Actual Armed Citizens

[HatchetJack]

I don't know what to tell you guys but there must be more firearms in this
country than people. I see them for sale at most every yard sale and
flea market I go to. They are here to stay so either buy one and even the
odds or stop whinning about it. I respect the fact that some of you don't
want one but don't tell me I can't have one cause you don't want one.
I'm no gun nut and don't sit around looking at them and I don't shoot one
unless a deer happens by me in the fall woods. And don't give me that shit
about bow hunters being more manly or something, I have 2 of those.
I keep a 38 hidden at the office and had to pull it on a couple thugs a few
years ago. The idiots were trying to tear my door off to rob or kill me and
my co worker. I had it pointed between his eyes yelling I was gonna blow
his brains out. They got the message, went straight across the street to try
and rob them and were promptly arrested after I called 911. Glad I didn't
have to shoot the idiot but would have had he got through the door. It
must have been some gang initiation because a 3rd guy in blue NC jersey
was across the street talking to the 2nd guy on a cell phone.

[merrylander]

Jack I really don't care one way or the other that you have one or more guns. The most dangerous one that I own is a Crossman 357 Magnum replica, look real enough to scare an intruder and I guess a .177 wadbuster in the eye could prove fatal. I have it mainly for white tailed lawn rats.

That said the glorification of firearms in this country says a great deal about the mindset of many citizens.

On another slant, this lefty women crap makes me laugh, the last thing I was thinking about when I asked Florence to marry me was her politics.

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by noonereal

you see flac i can live with guns as sport and an instrument for bonding

it's when the truth about them is distorted that I have a problem

btw in addition to what I listed in that post my home was broken into twice and my cars three times

never once did i feel i needed a gun to protect either however

i felt i needed flood lights and car alarms at the time

Would your position change if your life was threatened? Tried flood lights. That only made it easier for the thieves to take parts off my engine. Alarms are so common here in Socal that no one pays much attention.

[bhunter]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Jack I really don't care one way or the other that you have one or more guns. The most dangerous one that I own is a Crossman 357 Magnum replica, look real enough to scare an intruder and I guess a .177 wadbuster in the eye could prove fatal. I have it mainly for white tailed lawn rats.

That said the glorification of firearms in this country says a great deal about the mindset of many citizens.

On another slant, this lefty women crap makes me laugh, the last thing I was thinking about when I asked Florence to marry me was her politics.

Actually, I think the whole world likes violence, thus, firearms. Law enforcemnent television shows seem to be popular everywhere. I think most people live such boring lives that they like to escape into fantasy. Sadly, the occasional whack job pops up and shoots up the innocent. What do you think is the mindset of many of our citizens wrt to firearms? Don't your cats chase the lawn rats?

[noonereal]

Originally Posted by bhunter

Would your position change if your life was threatened? Tried flood lights. That only made it easier for the thieves to take parts off my engine. Alarms are so common here in Socal that no one pays much attention.

yep, your right, best to kill them

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by bhunter

Would your position change if your life was threatened? Tried flood lights. That only made it easier for the thieves to take parts off my engine. Alarms are so common here in Socal that no one pays much attention.

And pretty annoying in the aftermath of even a mild earthquake. I'll never forget the sound of thousands of car alarms whooping and screeching in the middle of the night.

Dave

[BlueStreak]

Originally Posted by bhunter

Actually, I think the whole world likes violence, thus, firearms. Law enforcemnent television shows seem to be popular everywhere. I think most people live such boring lives that they like to escape into fantasy. Sadly, the occasional whack job pops up and shoots up the innocent. What do you think is the mindset of many of our citizens wrt to firearms? Don't your cats chase the lawn rats?

I don't pretend our society is perfect for a second. But, I believe the degree to which so many of our fellow Americans see being armed to the teeth in suburbia, and indeed even rural settings as an imperative is illustrative of the power of a fear-mongering media. And now, we have politicians, (And sideshow freaks like Palin.) egging them on simply to win their support. I've even been told, ".....it's (gun ownership) our patriotic duty....", by a wingnut friend of mine. So, now you're un-American if you don't own a gun? What?

