DsilCaribe wrote:(each dash is a response to each of your paragraphs)
-My age and state are none of your business
-I believe that all ameicans have the right to bear arms, but the responsibility isn't a requirement for all americans. It is your own personal choice as an american to bear arms and use them, or not to bear arms. That is why it isn't necisarily the responsibility of all americans to protect themselves. We have people that are payed to do that and they are called police, and I put my trust in my local police, they have done a great job ever since i have lived here.
-As americans, we have the choice of relying on our police forces to protect us and there is nothing wrong with that at all. If you dont trust the police, then take it into your own hands, but be reasonable.
-I put my full trust in my local police. I have no reason to suspect anyone is trying to kill me, and I have a security system in my home and I am not afraid of robberys. Therefore, i feel no need to have a gun in my home, please respect my decision, just as I respect your decision to own a gun. Maybe your military experiences have left you somewhat paranoid about attacks or something, but personally i believe that if you are so afraid or someone intruding on your home and killing your family for no good reason, then you really have to rethink that and look at the bigger picture, because thats not very likely
-You can choose to have an M-16 in your home but to me, its quite frightening.
Keep this in mind Sam: assault rifles are designed and meant to be pointed at another human being with the intention of wounding them or killing them. Cars are designed and meant to transport humans from point A to point B, they arent designed to kill or hurt them. If a car kills someone, its generally by accident; if a gun kills someone, its generally on purpose.
-I am not really following your analogy in this paragraph. One man envying and wanting another man's faster car is reasonable . . the car is an object of lust, it is an attractive machine, it is not meant to hurt or kill anyone. One man wanting another man's firearm because its more powerful and can shoot faster at longer ranges with higher caliber bullets, to me, is unreasonable. Why would one want the faster, higher powered gun? If its to protect their family, as you say, then it is to kill the enemy with more ease. I dont think killing people is a good thing, Sam.
-I have no interest in how many americans own these weapons because im sure its a high number, and that definatley frightens me. Knowing that so many people own machines that are designed to wound/kill others isn't a pleasant image to me, Sam.
-I was forced to do Riflery back when i was younger and went to overnight camp. I hated it, I found it scary that we were being forced to shoot weapons that could kill people. A couple buddys and I formed a little group "CAR" that summer, (CAR = Campers Against Riflery)
-Thanks for clearing up the fact that the rifle wasn't designed for killing, but rather for injuring. Nonetheless, if you injure someone enough, you will kill them. . . so by the transitive property, it is still meant to kill.
__Actually your age and state are quite pertinent to the topic. The area in where you were raised and when, do have some bearing on the topic. If you grew up in an "anti gun/ anti hunting state" definitely has bearing on the issue. Age has bearing because of the time frame WHEN you were raised.
No obviously not all Americans can legally own firearms..such as convicted felons for example. Howsoever go read the goverment definition of "the Militia" and what they are supposed to be armed with, et al.
Correct it it a person's choice to carry a weapon or not. A weapon does not have to be a firearm. There are many types of weapons out there to choose from. But to say "a person IS NOT RESPONSIBLE" for his security and safety..is simply idiotic at best and deserves to be a victim.
Again you are misinformed as to the job of the police. The police ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE for your personal well being or security, nor should they be expected to be so. Perhaps you happen to live in a community with a quick response from the police, always being possible... Take a look at the riots of Rodney King... not just in LA either.... how many people died simply because the police and EMS could not get to them ?All it takes is for them to do is be late when you need them most. You might be more afraid of firearms but why is that? You have a problem with people that enjoy shooting. Tell me how much shooting experience you really have and what did you shoot?
Sounds to me like you would depend on mercenaries for your own and family safety and protection.. and are not willing to accept the responsibility for your own safety, security, and protection. What do you do when they have the blue flu or there is a major riot or castastrophe or traffic jam and or bad weather and cannot respond ? what do you do then??
Where do you get your knowledge and fear of firearms from?
What weapons and calibers have you actually experience with?
Have you ever fired a real "military assualt rifle"?? Do you even know what a real military "assualt rifle" is?
You may be terrified of firearms, like people are terrified of spiders or snakes or crowds, dogs, etc. Most people do try to work beyond their phobias. That does not give you the right to call anyone paranoid when you have no real knowledge of the subject. I was good enough to carry the weapons in the military... an I like shooting them.
SO you are saying it is ok for people to be killed in cars, but make issue of people killed with firearms? Wecan compare numbers all day long if you want about is it safer to own a firearmor machinegun or assault weapon or ride in a car.... Guess what kills and injures more people everyday and every year? How dead is dead? More people are also killed in bicycle accidents than they are by sharks.
What is YOUR point? My point is that there are many more people that are killed and injured on the roads everyday than there are by firearms. You seem find this acceptable. I do not.
How many people with a firearm have you ever heard of that saved lives, prevented a rape or kidnapping or other violent crime or stopped a robbery?
I can assure you that I, nor no one that I know, will or would point any firearm or weapon at you or anyone else unless given cause for it to be pulled and aimed at you.
Let me know how many bad situations you have ever actually been involved in or with.
Depening solely on the police to protect you is really idiotic. That is nothing against policeofficers or the job they do. It is plain and simple... they cannot be everywhere at one time. I think some places have around 1 officer per 10,000 people or so. Let's toss in traffic,wrecks, domestics, DUI and drug enforcement, admin personnel and then detectives and supervisors.... How many officers are out on the street?
As for my analogy on weapons and fast cars, I take then that you consider breaking the law to be ok. Since you have no problem with lusting after whatever speed demon /neighbors car. Speed kills more people.
I have said elsewhere firearms are tools designed to do different things and I will say it again...we find shooting to be fun and pleasureable and challenging....it is not my fault that you cannot or will not understand or comprehend and contiue to ignore that so many people actually really do so and care to remain afraid of what people own to protect themselves, but place your trust in a telephone and strangers to protect you, whose job is not to protect you personally.
Most officers that I personally know or have worked with or been associated with, will tell you, not to always rely on them getting there on time. To buy a quality firearm and learn how to properly use it and practice, practice, practice! So what does that tell you?
You want to pay someone to protect you to put his or her A$$ on the line for something you are not willing to do....will you be the one that goes to their family and explain that the officer lost his or her life while protecting you and it was his/her job to do so?
I don't think anyone is trying to kill me, but that does not mean someone out there just might try. I don't have much family really left and what property I own is my own. You call me paranoid for wanting to protect and defend it? You know nothing of what I did or do. If you want to call anyone that wants and is willing to take responsibility for their ownself and loved ones and property, paranoid......so be it. I consider anyone that doesn't take such responsibility, to be naive, a foolish idiot and a victim. Again there are ways to do so without use of firearms. However I would not prefer to take on a badguy armed with a firearm , and me with just a baseball bat......
You formed what? Campers Against Riflery? I think that is sad and the 3 of you, should have been either properly educated on firearms or spanked and sent home and the camp refunded the money and politely asked all of you not to return.
It is your choice to do as you will and trust as you will...It is only your life and your loved ones lives and property that you saying are not worth the responsibility of protecting.
BTW Ted Kennedy has killed more people with his car than I ever have with any of my own personal weapons.
Again I will ask you have you ever heard of Professor Gary Kleck and the study he did and the conclusions ? I will see what I can find and post it for you.....
