A 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.
This is one of the most ambiguous of the amendments listed in the constitution.
To me is says that we are able to form a militia to defend ourselves, one that would be registered and perhaps restricted to certain types of weapons, or practices.
As someone who has had a semi automatic weapon pointed at him during one of the mall rampages that are such the rage these last few years (An SK-47) during which thankfully only two people were hurt, I don't have an unbiased perspective. This weapon was purchased completely legally under current registration laws in New York, one of the strictest locales in the nation to own guns. Do I feel that it is necessary for better regulations? Yes. Do I think all gun owners are morons, looking to shoot up the local shopping place? No, not at all. If I had some money, I'd own a rifle or two myself as I really like to match shoot. By the way, citizens owning guns didn't help the above example. The mall security (presumably trained, and definitely armed) left the immediate scene and the perpetrator was disarmed by two unarmed civilians from Dick's Sporting Goods (oddly enough).
Sorry about changing the nature of the discussion.
I disagree. I don't think that stricter gun laws are the answer. Honestly, you are the exception. You were the victim of a crime that was committed with a legally purchased firearm. And for that, I am sorry. I truly am. It is morons like him that ruin it for the rest of us.
In talking with the police officers I work with, 95% of the guns used in crime in the State of Florida were obtained illegally.
Do I feel we should have a well regulated Militia, yes I do. Am I against registering firearms, absolutely not. Am I against the government telling me that I can't buy a Glock .380 because it doesn't pass some stupid test, yes I am. Do I think that we should be able to purchase semi automatic weapons, yes I do, as long as it is done legally. I think we need to work on the criminals we already have before we make more out of currently law obiding citizens.
I'm well and truly, deeply sorry that you had that experience.
That being said, gun-control laws only affect the law-abiding citizens.
NY is as you mentioned, "one of the strictest locales in the nation to own guns" it's damn near impossible to carry a gun legally in New York, so they couldn't help in the above example. The same thing happened in Texas a few years ago, and the criminal was put gunned and over powered in a matter of seconds.
As for "all the rage" I sincerely hope that this was a misstatement. Someone's mental breakdown should never be played off as some trend worth copy catting. Since there is no such thing as an SK-47, I'm assuming you meant, AK. In my search I can only find one reported instance of using this fire arm in a mall shooting, and though extremely unfortunate, one instance does not a trend make.
CONSIDER THIS...
In 1929 the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, approximately 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915-1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, 13 million Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, the mentally ill, and others, who were unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million "educated" people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In the first year since gun owners in Australia were forced to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed, a program costing the government more than $500 million dollars. The results Australia-wide; Homicides are up 3.2%, Assaults are up 8 %, and Armed robberies are up 44%.
In Australia's state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are up 300%! Over the previous 25 years, figures show a steady decrease in armed robberies and Australian politicians are on the spot and at a loss to explain how no improvement in "safety" has been observed after such monumental effort and expense was successfully expended in "ridding society of guns."
Again, I am deeply sorry that you had to experience what had to be a traumatic event for you, but these events only re-enforce my desire for a Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons permit.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2008-08-28 03:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-28 03:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-28 04:25 am (UTC)Fuck him with a wire brush.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-28 10:59 am (UTC)This is one of the most ambiguous of the amendments listed in the constitution.
To me is says that we are able to form a militia to defend ourselves, one that would be registered and perhaps restricted to certain types of weapons, or practices.
As someone who has had a semi automatic weapon pointed at him during one of the mall rampages that are such the rage these last few years (An SK-47) during which thankfully only two people were hurt, I don't have an unbiased perspective. This weapon was purchased completely legally under current registration laws in New York, one of the strictest locales in the nation to own guns. Do I feel that it is necessary for better regulations? Yes. Do I think all gun owners are morons, looking to shoot up the local shopping place? No, not at all. If I had some money, I'd own a rifle or two myself as I really like to match shoot. By the way, citizens owning guns didn't help the above example. The mall security (presumably trained, and definitely armed) left the immediate scene and the perpetrator was disarmed by two unarmed civilians from Dick's Sporting Goods (oddly enough).
Sorry about changing the nature of the discussion.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-28 11:32 am (UTC)In talking with the police officers I work with, 95% of the guns used in crime in the State of Florida were obtained illegally.
Do I feel we should have a well regulated Militia, yes I do. Am I against registering firearms, absolutely not. Am I against the government telling me that I can't buy a Glock .380 because it doesn't pass some stupid test, yes I am. Do I think that we should be able to purchase semi automatic weapons, yes I do, as long as it is done legally. I think we need to work on the criminals we already have before we make more out of currently law obiding citizens.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-29 05:02 pm (UTC)How many people are threatened with knives every year? How often do people get stabbed? They aren't going to outlaw knives next are they?
Just like the words "assault weapon". It's just inflammatory. If I pick up a stapler and hit someone with it, that just became an assault weapon.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-29 05:19 pm (UTC)That being said, gun-control laws only affect the law-abiding citizens.
NY is as you mentioned, "one of the strictest locales in the nation to own guns" it's damn near impossible to carry a gun legally in New York, so they couldn't help in the above example. The same thing happened in Texas a few years ago, and the criminal was put gunned and over powered in a matter of seconds.
As for "all the rage" I sincerely hope that this was a misstatement. Someone's mental breakdown should never be played off as some trend worth copy catting. Since there is no such thing as an SK-47, I'm assuming you meant, AK. In my search I can only find one reported instance of using this fire arm in a mall shooting, and though extremely unfortunate, one instance does not a trend make.
CONSIDER THIS...
In 1929 the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, approximately 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915-1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, 13 million Jews, gypsies, homosexuals, the mentally ill, and others, who were unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981, 100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million "educated" people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.
In the first year since gun owners in Australia were forced to surrender 640,381 personal firearms to be destroyed, a program costing the government more than $500 million dollars. The results Australia-wide; Homicides are up 3.2%, Assaults are up 8 %, and Armed robberies are up 44%.
In Australia's state of Victoria, homicides with firearms are up 300%! Over the previous 25 years, figures show a steady decrease in armed robberies and Australian politicians are on the spot and at a loss to explain how no improvement in "safety" has been observed after such monumental effort and expense was successfully expended in "ridding society of guns."
http://oak.cats.ohiou.edu/~weinfurt/gun.html
Again, I am deeply sorry that you had to experience what had to be a traumatic event for you, but these events only re-enforce my desire for a Concealed Carry Deadly Weapons permit.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-28 10:36 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-28 12:25 pm (UTC)