Top 30 Reasons to Oppose Gun Control

[baldguy]

http://www.guninformation.org/reasons.html

...

5. It's a good idea to own a gun at home because a gun is more likely to be used to kill a friend or family member rather than a criminal.

6. There have been gun control laws for over 200 years in America, but because of modern day circumstances gun-control is no longer needed.

7. The NRA knows more about American history than historians do.

8. Although firearms are inanimate objects and therefore can't kill people, they do somehow have the magical power to keep a person safe from criminals.

9. Although firearms are inanimate objects and therefore can't kill people, they do somehow have the magical power to protect a person against political tyrrany.

10. Guns are a protection against political tyrrany. For example, private ownership of guns was very common in Iraq while Sadam Hussein was in power. Guns are the reason the Iraqi people have enjoyed so much more freedom than people in England where guns have been banned.

...

17. It's a good idea to always have a loaded gun around when you lose your temper.

18. Children are safer if they have easy access to guns.

...

20. Pro-gun propaganda is very good logic. Let's apply pro-gun propaganda to cars to demonstrate this- Cars don't kill people, people kill people. That's why stop signs and speed limits should be abolished.

21. Criminals don't obey laws and that's why all laws should be abolished.

...

28. Chanting a lie over and over again will somehow make it come true.

29. The gun industry should have a special immunity to lawsuits that isn't enjoyed by other industries. The gun industry should not be held responsible when it's negligent.

30. Most murders in the US are committed with guns, but killing is not the purpose of a gun.

[fascisthunter]

1. Orwell... check this Out

This one especially:

"Criminals don't obey laws and that's why all laws should be abolished."

Every statement on that list is garbage.

"...but killing is not the purpose of a gun."

yeah... they were designed to build things

[baldguy]

6. "Guns aren't designed to kill things."

A gun worshiper said that very thing here in the gungeon not 2 days ago.



Try again.

[Optical.Catalyst]

18. Guns can save lives, make lives better and build things

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[baldguy]

22. If you're looking for the Crafts & Hobbies forum, this ain't it.

Though you could be forgiven thinking that owning & using firearms is merely a decent hobby.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

29. All I do is target shoot occasionally, I consider it a decent hobby.

[Optical.Catalyst]

33. So by baldguy's definition, a line throwing gun is a craft or hobby

I suppose I could use that logic to imply a medical X-ray machine is a device for recreational photography.

[Optical.Catalyst]

2. You forgot the sarcasm thingie

[geckosfeet]

10. Not. Really. Sarcasm.

These are real arguments put forth from time to time by gun righties. They are worded to illuminate the fallacies and ill-logic of the arguments.

I think they are educational and humorous.

Gun righties should read these and figure out what works and what won't make them look any dumber.

There are reasons to own guns. Self defense is legitimate. That's all that needs to be said. Don't start ranting about protecting your home and family from the boogie man.

The second amendment is another. The language is plain and simple. The founding fathers put it there for a reason. We must trust in their wisdom or change the constitution.

[Optical.Catalyst]

12. Michael Z. Williamson has a similar ( but opposite ) list

That an intruder will be incapacitated by tear gas or oven spray, but if shot with a .357 Magnum will get angry over your retaliation and kill you.

http://www.michaelzwilliamson.com/rants/guncontrol.php

[yay]

45. Epic

interesting piece,

[pegdraggin]

3. How about "It's my constitutional right"

End of story.


By the way, each and every point is either oversimplified, misleading, or an outright lie (such as #1).

[rollingrock]

4. Do you belong to a well-regulated militia?

or are a member of the armed forces or police force?

if not, you have no constitutional right to 'bear arms.'

[DonP]

7. A bit behind the times aren't we?

All 9 justices on SCOTUS agreed last summer that it was an individual right and not connected with service in a militia. The two dissents in Heller vs. DC/Fenty were over the level of scrutiny to be applied to the right, not whether it was one individual citizens have.

But depending on which state you live in you probably are already considered a member of a well regulated (it means well trained and equipped, not controlled, in 19th century parlance) since it includes all men/residents depending on the state between certain ages (varies by state). You don't get a membership card the state assumes you are a de facto member.

Try to keep up with the rest of the class on your reading and work on that comprehension thing.

[rollingrock]

11. Look up the word militia n/t

[DonP]

14. Don't have to, SCOTUS said it doesn't mean anything re the 2nd amendment. Nxt

[rollingrock]

16. Do you believe Bush won the 2000 election fair and square?

...just because the SCOTUS said so?

[NewMoonTherian]

28. Good grief, Don, look it up.

First and second Militia Acts of 1792. Plain as day.

[rl6214]

32. Militia

The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens<1> to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service.

[krispos42]

39. Okay, let's look up the word "militia"

CHAPTER 13 - THE MILITIA

-MISC1-
Sec.
311. Militia: composition and classes.
312. Militia duty: exemptions.

