GUNS DON'T KILL PEOPLE, OR DO THEY?

[F.U.]

I wonder how accurate that is. it uses the recoil to "bump" ones finger. Never seen that.

Yep the gun freefloats in the stock so naturally the accuracy will be down. That's when the old spray and pray comes ino effect. I don't own one . . . yet. I think it would be a hoot to throw a 100 round drum on there and let-er rip.

[Jimbone]

The one that shocked me is Texas not allowing open carry. You can haul one around in the back window of your truck but not on your side in plain view? Hmmmm, I gotta be reading this wrong.

Open carry starts here Jan 1, 2016. It will only be permitted by CCL holders however, so if you haven't gone through CCL training and licensing you can't open carry legally.

[HairOfTheDog]

Australian Press Weighs-In on Gun Policy in America

In 1996, a gunman opened fire at a popular tourist destination on the Australian island of Tasmania. Using a semiautomatic rifle, he killed 35 people. Australia responded by reforming their gun laws. High powered rifles and shotguns were banned and uniform gun licensing requirements were imposed for the guns that remained legal. The country also implemented a buyback program which resulted in the destruction of more than a million firearms.

In the last 19 years, there have been no mass shootings in Australia, defined as five or more people being shot.

In the wake of last week's mass murder at the Umpqua College in Oregon, President Obama said, “We know that other countries, in response to one mass shooting, have been able to craft laws that almost eliminate mass shootings. Friends of ours, allies of ours — Great Britain, Australia, countries like ours. So we know there are ways to prevent it."

Australia's major papers have since weighed in.

Michael Pascoe of the Sydney Morning Herald wrote:
In his very fine speech this morning, full of sorrow and frustration, President Obama made a mistake: Australia is not like the United States. We decided not to be.

We decided to grow up instead and become a more reasonable, rational society that explicitly values human life and prefers to think the best of people, rather than the worst.

The US is too immature a society to be allowed to play with guns. It has never shed its Wild West mythology. Americans still use their courts to kill people, which sends a message in its own way… It’s a country that values property more than life.

An editorial in Brisbane Times stated:
At Oregon last week, four guns were recovered – three pistols and a semi-automatic rifle. Did Mercer have the right to bear those arms? Yes, he did. From that question and answer flows the grim crimson tide. And from that flows, as always, the arrant nonsense from the NRA, and those of like mind, that guns are good, that guns are not the problem, that the president is politicising the issue. He should be, indeed he has been, with limited success. However, such is the web of lobbying, money, political support and sway, interconnected with the myriad legal jurisdictions, that we despair of seeing radical progress.

Yet we must condemn. America prides itself on being a light in the world for democracy and liberty. Yet within its borders it is armed to the teeth. This is a tyranny, borne on a historical anomaly, that must end. Surely, if the phrase “land of the free” stands for anything, it is the embracing of the freedom not to have to live in fear of the gun.

[F.U.]

If their pansy ass example is followed out biggest fear and what we have ben saying all along will come true. They want to take our guns. They may not take all of them, but a great many will be pried from our hands and fed to the chop saw.
I WILL NOT COMPLY !!!!!!

[Duchess]

No one is going to take your guns, FU.

[Midwest Spy]

Again, if folks like FU can see the carnage of a Newtown, where little bodies were shredded and torn apart by bullets, and with a straight face and calm demeanor say, 'Yes, I'll endure 1,000+ incidents like this if it means keeping my guns', then we know what the end result of this will invariably be.

It's just the way it is.

Hundreds of thousands of our citizens will continue to die by the gun.

How other civilized societies have managed to get rid of their guns and thrive is beyond me.

Aren't they afraid of their own tyrannical governments 'taking over'?

Aren't the criminals running free amongst them terrorizing their citizens (because regular folksi aren't armed, of course)?

Either all guns are gone, or we continue to live with the consequences.

Smart folks already know which choice has been made.

Just keep the press conferences short & sweet please.

SHIT HAPPENS.

[Jimbone]

You'd think the Australian papers would be less interested in lecturing America, and more interested in addressing Islamic extremists shooting up police stations.

[Blindgreed1]

Again, if folks like FU can see the carnage of a Newtown, where little bodies were shredded and torn apart by bullets, and with a straight face and calm demeanor say, 'Yes, I'll endure 1,000+ incidents like this if it means keeping my guns', then we know what the end result of this will invariably be.

It's just the way it is.

Hundreds of thousands of our citizens will continue to die by the gun.

How other civilized societies have managed to get rid of their guns and thrive is beyond me.

Aren't they afraid of their own tyrannical governments 'taking over'?

Aren't the criminals running free amongst them terrorizing their citizens (because regular folksi aren't armed, of course)?

Either all guns are gone, or we continue to live with the consequences.

Smart folks already know which choice has been made.

Just keep the press conferences short & sweet please.

SHIT HAPPENS.

I think this country has a serious mental health problem.

We also have a parenting problem.

