Instead of worrying about public safety, gun owners are worried about their right to bear arms.Gun owners do worry about public safety. Many people own firearms because they are concerned about their own safety, and want to take personal responsibility for protecting it. What gun owners are
not willing to do is give up the Constitutional right to keep and bear arms in the name of public safety.
And yes, most gun owners aren't involved in illegal activity.Here, at least, we have the truth. Most gun owners aren't involved in illegal activity. In fact, out of 40-80 million of them, only some 800,000 - less than 2% - are involved in illegal activity.
However, many of them aren't responsible gun owners because they think it is not their problem if a gun is stolen and used in a crime.The person who is
mostly responsible for such things is the
criminal who is guilty not only of theft, but also using a firearm in the commission of yet more crime. It's convenient to pin it all on the gun owner but let's not lose sight of who is
actually committing the crime here.
Children die everyday because either their parents are too lazy to make sure their gun is inaccessible or because they are in the wrong place at the wrong time when bullets from a stolen gun are sprayed across an unsuspecting city block.Oh the classic "it's for the children" argument. The fact of the matter is more children die from drowning every year than from guns.
People get so caught up in their right to have a gun that they lose sight of what is important: Public safety.Here we have the heart of the matter. The author clearly wants to put
safety above a Constitutionally enumerated
liberty. As Benjamin Franklin said, those who would forsake liberty for a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.
I know there are some legitimate hunters who think they are allowed to have semi-automatic guns too. It is ridiculous to call yourself a sportsman if you need to use a semi-automatic gun. Each shot should be carefully calculated, not just haphazardly shot repeatedly in seconds in the approximate direction of an animal.Here is another common theme - that the entire ownership criteria for firearms should revolve around hunting. The Constitutional right to keep and bear arms revolves around
killing people, not hunting.
These guns, the ones that should never hit the streets, are getting into the hands of criminals and innocent people are dying. Why? Because guns get stolen.I would be interested in data showing how many stolen firearms are used in crimes annually. It has to be less than 800,000 times.
In my opinion, there is no legitamate use for civilians to use a semi-automatic weapon.Then the author has not read any of the justifications in contemporary literature for why the second amendment was placed in the Constitution. The legitimate use for civilians to own semi-automatic weapons is defense against tyranny.
There is no reason why the rights of individuals in this country should make it easy for criminals to kill or handicap people.There is also no reason to infringe on the rights of 98% of firearm owners for the sake of 2%.
Gun shows are the worst example of how the private sector can hurt the public sector. A gun, which is a deadly weapon, should only be purchased after a person proves they are not crazy or some career criminal. Thorough background checks need to be made because it is a matter of life and death.99+% of all firearm sales at gun shows are through FFL dealers, and as such require a background check. Private sales at gun shows are rare.
Guns should never be put in the wrong hands because we are simply trying to protect gun owners' rights. What about the rights of those who are being hurt by guns?Guns should never be taken out of the
right hands simply because we are trying to crack down on criminals. What about the right to keep and bear arms?
Besides gun owners being more responsible by not allowing children to hunt, not allowing children to gain access to a gun closet and the added protection of a trigger lock, there needs to be stricter laws to raise people's awareness that with privilege comes responsibility.I started hunting with my father when I was about 10 years old. I got my first rifle when I was about 12.
Further, the right to keep and bear arms is not a privilege, it is a right. Rights to indeed come with responsibility. 98% of firearm owners act responsibly every year.
We should never take rights away from people, but homicides are most often committed with guns, especially handguns.Also we should note here that they are hardly ever committed with rifles. Especially "assault rifles".
I'm not real sure what type of hunting requires a handgun.In fact lots of people hunt with a handgun.
And I'm pretty sure there are more effective ways for personal protection other than keeping a handgun around.And yet it is the preeminent choice of law enforcement personnel for their own personal protection. You can be sure if there was something more effective our police would be using it.
In the event of a home invasion, for example, by the time the individual gets to that "locked" handgun, they could already be dead.Clear case for not locking them up to begin with. But even if you choose to lock them up, there are inexpensive quick-access safes that can be opened with no more effort than placing your hand on them.
So the handgun is not exactly the best option in personal protection. Not to mention the fact that the same gun intended to protect could actually be used against the victim.I would be interested in statistical data to relate how frequently this happens.
Illegal/stolen guns are also killing police officers who vow to serve and protect the public.
Police officers are dying because criminals have too many rights.Really? What sorts of rights is it that these criminals have that are causing police officers to die?
It is time for people to see the other side of this issue. Go and speak with someone who lost a loved one due to a senseless act of violence with a gun. Then come and preach about rights.Go speak to this woman who lost her mother and father to a sensless act of violence with a gun. Then go preach to her about gun control:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanna_Hupp
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