What are your thoughts on American gun control?
446195
You're not an American, so I don't expect you to understand. To be fair, a lot of Americans don't, either. The right to keep and bear arms is way up there on the Bill of Rights (#2 to be exact). Getting rid of the guns from the general public, which is impossible by the way, wouldn't get rid of the guns owned by criminals who have no respect for any law. We have already dabbled with the concept of prohibition, and it was a disaster. Criminals will always have guns, regardless of whether or not the second amendment is repealed. All that would do is disarm law abiding citizens who aren't even the problem.
622585
It's unconstitutional.\n\nAmendment II \n\nA well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. \n\nA free state not nation.\n\nYou really trust the government that much for your safety?  It takes thirty to forty minutes in this state for a deputy to respond to a call.  It takes thirty seconds for a person to bleed out.\n\nSo those of us who provide our own food what would we do? hunt with stones?  \n\nI have had a couple of situations where I was glad I was armed.\n\nWe have also had mountain lion attacks in this state.  I don't believe in the so-called non-lethal.  Pepperspray can be blown back in your face.  \n\nWhen people start getting killed by stones are you going to out law rocks  (people get killed with rocks now)?  How can this be done, are you God?  I doubt it.  What about cars, knives, scissors, rope, baseball bats, plastic bags.  Are you for banning all these?\n\nWhat actually effects violence is being stronger than a bad guy.  The philosophy of Teddy Roosevelt have a big stick and walk softly.  If everyone is armed the Bad guy naturally backs down, because they look for weaker targets.
829815
I'm a police officer, and I am all for law-abiding citizens owning guns, on one condition: If you're gonna have a gun, learn how to use it. If you don't learn how to use your gun, don't practice with it regularly, don't keep it clean and operational, then it will be more of a danger than a protection.\n\nAny person who is considering gun ownership should take a firearms safety course, which are offered by many different organizations, including many police departments. It's also important to practice with a firearm regularly, because, as with any other skill, if you don't use it, you lose it. Having a gun does no good if you can't hit what you're aiming at. Equally important is proper care and maintenance of the gun, which really just comes down to periodic cleaning and oiling. And of course, if you're going to have a gun, just make sure you follow all the local guidelines to ensure that you have all the necessary permits.\n\nIf a law-abiding citizen learns gun safety, practices with their gun, and keeps it in good working order, than I have absolutely no problem at all with them having a gun. In fact, I've seen more than one life saved because the "victim" had a gun and knew how to use it.
947914
I believe it is my responsibility to protect myself and my family, i have always believed this and cannot understand why anyone would want to ban weapons from private citizens. The wisest question i have seen posted in some time, hopefully you will continue to provide all the people on here the ability to make use of their braincells, Granted, there are some who will miss your point but i can see that it has nothing to do with gun control and should be treated as a legitimate question to encourage debate and provide people the info to protect themselves and their families.
207188
This type of question only reinforces the view of anti-gunners about how they view legal gun-owners.\nYour question should be, "Why is it that every country that's enforced gun bans has an increase in person-to-person crimes and burglaries?"\n\nOr, "Since some countries that have banned guns and have seen an increase in crime, why don't their governments reinstate their gun rights so the citizens can protect themselves?"\n\nSee how that's more diplomatic, and more inviting to a intelligent discussion about the issue, instead of introducing hositlity and open biases into it?
528758
I think real guns should be mandatory for every student.\n\nI think bullying and school violence will go WAY down if everyone is armed.\nA bully will think twice before taking some nerd's lunch money if the nerd is packing a .45\nThink about it, Columbine would have NEVER happened if every student was armed. The two CRAZY morons would have been shot in a minute.\n\nThis way we will have armed and VERY, EXTREMELY polite schools.
804282
do you want for or against? \n\nFor gun control:\nIn countries with strict gun control there is much less gun related violence. E.g. clearly fewer school shootings. If the parents don't have a gun sitting in their cupboard ready to be used most kids won't figure out easily where do get one from. \nAlso less danger of accidental shootings if there are less guns around.\nI think the bobbies in England stopped carrying a gun and somebody figured out that the risk for a Bobby to get shot actually went down. If the criminal knows they are not going to get shot they actually seem to be less inclined to shoot first and rather run first. Though I've never seen the study, only hearsay, so I don't know how accurate the rumor is. But you probably can figure that out.\nAlso I think there are studies that guns in the home end up to be used much more rarely in defence against a burglar situation than are involved in accidents or murders by people living in the household. People with no or little control over their temper seem to use a gun if it happens to be around and shoot their spouses or friends and think about consequences later. \n\nagainst: owning a gun seems to give some people a sense of security (or of being macho)
522875
God, Guns, and Guts made this Country great. Remember the West wasn't won with a registered gun. Also it is better to be tried by twelve than carried by six. Gun control is being able to hit your target. Peace thru superior firepower.