I also think the country has an issue with guns as well. I love cars, but you can't buy a funny car and race it through a school zone.

People that want the ability to use deadly force to protect themselves need to reconcile themselves to the fact that the 2^nd Amendment explicitly includes the words "well-regulated" as well as "right to bear arms."

Are you saying peoples rights should be taken away MS? With legislation? History has shown how well that works out. And uhhh... Regarding those other civilized societies: Look at the most recent data. Violent crimes and suicide rates are up.

[Midwest Spy]

What I'm saying is, unless we're a society without ANY guns, people will continue to be gunned down. I also know that's completely unrealistic.

However, to not ever hear one gun 'enthusiast' say there are way too many guns in this country shows their ignorance.

You're right BG, there's a gun problem in this country. Too accessible and too many in the wrong hands.

Are the nuts ruining it for the responsible ones?

Yes.

Don't worry about it though.

Ain't nothin' gonna change.

[blueberryhill]

Australian Press Weighs-In on Gun Policy in America

In 1996, a gunman opened fire at a popular tourist destination on the Australian island of Tasmania. Using a semiautomatic rifle, he killed 35 people. Australia responded by reforming their gun laws. High powered rifles and shotguns were banned and uniform gun licensing requirements were imposed for the guns that remained legal. The country also implemented a buyback program which resulted in the destruction of more than a million firearms.

In the last 19 years, there have been no mass shootings in Australia, defined as five or more people being shot.

In the wake of last week's mass murder at the Umpqua College in Oregon, President Obama said, “We know that other countries, in response to one mass shooting, have been able to craft laws that almost eliminate mass shootings. Friends of ours, allies of ours — Great Britain, Australia, countries like ours. So we know there are ways to prevent it."

Australia's major papers have since weighed in.

Michael Pascoe of the Sydney Morning Herald wrote:
In his very fine speech this morning, full of sorrow and frustration, President Obama made a mistake: Australia is not like the United States. We decided not to be.

We decided to grow up instead and become a more reasonable, rational society that explicitly values human life and prefers to think the best of people, rather than the worst.

The US is too immature a society to be allowed to play with guns. It has never shed its Wild West mythology. Americans still use their courts to kill people, which sends a message in its own way… It’s a country that values property more than life.

An editorial in Brisbane Times stated:
At Oregon last week, four guns were recovered – three pistols and a semi-automatic rifle. Did Mercer have the right to bear those arms? Yes, he did. From that question and answer flows the grim crimson tide. And from that flows, as always, the arrant nonsense from the NRA, and those of like mind, that guns are good, that guns are not the problem, that the president is politicising the issue. He should be, indeed he has been, with limited success. However, such is the web of lobbying, money, political support and sway, interconnected with the myriad legal jurisdictions, that we despair of seeing radical progress.

Yet we must condemn. America prides itself on being a light in the world for democracy and liberty. Yet within its borders it is armed to the teeth. This is a tyranny, borne on a historical anomaly, that must end. Surely, if the phrase “land of the free” stands for anything, it is the embracing of the freedom not to have to live in fear of the gun.

Excellent post, Hair....I totally agree with Australian's comments above about U.S. having a Wild West mentally and being immature. Fits my viewpoints exactly. Sadly, as long as we have people like FU, we will continue toward self-destruction by gunfire....
I will continue to sign petitions for stronger gun control until I take my dying breath. Too many people want to press the "easy" button today and making it more difficult to access guns, will decrease number of on purpose and accidental deaths...

[Maggot]

I think we need more people like F.U. responsibility goes a very long way in my book. There is no "sadly" before his name. I thought you of all people should understand our rights and responsibilities B.H. he is all about safety and education which is quite apparent if you would just look at many of his posts and opinions with your blinders off.

[Maggot]

A drive by pie thrower!!! Freaking B.H.!!

[HairOfTheDog]

People that want the ability to use deadly force to protect themselves need to reconcile themselves to the fact that the 2^nd Amendment explicitly includes the words "well-regulated" as well as "right to bear arms."

Exactly.

At present, Americans can buy guns easily and with very few restrictions. It is not well regulated in this country, and it should be, as specified in the Second Amendment.

Currently,
-There is no national license required for gun ownership; no gun registry (and a law expressly stating the Fed won't create one).
-There is no ban on any type of guns or ammo capacity.
-There is no limit as to how many guns a person can own.
-There is no mandate for states to provide mental illness records to the national background check database - NICS.
-There are easy opportunities/loopholes for people who fail a background check to purchase guns legally via the internet or via a private transaction at a gun show or other location.
-There is no national child safety storage act.
Etc...

AND STILL, the NRA and its owned politicians, along with extremist gun enthusiasts, cried and blocked the passage of something 90% of the population supported and didn't infringe on law-abiding gun owners in any way - universal background checks.

AND STILL, after yet another shooting massacre, the NRA and its owned politicians, along with extremist gun enthusiasts, bitch and again object to proposed universal background checks and wait times (unless they're given special privileges for already owning and/or carrying guns). It's asinine and petty.