Furthermore, I have had tools stolen out of my truck, right in my own driveway. Sure, it pissed me off. But, even if I owned a gun, I would not kill another human being over a box of tools.

No, I am not anti-2nd amendment. I am anti-insanity. I believe as citizens we do have the right to own firearms. That's not what I take issue with. My issue is this;

Where do we draw the line between what is sane and reasonable, and what is not? Some people seem to think, ".....shall not be infringed.", means they should be allowed to build nuclear bombs in their basements, and/or install large caliber machine gun turrets on the roofs of their homes. I think their potatoes have been baking too long. That the founders had no idea weapon technology would advance as it has. And that if they were here today, they would tell us that one rifle for hunting and a pistol for personal defense is sufficient.

What say you?

Dave

[flacaltenn]

BlueStreak:

Furthermore, I have had tools stolen out of my truck, right in my own driveway. Sure, it pissed me off. But, even if I owned a gun, I would not kill another human being over a box of tools.

That's not the complete list of choices. The purpose of the tool (gun) is to control the situation -- not to finalize justice.. You can protect your stuff just with the sound of a pump-action shotgun.. And more often than not, that's how it's done. (Except in Texas where our bud Pete lives!) - or to detain the perps until the cops get there from the doughnut shop.. Even more satisfying night's work..

As for the huge VOLUME of weapons, the left bears some responsibility for that. My dad bought his first 3 rifles right after the 1968 legislation passed. Was CONVINCED that he had to do it NOW or that right would be gone. Same thing happened when the Congress goes left, Obama gets elected, or whacko legislation is proposed. Gun sales soar. Permit volumes go up. The NRA goes ballastic (pun intended). It's justified by the history of those opposing gun ownership. Maybe THAT's where your buds get that "patriotic duty" crap. It's not the guns that they want, they want to SCREW the political opposition to their ownership! And that -- is patriotic.

If the left would just work to enforce the EXISTING laws, make a better INSTACHECK, encourage training and safety and SHOW that they truly want safer gun ownership, the personal armory sizes would SHRINK within one generation.

[flacaltenn]

Dave:

To your question of what the founder's would think adequate.. The first quote below answers it rhetorically in context of 1790 or so.. But you have to also consider the LAST quote below...

George Mason's Fairfax County Militia Plan, 1775:
"And we do each of us, for ourselves respectively, promise and engage to keep a good firelock in proper order, and to furnish ourselves as soon as possible with, and always keep by us, one pound of gunpowder, four pounds of lead, one dozen gunflints, and a pair of bullet moulds, with a cartouch box, or powder horn, and bag for balls."

John Adams:
"Arms in the hands of the citizens may be used at individual discretion for the defense of the country, the overthrow of tyranny or private self-defense."

Thomas Jefferson, in an early draft of the Virginia constitution:
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms in his own lands."

Patrick Henry:
"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined. The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun."

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by flacaltenn

BlueStreak:



That's not the complete list of choices. The purpose of the tool (gun) is to control the situation -- not to finalize justice.. You can protect your stuff just with the sound of a pump-action shotgun.. And more often than not, that's how it's done. (Except in Texas where our bud Pete lives!) - or to detain the perps until the cops get there from the doughnut shop.. Even more satisfying night's work..

As for the huge VOLUME of weapons, the left bears some responsibility for that. My dad bought his first 3 rifles right after the 1968 legislation passed. Was CONVINCED that he had to do it NOW or that right would be gone. Same thing happened when the Congress goes left, Obama gets elected, or whacko legislation is proposed. Gun sales soar. Permit volumes go up. The NRA goes ballastic (pun intended). It's justified by the history of those opposing gun ownership. Maybe THAT's where your buds get that "patriotic duty" crap. It's not the guns that they want, they want to SCREW the political opposition to their ownership! And that -- is patriotic.

If the left would just work to enforce the EXISTING laws, make a better INSTACHECK, encourage training and safety and SHOW that they truly want safer gun ownership, the personal armory sizes would SHRINK within one generation.

It's the left's fault that gun owners go on a spending spree? What ever happened to personal responsibility for one's own choices. They freely made their own choice? If such foolish spending was influenced by anyone, it would be the scare tactics of the NRA.

Regards,

D-Ray