-End-



-CITE-
10 USC Sec. 311 01/03/2007

-EXPCITE-
TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle A - General Military Law
PART I - ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL MILITARY POWERS
CHAPTER 13 - THE MILITIA

-HEAD-
Sec. 311. Militia: composition and classes

-STATUTE-
(a) The militia of the United States consists of all able-bodied
males at least 17 years of age and, except as provided in section
313 of title 32, under 45 years of age who are, or who have made a
declaration of intention to become, citizens of the United States
and of female citizens of the United States who are members of the
National Guard.
(b) The classes of the militia are -
(1) the organized militia, which consists of the National Guard
and the Naval Militia; and
(2) the unorganized militia, which consists of the members of
the militia who are not members of the National Guard or the
Naval Militia.

-SOURCE-
(Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 14; Pub. L. 85-861, Sec. 1(7),
Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1439; Pub. L. 103-160, div. A, title V,
Sec. 524(a), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1656.)

-MISC1-

boldface mine

http://uscode.house.gov/download/pls/10C13.txt

So why are you supporting a legal definition that only allows men to own guns?

[pegdraggin]

9. +1 on Don P

For everyone that thought the 2nd ammendment was ambigous, that is no more.

WE are the militia. It is my right, and yours.

[Hangingon]

13. Very tired argument that was recently shot down by SCOTUS

These phrases: "right of the people peaceably to assemble," "right of the people to be secure in their homes," "enumerations herein of certain rights shall not be construed to disparage others retained by the people," and "The powers not delegated herein are reserved to the states respectively, and to the people" all refer to individuals, but "the right of the people to keep and bear arms" refers to the state.

Borrowed from the 40 reeasons to ban gunbs.

[rollingrock]

17. The SCOTUS also said Bush won the 2000 election

well, that settles that.

[Hangingon]

19. SCOTUS may have ruled in favor of Bush but a different

SCOTUS ruled the right to bear arms is an individual right. It is the law. Well, that settles that.

[rollingrock]

20. It is the law

that doesn't mean I have to agree with it.

it's also called the opinion of the court. emphasis on opinion.

[Hangingon]

21. Get you parents to buy a dictionary for you. You need one badly.

A good civics text would help too.

[rollingrock]

23. You could use one

and so could the SCOTUS.

I suggest you find one and look up the word militia.

[NewMoonTherian]

40. Milita...

As defined in the United States constitution, or the constitutions of our individual states?

I looked up both, and yes, I'm a member. I regulate myself quite well, if you were wondering.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

48. Since that Court cannot be overruled, that opinion would be Settled Law.

[hendo]

49. we may not like it, but as I recall he did serve two terms.

and you are saying one bad decision ruins every case of judicial review since 1803?

I guess you don't support Roe v Wade either.

[baldguy]

24. Can one guy assemble peaceably, by himself?

The Constitution is written in a language known as English. When it talks about the people collectively, it says "the people". When it talks about persons individually, it says "persons". That's how English works.

[Hangingon]

36. I don't think you can support that position with case law.

[hendo]

51. I can assemble with my pal Jack Daniels, and his partner Jimmy Beam

:sarcasm:

that understanding of the 2nd is outdated.

[rl6214]

31. If you are a citizen of these United States

Everyone is a member of the militia.

[SteveM]

35. Laurence Tribe, the leading poo-bah of the militia clause now thinks...

along with most other Constitutional scholars, historians, political scientists and others that the Second Amendment recognizes an INDIVIDUAL RIGHT to keep and bear arms. Your "militia clause" interpretation grew out of the 1960s and was dying by the 1990s and never during that time enjoyed wide-spread agreement among those who study 2A. Only prohibitionists and MSM pushed the deeply-flawed "militia clause" argument.

Suggested reading: The Great American Gun Debate, Kates & Kleck, Pacific Research Institute for Public Policy, 1997.

[jmg257]

37. Wrong. "Militia" however IS why we have the right to "military arms in common use".

[yay]

42. I am between the ages of 18 and 45

So technically I am part of a militia.

[hendo]

50. you really don't understand the role of the supreme court, do you?

what a sad, ignorant world you must live in.

[AlinPA]

5. #20 is interesting.

[pipoman]

15. Oh, not really

I have been kicking around here for quite a while and have seen very few people advocate repealing any of the existing 20,000 firearms laws already on the books. It is however a common cry by people who advocate gun control that 'guns are unrestricted', 'pro 2nd Amendment people want unregulated access to firearms', 'want to arm everybody', want to arm children', etc. When the truth is most pro 2nd people hereabouts simply believe that 20,000 firearms laws should be sufficient, in fact so sufficient that many (if not most) aren't funded or enforced.

[AlinPA]

25. Within this community of DU I would have to agree that most don't want to eliminate

all gun laws. Outside of here, I disagree - starting with my local sportsmen's club and across America. I formed my opinion based on listening to a lot of people over a long period of time (I am 71 years old).

[pipoman]

26. There are, no doubt, some

who believe that, but even the NRA (contrary to what is oft spewed here) has supported many new and current restrictions. They supported and endorsed the enactment of the Brady Bill establishing the NICS, they supported the 1934 NFA, they have supported many bills and begged for enforcement of laws designed to keep prohibited persons from acquiring firearms. I think the number of actual gun owners who advocate for no restrictions are extremely small.

