USA, Canada /
The 2nd Amendment (USA), the right to own guns [261]
OK, I read through some of the posts here (some I agree with, some I don't, some just seemed to go off topic), and rather then respond to individual ideas or topics I figured I would respond just to the first posting and give my history with guns and overall opinion. If you want just the short answer, scroll down to the bottom:
Honestly, I have mixed feelings on guns.
I was never a "gun" person. They always made me nervous. Growing up in New Jersey, I didn't really grow up with guns- except for DuckHunt on Nintendo. On occasion, I would visit a friend (in what used to be the country) and shoot a shotgun once or twice- and that was it.
When I went to college, I joined Army ROTC for a year. Although I don't think military life was for me, I got to do so many cool things. One of those was to shoot an M-16 rifle. I have to say that that day I was not very nervous- and I think that was because of the controlled environment. The drill sergents made sure that no one was doing anything that they were not supposed to. I wasn't a bad shot and actually thought that target shooting was fun.
I didn't shoot anything else for years after that. When I got married, I knew my husband wanted a gun, but I didn't want one in a tiny apartment. When we were on vacation with friends, he bought a pellet rifle and targets to keep at our friends in PA. Once again, I enjoyed target shooting.
Before the election, there were rumors that if Obama was elected that gun prices would sky-rocket and it would be extremely hard to get one. My husband begged and pleaded, and I finally broke down. My husband is usually responsible, but sometimes he has his dumb moments- especially when his friends are involved. I told with him that the first even remotely dumb moment he has with a gun, it is out- and he knows I'm not bluffing.
He has had two pistols and a shotgun for nearly three months now. He is extremely careful with them and makes sure his friends follow the rules (and my rules) when they go to the range. They all respect that a gun can be dangerous and is not something that should be "played" with.
He has this one friend that I always felt was irresponsible- except for when it comes to his guns. He is very careful with them. He has two step-kids now, so he keeps them locked up and out of sight.
So, after all that...I do think that Americans have the right to own firearms. The problem is that not everyone is as smart as my husband and his friend- and that is what makes me second guess the constitution. There should be gun control and education, not gun bans. We have too many stupid people in this country when it comes to guns. They either don't understand the magnitude of guns and death- or they just don't care.
Yes, an accident sometimes cannot be stopped or prevented. But that is usually not the case. Most gun-related "accidents" are mistakes mixed with stupidity- someone cleaning a loaded gun, a family member is mistaken for an intruder, a bullet ricochets and hits someone else, stray bullets hit innocent by-standers...This country has too many "accidents" when it comes to guns.
Instead of banning firearms, I think the government needs to regulate it more. Make it more of a federal thing rather then a state thing. In NJ, you have a bunch of papers to fill out, and a few days before you get your permit to go purchase a gun. My father-in-law in PA simply went to the store. I think each state should have more consistent laws in obtaining firearms. Also I think gun sellers and law enforcement officers should be more educated on civilian gun laws. If my husband has a question about his guns and the laws, he usually gets 5 different responses- one from each person he asks (cops, lawyers and sellers alike).
If all states have the same laws and procedures and all the people involved know them and follow them, then the government can stop focusing on people who want to legally obtain a gun, and start focusing on illegal gun activity. There are three main reasons people get a gun- sport (hunting and target shooting), protection, or crime. Normally, people wanting it for sport or protection are going to follow proper laws and procedures to get one. Unless they are a stupid criminal, someone wanting to commit a crime will not. If all states are regulated, the government can spend more time finding the illegal guns.
Plus if you ban guns all together, new problems arise- just look back at prohibition.
The short answer:
Americans should have the right to own guns. The government should regulate it on a federal level, rather then state, and make sure everyone is properly educated. They should focus more on the illegal gun trade.
