to gain access to these weapons, thus preventing them from carrying out these atrocities.

My point is that, yes, criminals would still have access to guns, but we should be more afraid of your "average Joe" that goes crazy and takes an AK-47 to a building full of children.

[AJK]

Starting to seriously believe that we would all be safer if guns would be nearly non existent-like in the UK- if a guy losses his marbles all he has is a cricket bat and a steak knife.
I know that its part of the US culture and constitution but seriously, things have changed since then- I would like to declare a war on guns. Whose on board?

Yes, ban guns

Just look how effective our ban on drugs has been.

[HelpMe]

Just look how effective our ban on drugs has been.

Did you think legalizing drugs will make the situation better?

[Bp]

I think they should just ban automatic and semi automatic guns, let the gun nuts have hand guns,
these massacres are done and can only be done with automatic guns.

[ChAiM'l]

these massacres are done and can only be done with automatic guns.

-1

[churnbabychurn]

I personally don't think that that guns should be banned, and people should be allowed to own guns to protect themselves and their families.

That being said, your point about criminals not handing in guns, and criminal access to guns on the black market, is not entirely relevant. Here in the UK, any criminal/gangster that wants to obtain a firearm, could do so if they wanted it bad enough. I, on the other hand wouldn't have a clue as to where to start looking for one. In the US, I would Google the closest gun shop, walk in with my drivers licence (in applicable states) and walk out 5 minutes later with whatever gun I fancied.

From my understanding, most of the major massacres that took place in recent history (Columbine, Virginia Tech etc.) were perpetrated by individuals with no criminal links/history. My guess is, that in a place like the UK, these individuals would not have been able to gain access to these weapons, thus preventing them from carrying out these atrocities.

My point is that, yes, criminals would still have access to guns, but we should be more afraid of your "average Joe" that goes crazy and takes an AK-47 to a building full of children.

+100

[HelpMe]

I think they should just ban automatic and semi automatic guns, let the gun nuts have hand guns,
these massacres are done and can only be done with automatic guns.

AFAIK all these massacres where done with semi-auto weapons.

[churnbabychurn]

These masacres are done by middle class white kids who know nothing about obtaining illegal weapons. The only viable way to prevent further massacres is to eliminate the millions of legal guns from the homes and hands of these kids. You have a better solution?
The fact that in urban areas they are shooting at each other with illegal weapons is irrelevant. We need to stop the mass slaughters.,

[Bp]

AFAIK all these massacres where done with semi-auto weapons.

+1

[AJK]

Did you think legalizing drugs will make the situation better?

That's irrelevant to the discussion.

What is relevant is that outlawing guns would not make an iota of difference when it comes to these issues. 

OP's Utopian belief that it will is sheer refusal to face the facts. 

[Moishebatchy]

That's irrelevant to the discussion.

What is relevant is that outlawing guns would not make an iota of difference when it comes to these issues. 

OP's Utopian belief that it will is sheer refusal to face the facts.

+1,000

[HelpMe]

That's irrelevant to the discussion.

What is relevant is that outlawing guns would not make an iota of difference when it comes to these issues.

Of course it is relevant. Anytime you make something harder to get the less of that item will be available.

[AJK]

Of course it is relevant. Anytime you make something harder to get the less of that item will be available.

Even assuming you're right, so what?

I guess you must also agree that the war on/ban on drugs has been a wholesale success, eh?

I must be completely uninformed about the degree to which coke and meth are readily available to those people sufficiently inquisitive.

With all due respect, what country do you live in?