My problem with the whole gun control movement is that I can only think of one addition to current law which may be helpful after reading countless threads here on DU over the past 4 years or so. The one addition I would like to see added is NICS (National Instant Check System) made available to anyone selling a gun privately for a very nominal cost (or better yet free). The reason private sales (also known erroneously as 'the gun show loophole') have not been brought into the NICS requirement is that the Federal Government has no constitutional authority to regulate intrastate personal property transactions. In lieu of a Federal Requirement, simply making the system available on a voluntary basis and staging a national advertising campaign would bring many transactions into the system. Most gun owners who wish to sell a gun would like to know that the person buying it is eligible, as the law stands now it is very difficult to determine this. All of the other restrictions I see thrown around are serious violations of the 2nd Amendment, have already been proven to be inconsequential or are redundant.

[rrneck]

8. Heh

:)

[NewMoonTherian]

27. Awesome!

Every time the "Gun Control Arguments" list is posted, people get all huffy about it. I've always wondered why people didn't just respond in kind instead of whining.

Not quite as imaginative or pithy as the other list, but it's in the right spirit. More of this please.

[rl6214]

30. Probably on of the most asinine pieces of crap

I have ever read.

[jmg257]

34. Wow - you should go into the Scarecrow business, that's like 13 straw men all in a row!

"Criminals don't obey laws and that's why all laws should be abolished."

Who came up with this one? Must be the same guy as...

"Cars don't kill people, people kill people. That's why stop signs and speed limits should be abolished."

Admittedly very original though - I never heard either of these arguments before. Must be an idiotic gun-grabber who thought of these! I NEVER heard a gun owner OR the NRA call for the abolishing of the crimes of murder, assault, robbery, etc.

Goes right along with "Children are safer if they have easy access to guns." - THAT one I hear all the time! Well, no, not really, not seriously anyway.

Hmmm...
"...guns do somehow have the magical power"... Sorry - but NO, not really. But that is the main point isn't it?! Guns have NO power to do anything on their own. Hmmm...haven't heard too many people actually say they think they are magical...seems that too is just another stupid gun grabbing nutter notion (right along with 'guns=penis' and 'gun worshiper'). :silly:

"Chanting a lie over and over again will somehow make it come true." - another wisdom-packed phrase; What it means in this case???
:crazy:

Here's another duzy or 2..
"It's a good idea to always have a loaded gun around when you lose your temper." & "It's a good idea to own a gun at home because a gun is more likely to be used to kill a friend or family member rather than a criminal."

Riiight - because THE only thing keeping my family and my wife & I from turning into cold blooded killers every time we had/have an argument is by limiting our access to guns!
:puke: ...40+ years as gun owners - who knew I/we were all in such peril?!? HEY! At least we all know better then to piss off a cop now!

"There have been gun control laws for over 200 years in America, but because of modern day circumstances gun-control is no longer needed." SOO many people don't agree, but hey, you are the one who quoted it. Must make sense to someone (an antigun nut idea AGAIN?)

Another straw-man "The gun industry should not be held responsible when it's negligent." Sure it should, but it should NOT be held responsible because 90% of gun offending scumbags in Chicago have criminal histories & still use an illegally acquired S&W or Ruger or Glock to shoot their drug-dealing partners.

This one is interesting...
"The NRA knows more about American history than historians do." Maybe, maybe not. They do certainly seem to know more about the Constitution and the Bill of Rights then anti-gun nut organizations.



Now, if you only had a brain!!!

:dunce:

[umccoyw]

38. im only going to touch on 2 on your list

i could easily write over 1,000 words disputing all on your list but im not going to.
"8. Although firearms are inanimate objects and therefore can't kill people, they do somehow have the magical power to keep a person safe from criminals.

9. Although firearms are inanimate objects and therefore can't kill people, they do somehow have the magical power to protect a person against political tyrrany."
Guns dont kill people and guns dont have magical powers. A gun is a tool so to speak. people kill people whether its with a gun, bat, knife, pen, or with there hands. But i guess i could give you a little credit as to guns have a magical power to protect against tyranny because if the people have firearms it will make a government think twice before becoming a tyranny. Iraq was different yes everyone had guns and they had a horrible dictator but they were scared to do anything because he would kill mass amounts of his own people. Here in America if someone tried to take over the gvernment and be a dictator it wouldnt work because everyone with firearms wouldnt put up with it and i would like to think the people in our own military would do whats right and not stand for a tyranical government either

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

41. What dumbass came up with that list?

[Hoopla Phil]

43. A really BIG one.

[Tim01]

44. Ah, an extremist lefwing point of view. How timely.

I assume what also goes with this post is turning loose all captive animals in North America. Cats, dogs, cows, chickens, everything.

[cazybeast]

46. don't forget drugs

We should ban drugs. If we did that, then no one would get high and cause accident-

WAIT A MINUTE.

[yay]

47. You're capable of all sorts of

mentally retarded comments aren't you? I still think it's kinda funny how you tend to duck out when the hard questions come around.