It's very difficult to buy a gun (legally) here in Australia. You have to be a registered member of a sporting shooters organisation or a farmer or other occupation, such as a police officer, to be able to buy one. The tougher gun laws were one of the first (and probably only good thing) PM Howard did when he gained office. I can handle a gun reasonably well, as I grew up on a farm and had my first, a little air rifle, when I was seven, graduated to a .33 when I was eleven. I don't like shotguns, but my father, apart from being a farmer, was a champion clay target shooter in the region when he was alive. So we always had a lot of guns in the house. I believe it made me a very responsible person. Lauren wants to join a gun club here - maybe it's genetic. But I don't believe everybody has a "right to bear arms".
Alison
What a lot of people fail to realise is that having a gun can be a danger to yourself. Especially if you are untrained, a gun can cause a lot of damage.
A few examples:
1 - you suffer a bout of depression, the gun is sitting there tempting you
2 - you use it for fun messing around, and accidentally shoot a loved one or damage your property
3 - when using it for self defence, the attacker steals your weapon
This is why I personally would not buy a firearm, even if it was legal in the UK, without a very good reason.
A lot of people who are very likely NOT trained own guns and treat them like toys. Hence the reason this "Buy A Gun day" seems like the world's stupidest idea.
A lot of people who are very likely NOT trained are registered to vote and treat the franchise like a toy. Hence the reason this "Democracy" seems like the world's stupidest idea. (Oh, and I'm at least half-serious about that!)
Democracy is quite a crap form of government, but it's currently the best we've got and it doesn't kill people (most of the time) when people screw up their votes. Someone screwing up with a firearm can kill.
Personally, I would not like to carry a firearm unless I was 100% confident and trained. It is quite unfortunate that self-defence is criminalised, that I agree with you on.
Good for you, Worsel. I remember when I was a girl, my grandfather taught me to shoot his CO2 rifle at little paper targets. In his basement. And I did target shooting with hubby and his brothers (empty milk jugs and soda pop cans) before we were married. :lol:
Haven't held a gun in more than twenty years. Hubby has a hunting rifle, but it's been in storage like forever, since we live in town now.
We were in Florida with an American friend. He told us not to go up to a house and ask for help, or directions, or a drink of water because the occupants could legally shoot us dead for standing on their front porch. If you go to Florida, get a cell phone.
We also experienced the most racism there than in other other place we have ever visited. - even more than Virginia.
KY has the same laws as FL, apparently - deadly force is allowed if you feel your life is in danger. We're moving from PA to KY sometime this summer.
Your give firearms to 8 year olds? So what your saying is my smallest brother can have one? I'd rather not... And even a more responsible older person, such as 13 y/o.
I think there is too many mad people in this world to own a gun...
And 'Buy a Gun day' sounds like an idea from a mad man for mad people to follow.
You'd prefer losing everything to shooting a criminal?
Is this for "moral" reasons or just because you'd be uncomfortable shooting someone?
I would happily kill someone to protect my own life or the life of someone I love. I would also happily use violence to prevent theft. My only problem would be whether or not using violence could make the situation worse and if it was legally appropiate (i.e would I end up being arrested for it). However, in cases of self defence if my life was at risk I would not have a second thought about the risk of being prosecuted for murder.
Ideally in self defence, it's best to disable the attacker and get to safety but this is unfortunately not always possible.
Overpopulation is a myth.
Google it and find more proof than you can read through in a lifetime.
Here's a simple breakdown for less-than-avid readers. :wink:
http://www. ncpa.org/pd/pdint21.html
Overpopulation?
Really?
You'd prefer losing everything to shooting a criminal?
Is this for "moral" reasons or just because you'd be uncomfortable shooting someone?
why would i want to hurt someone or possibly kill them...?
its just stuff...
I would not hesitate to kill a criminal - the scum that break into people's houses don't deserve any protection. So I ask you again is this because you are uncomfortable with the idea of shooting another human being (understandable) or for "moral" reasons?