To date, I've always been supportive of the right to bear arms, under a well-regulated national system with states controlling most of the administration and enforcement. I've supported universal background checks, mandatory state reporting into NICS, education and public awareness campaigns, funding for gun violence research, safety storage / child gun protection laws, and stricter enforcement of existing gun laws. Those are all regulatory measures aimed at reducing gun violence; regulatory measures which do not call for restricting or banning arms and ammo, nor establishing a national gun registry.

Since even those regulation proposals -- which don't infringe on law-abiding gun owners' rights to bear arms in any way -- are automatically opposed by the powerful NRA, its owned politicians, and extremist gun owners, I'm fully in favor of Executive Action to get some/all of them pushed through. Alternately, a Supreme Court case ruling that lack of some/all such measures is a violation of the Second Amendment's "well regulated" provision could do the trick.

I think a lot of other Americans who aren't on either extreme of this issue feel the same. I'm more optimistic than MS that positive gun safety/control changes will be made in the near future.

It's too bad that the NRA and some gun lovers are making it a paranoid all or nothing issue and refuse to acknowledge the full Second Amendment. It would have been a great show of rationality and a public relations victory for them to have supported at least universal background checks after Newtown (there were no restrictions on licensed gun dealers or gun-types/ammo included in the final draft of that bill, despite rhetoric to the contrary by some gun enthusiasts).

It is encouraging to see some 2016 presidential hopefuls making gun safety/control a key part of their platforms.

[username]

And uhhh... Regarding those other civilized societies: Look at the most recent data. Violent crimes and suicide rates are up.

First, I don't much care about suicide rates and I'm not sure how that pertains to guns (unless people are killing themselves because their guns were taken away).

With regards to violent crimes, are the rates "up" in those countries as compared to prior years or "up" as in higher than the United States? I doubt it's the latter and certainly not where guns are concerned.





I don't expect or necessarily want to get rid of all guns. I want nationwide regulations and certain guns to be banned (the semi-automatics and any other high capacity, rapid fire type guns). I'm gun illiterate (and too lazy to look it up) so that's my lame description regarding weapons. I just don't see the need for the average citizen to have those any more than I think they should be able to own grenade launchers.

[HairOfTheDog]

I think we need more people like F.U. responsibility goes a very long way in my book. There is no "sadly" before his name. I thought you of all people should understand our rights and responsibilities B.H. he is all about safety and education which is quite apparent if you would just look at many of his posts and opinions with your blinders off.

If you keep running over to pat F.U.'s back and suck his dick when people post their unfiltered responses to his strong declarations and assertions, you're bound to make Kitten jealous there Mags.

Anyway, I thought you of all people would understand, by now, that people can have their eyes wide open and still draw conclusions that differ from yours.

I've read and considered every post on the topic here. I don't share your view, and I don't wear blinders (which doesn't necessarily mean that you do).

[F.U.]

Fuck you , you think he is sucking my dick. Fuck you.
So you are ok with taking certain types of firearms away? Really.

[F.U.]

Again, if folks like FU can see the carnage of a Newtown, where little bodies were shredded and torn apart by bullets, and with a straight face and calm demeanor say, 'Yes, I'll endure 1,000+ incidents like this if it means keeping my guns', then we know what the end result of this will invariably be.

It's just the way it is.

Hundreds of thousands of our citizens will continue to die by the gun.

How other civilized societies have managed to get rid of their guns and thrive is beyond me.

Aren't they afraid of their own tyrannical governments 'taking over'?

Aren't the criminals running free amongst them terrorizing their citizens (because regular folksi aren't armed, of course)?

Either all guns are gone, or we continue to live with the consequences.

Smart folks already know which choice has been made.

Just keep the press conferences short & sweet please.

SHIT HAPPENS.

Shit happens

[F.U.]

Sorry, I would post more but right now I am drnk. Just got home from the bar and its time to.... Party on wayne, party on garth

[HairOfTheDog]

Fuck you , you think he is sucking my dick. Fuck you.

I WILL NOT COMPLY!!!

You're a little wound up for someone who just got his dick sucked. You should be relaxed (though I could understand if Maggot's a little testy).

So you are ok with taking certain types of firearms away? Really.

So, you don't really read or comprehend what other people post? (Rhetorical)

When you find a post where I proposed prying any of your firearms out of your desperate clutches, get back with me. That's when I'll stop mocking at Mock. Really.

Friendly hint: You won't find one such post. However, I do understand MS's, user's, blueberry's...wishes to have some gun types banned and it won't bother me if that happens.

Party on Wayne...

[Duchess]

We need our guns that shoot 800 rounds a minute. As Americans we are entitled to our fun and don't you dare try to take it away. It's my right! If an unstable person gets access to my killing machine, well, that's just too bad, I have rights too, I have the right to bear arms and I'm armed to the teeth because my government can't be trusted. So there. Now I'm off to every Walmart in a 60 mile radius so I can buy and hoard every box of ammo in stock.