385917
I own guns and have for about 50 years and none of them have ever harmed another human or myself. I use them for sport and exercize. I do not think that I or my guns need controled. However if I was to use them for ill will then I think that I could expect to receive maxamum puninishment for doing so. In other words guns do not harm humans, humans harm humans. I do think the laws ought to be geared toward that.
250832
america's goverment should stay away from muslim world. leave them alone will be the best way to keep american safe.\nthe future hold for AMERICA'S IMAGE??? GUN&WAR
504998
People that support banning guns are just stupid! There should be gun control where guns are registered and you have to have a permit to carry one. When gun ownership is outlawed, only criminals will have guns. The United Nations is trying to ban guns in all countries. Support the NRA!
464526
AS a member of both the ATA and the NRA I have several. They are all secure. My family are all well trained in their use and safety. We are more competition target shooters rather than hunters, though I generally get my own Goose for Thanksgiving. I am also an ex-Air force 45cal marksman that darn strait can protect my home and family.\n\n\nSam. I know you are young and naive. Since nearly every state in the union has passed a right to carry law, gun crime has gone WAY down. The "mainstream" left leaning media seldom reports the many cases when a ordinary armed citizen thwarts a criminal element because they support the anti gun lobby.
403116
I Do Not Believe That The MILITARY Is"BUYING UP ALL THE AMMO" (They Make Their Own)\n\nI DO Believe That There Are Going To Be RESTRICTIONS Put Into Place VERY SOON(GUN CONTROL)By The Government And What You Are Seeing Is The Beginnings Of The Phaseout\n\nAlthough We Have The Right To Bear Arms In This Country, We Must Also Realize That Little By Little Our Rights As Americans Are Being Stripped Away\n\nOne Bullet At A Time(If You Get My Drift)\n\nsignwrx(ABOVE) Has The Answer
1007697
I'm a liberal.\n\nThat said, I think one of the fundamental rights we Americans have is the 2nd amendment.  Though guns are generally associated with so many problems in our society, our right to own them is still important for a few reasons.  First and foremost, it is a freedom.  That itself is reason enought to make it an essential part of our identity.  Too many people are quick to jump to the defense of other rights that our founding fathers thought necessary for us to have, only to back out of this defense when guns are brought up.  We can't cherry pick our amendments to suit our situations because as soon as we give one up, the rest will follow all too quickly.  Every American should cherish every right granted in the constitution as if it were his or her lifeblood.\n\nAnother reason the right to own a firearm is so important is because an armed population can fend off tyranny much better than an unarmed one.  However unlikely it is, Americans can rest assured that if someone had the balls to overthrow the government, that would only be the first step in gaining absolute power here.  I realize that this is a weak argument because it's a hypothetical situation, but as evidence, look to any tyrannical government in history and check to see whether the people were armed [e.g., Iraq, Nazi Germany, Sudan, etc.].  On the flip side of the coin, look at the Swiss Army.  The reason nobody (including their own leadership) messes with them during most wars is because up until the mid 90's every man over the age of 18 was issued a semi-automatic assault rifle and made a member of the standing militia.  When the Swiss are involved in a war, it's because they want to be.
208087
Well according to the Federalist Papers an armed citizenry is ideal because keeps the government in check.  The government should be afraid of the citizenry not the other way around.\n\nAccording to the 2nd Amendment the States have the right to impose what controls it sees necessary to protect the citizenry, in fact there were rules that every male HAD to carry a weapon at certain times.\n\nIn my state we have very little crime mainly because it is easy for law abiding citizens to get a permit to carry.  In fact Virgina is now suggesting to women who get personal protection orders (restraining orders) also get pistol permits. \n\nI talked to a Secret Service Agent once where he told where he was being wolf-packed, he pulled his weapon and the gang dispersed.\n\nI had someone intentionally hit my pick-up once.  They got out of their vehicle fairly quickly I didn't have a clue what was going on, thankfully I had my pistol with me, I talked my way out of it.\n\nThe thing is training is key.\n\nThe only gun control I believe in is felons never owning any and where I use two hands\n\nThe thing is I have read reports where the use of knives by criminals are up.  The kids in Florida who killed a homeless man didn't use a firearm they beat him.\n\nIt's not the firearm that's evil, it's people.  And because there are evil people we should be able to defend against being harmed, according to the Declaration of Independence we have the right to life.  Criminals try to violate that right and the only way that it's guareteed is if we fight to protect it
681056
no way should they ban guns,i love guns,i just think their are iresposible people getting hold of them,i dont think you will ever stop gun deaths in the u.s because it is human nature to kill each other,and also the criminals would be the only one with the guns ,or the police wich is just as bad,people need to be taught the real dangers of guns becouse they are not toys.
891071
I'm for background checks, waiting periods, and against certain types of guns (ie assault rifles), but as long as you're not a criminal or insane, I've got no problems with people owning guns.