For or against?

Ugh, first of all, comparing crime rates based on a country's gun-laws is ludicrous, because you completely ignore other contributing factors. Culture has a lot to do with it, I will agree that Americans have a much more violent culture than most European countries, however, I won't say that it's because we have "loose" gun-laws. Though I would make an argument for the converse.

On the other hand, saying that you want to own a weapon for self-defense is also kind of lame. First of all, you're bringing a tool used for the killing of living things, and at the very least this tool will cause serious injury. This is a risk factor to your family in and of itself. Secondly, I don't know of many home invasion robberies that happen while the victims are at home. Criminals are generally opportunists, their object is to get what they want with as little risk or effort on their part as possible.

The other argument is that other tools we use everyday are dangerous as well and some people have equally dangerous hobbies. I'll agree with that, but it doesn't necessarily justify the case, either.

I don't particularly care myself whether my neighbor owns a gun or not. As long as he doesn't point it at me.

Ultimately, yes, criminals commit crimes. That's why they're criminals. Gun control laws aren't going to completely eliminate gun-violence either, because there's always a way to procure items illegally. Drugs are illegal, but they're pretty damned prolific. Even in countries with tough gun control laws, there are still crimes committed with guns, if it were as simple as eliminating them from the retail market (hoping that this would eliminate the street availability of guns), then why are there still crimes committed with guns in countries like Japan?

Of course, I don't think I really have to explain the concept behind escalation and such. Paranoia breeds a sense of need, people procure arms both legally and illegally.

Really, the problem isn't with guns, it's with the violent nature of humans. Murder and other violent crimes can still happen without guns. Stabbing someone is a lot more difficult than shooting someone (assuming you can properly aim the weapon to begin with), but that doesn't seem to stop people form committing murder with knives.

To be honest, I don't really see why you need fully automatic weapons for home defense. If you lay down that much firepower, inside of your home, or on your property, there isn't going to be much left assuming you're successful in stopping the intrusion.

Then again, most crime isn't committed with fully-automatic weapons like you see in the movies, they're too expensive to purchase and maintain (rounds, required maintenance, etc).

Pistols, yeah, they're lethal but they're certainly more practical for home defense than shotguns or rifles. I don't understand the need to hunt with guns, there are many other ways to hunt animals, but then again, I do know that there is a necessity for keeping away mountain lions and such away from your home.

I don't have a big problem with current gun control laws, it keeps honest people honest.

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Not entirely, but Newtonian physics does become less and less certain at certain levels. Hence the theories of general and special relativity.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

I have a Twinky, I don't need a gun when I have a Twinky. Twinkies require no maintenance and have a shelf life of forever.

Why do I have a Twinky? Well, in case I get attacked by ninjas... FROM SPACE!

Twinkies are easily mass-produced and cause no harm to humans, well, if you ingest them they might. They're linked to obesity.

What I want to know is, how can the nation of supposed enlightenment and moral superiority which is supposed to be spreading THE FREEDOM all over the world be in such bad shape? We have all kinds of major health problems, a lot of it due to poor diets and the resulting SHELF-ASS. We also can't seem to stop killing each other. And, for all of our PURE HEART and CHASENED RESTRAINT why do we have a higher incidence of substance abuse than in other countries? It's a mystery.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

It has to do with spread of controversy and asian lesbian pornography-- the cornerstones of a productive, cohesive society.

I think the obsession with possessing firearms is the same with the insistance upon owning ridculously large stationwagons known as SUVs. It's not that there's any particular reason to own one, it's simply another totem compensation for phallic inadequacy.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?