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Originally Posted by amerikangod
I can't be bothered to read over thirty pages of posts, but I've got a shit brewing in me and I need to kill some time before I can work this brown butt-baby out and then go to sleep. SO PLEASE ENJOY MY TWO CENTS.
I support gun ownership. I'm perfectly happy with guns being regulated, and I would support less regulation in some areas and more regulation in others in regards to the law. I'd be happy if getting a license to own a firearm involved a basic (and free) gun safety class. I don't think the general public should be able to purchase automatic or military grade weapons. I do support harsh prison sentences for people carrying illegal firearms.
And I do think that gun ownership reflects a basic human right. Not specifically the right to own a gun per say, but the the right to protect yourself, to take your well-being into your own hands and to not be forced to rely on others. Since guns are the weapon of this era, they would be the most sensible way to protect oneself (especially since adequate protection of oneself would require that you be at least on equal footing with those that pose a threat around you.)
And yes, having guns out there, even properly regulated, will cause some violence and some accidents. But so do most things. People hurt themselves on motherfucking stairs, drown in pools, drink themselves to death, and eat shitty food that kills them. And automobiles, HOLY SHIT do so many people die because of car accidents. And I understand that most of these things (cars aside) normally only hurt the person involved in them, whereas guns can kill innocent bystanders... but as I said, so can cars. And they do, much, much more frequently. I'd happily accept more driving regulations and awareness, but taking away cars would be ludicrous.
The best way to prevent yourself from being an innocent bystander in a car-related incident? Awareness. Sure, you can't avoid everyone else's jackass mistakes or freak accidents, but watching out for other people fucking up and not putting yourself in stupid situations goes a long way. Practice that same awareness with guns. It won't save you from getting caught in a drive-by shooting, but neither will obeying all of the traffic laws save you if a drunk driver (or worse yet, some dumb cunt texting their friend) comes careening into your lane.
My point is, living is often dangerous. In many ways we should remove those dangers the best we can. Other times, the cost of these additional dangers is worth what these things offer us.
And yes, I've seen guns get pulled out when they shouldn't have, I've seen people get shot, and I know a couple of people that died due to gun violence. But I know plenty of other people that have died over way more mundane shit, and I think there are far greater societal threats that need to be addressed.
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