For or against?

I love how partisan politics can turn a complex issue like firearm control into such inane "FOR" or "AGAINST" options. Really helps to reinforce that whole "YOU'RE WITH US, OR YOU'RE WITH THE TERRORISTS" mentality.

That being said, I'm all for the ownership of pistols/rifles/shotguns. However I don't think you should be allowed to buy assault rifles such as an AK-47 publicly without at the very least a through background check. If at all. Do you really need a AK for duck hunting? Isn't that over doing the whole "protection" issue just a tad? Just who are you "protecting" yourself from that requires that much firepower?

Why is everyone so damn paranoid about being maimed/shot/killed anyway? Comparing the murder/suicide rates can only lead to one plausible conclusion. The biggest threat to your life is yourself. Or dying in a car accident. Not terrorists, not communists, not even criminals. But you! Be afraid!

Originally Posted by Arainach

Pistol? Sure.
Shotgun? I can see it.
Hunting Rifle? Why not.

Assault Rifle? RPG? You can all go to hell unless I'm allowed to build myself a nuclear power plant and/or bomb.

That was probably the sanest and most non-belligerent thing that got said in this thread. Congrats! *edit* oops guess not had to read some posts beyond yours. */edit!*

I recommend you try a legal challenge for your 2nd amendment rights to nuclear arms! I mean all you need is a little plutonium right?

*edit*

Originally Posted by RABicle

Cars are built with a primary purpose: moveing you around.

I call bullshit on that. Cars can be used for multiple purposes. Most cars have 15 gallon tanks. Five gallons of gasoline is equal to about a stick of TNT. You can legally buy as much of that substance as you want for your bomb building pleasure! Don't think it's possible? Learn a little chemistry. Yet most accidents involving cars are accidents no? You're sitting on such destructive firepower... and it's usually a accident when fatalities occur.

Quit being so paranoid.

Most amazing jew boots

Originally Posted by AliceNWondrland

what if someone followed me home to rape me? Is that such a stretch? Lots of people in my area know that my husband has been deployed for a while, and even if they didn't, it's not all that unheard of for some insane rapist to follow a woman home and rape and sometimes kill her.

What if my aunt had balls... gah nevermind.

Alice, chances are really good that a gun won't help you prevent or stop a rape. Unless you pay attention to your surroundings, a rapist can approach you from behind and stick a knife to your throat. That's typically how rapes occur. At this point no gun is going to help you. What will help you is a little knowledge of self defense. Ask your husband for a little self defense training. They still teach all military recruits some basic Judo moves.

Rapists, like most criminals typically go easy targets. So don't make yourself an easy target yeah? Don't get caught out and alone late at night. Don't loiter around that dark alley. Finally, if you're caught in that situation don't scream "RAPE!" scream "FIRE!!!!" Somebody's more likely to come assist. It's as easy as that.

Last, a criminal following you home is just some paranoid fantasy out of a movie. Or a home security system commercial. Do you know which houses in your neighborhood contain guns? Probably not. Does a criminal? Definitely not. Why risk it if you're going after easy targets?

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Is owning an AK any different from owning a shotgun? Does a 30 round magazine make it any easier for me to kill people? What if I just carried a lot of guns?.

Then again, I believe that criminalizing the possession of anything is ridiculous, since it's impossible to determine intent until use. I am, after all, some dumb Libertarian.

Yes. It's very different. Because at that point you now out-gun every law enforcement officer minus a SWAT team. Unlike the German Politzer who carries around SMGs, American police officers are inadequately equipped.

I can agree with you on your second point. But I'm a stupid libertarian too.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Nigga plz, if I carry anything bigger than a 9mm automatic, I'm already outgunning the police. Your standard shotgun is heavier firepower than what most beat cops would use (though they have to get it off the gun rack).

Yeah, yeah I know. Gangbangers already have access to light smgs like Mac-10's. AKs would make a bad situation much worse for the cops though.

Originally Posted by Bradylama

Besides, if citizens can't own anything that can penetrate Level I armor, how are we supposed to effectively rebel? :'D

We're supposed to steal credit cards, and like order pizza that they didn't order. Viva la resistance!!!

Originally Posted by Bradylama

The simple solution to this problem would be giving police better body armor, and better firearms, but that costs cash money, and lobbyists love pushing peacenik issues that get the standard police caliber down to 9mm from 45 cal.

All too true. I think the Politizer is equipped with former Bundeswehr stuff though. Our Army is bound to have old caches of M-16's lying around. So that's money already spent. Who knows!

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by Bradylama

So, how do we know what Gangbangers have access to?

My mommy, who was a teacher. Retired now. At one point in her career she taught gang members, rapists, and various other juvenile offenders at a "special" alternative school. She had to be on the look out for the kind of stuff. 'Lest someone shoot up the school.

That's also the source of how I knew that five gallons of gasoline equals to about a stick of TNT. She always brought home stories about how her students were uhh talking about ways to make car bombs out of materials commonly found among the average household. Scary really.

*edit!* Of course she turned them into the police, but that still doesn't change the fact that they probably know how to do that sort of stuff.

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