Gun Control - A Political Thread

[Miravium]

Hey NS: quite simply, what are your views regarding gun control?

I am against gun control. I am an upstanding citizen who follows all local gun laws and uses firearms responsibly. Why should the majority of responsible gun owners be punished for the actions of a few?

[Divair2]

Quite strongly in favour.

[The Scientific States]

Hey NS: quite simply, what are your views regarding gun control?

I am against gun control. I am an upstanding citizen who follows all local gun laws and uses firearms responsibly. Why should the majority of responsible gun owners be punished for the actions of a few?

That's not what gun control is. Gun control is when upstanding, good citizens can have guns. However, it also means that people with dangerous mental illnesses or a criminal record shouldn't have guns, since it endangers the safety of society.

Most people(not all) who say they're against gun control, have a misconception of what gun control is. To them, it's the government taking their guns away, but it's really the government letting them keep their guns, while ensuring their safety.

[Miravium]

Gun control is a bit of a sticky system to implement; but I agree that background checks at the point of sale are okay, in my opinion. Gun runners are notoriously difficult to catch without them.

[The Scientific States]

Gun control is a bit of a sticky system to implement; but I agree that background checks at the point of sale are okay, in my opinion. Gun runners are notoriously difficult to catch without them.

Then you agree with some of the basic aspects of gun control.

[Miravium]

But, for general purposes, no, it's not okay. I don't think that the government should have to know what model or caliber of gun I purchased. Why should they care, anyway?

[The Scientific States]

But, for general purposes, no, it's not okay. I don't think that the government should have to know what model or caliber of gun I purchased. Why should they care, anyway?

Why does it matter to you?

[Llamalandia]

Hey NS: quite simply, what are your views regarding gun control?

I am against gun control. I am an upstanding citizen who follows all local gun laws and uses firearms responsibly. Why should the majority of responsible gun owners be punished for the actions of a few?

That's not what gun control is. Gun control is when upstanding, good citizens can have guns. However, it also means that people with dangerous mental illnesses or a criminal record shouldn't have guns, since it endangers the safety of society.

Most people(not all) who say they're against gun control, have a misconception of what gun control is. To them, it's the government taking their guns away, but it's really the government letting them keep their guns, while ensuring their safety.

Except that isn't all that gun control is. Gun control can encompasse many things including banning certain types of guns for little more than the fact they "look mean and scary" ie the assualt weapons ban.

I believe what youre referring to would more accurately be called "reasonable" or "common sense" gun control.

[Miravium]

Because the overwhelming majority are upstanding people, including me. If I am not doing anything wrong, why should it be a point of concern what armaments I have?

[Llamalandia]

Gun control is a bit of a sticky system to implement; but I agree that background checks at the point of sale are okay, in my opinion. Gun runners are notoriously difficult to catch without them.

Then you agree with some of the basic aspects of gun control.

Sure nearly everyone does, and some gun control (for example prohibiting felons from possessing guns) is even largely a settle question of constitutional law.

[Gun Manufacturers]

I agree that there needs to be SOME gun control (no firearms for convicted felons, or those adjudicated mentally defective), but stuff like banning "military grade" weapons, punitive taxes on firearms/ammunition (which some people on this forum have suggested), gun registrations, a complete ban on firearms, etc I DON'T agree with.

[The Scientific States]

That's not what gun control is. Gun control is when upstanding, good citizens can have guns. However, it also means that people with dangerous mental illnesses or a criminal record shouldn't have guns, since it endangers the safety of society.

Most people(not all) who say they're against gun control, have a misconception of what gun control is. To them, it's the government taking their guns away, but it's really the government letting them keep their guns, while ensuring their safety.

Except that isn't all that gun control is. Gun control can encompasse many things including banning certain types of guns for little more than the fact they "look mean and scary" ie the assualt weapons ban.

I believe what youre referring to would more accurately be called "reasonable" or "common sense" gun control.

I feel like gun control is a rather vague word. By definition it's government regulation when it comes to firearms. So, there are a lot of people, including myself, who believe that there should be background checks, a waiting period, more regulation on guns like assault weapons(not a ban) etc. So, I guess I advoate common sense gun control.

[The New Lowlands]

Because the overwhelming majority are upstanding people, including me. If I am not doing anything wrong, why should it be a point of concern what armaments I have?

For statistical purposes, for one.

[The Scientific States]

But, for general purposes, no, it's not okay. I don't think that the government should have to know what model or caliber of gun I purchased. Why should they care, anyway?

Statical purposes,making sure guns don't get into the wrong hands etc.

[Miravium]

I feel like gun control is a rather vague word. By definition it's government regulation when it comes to firearms. So, there are a lot of people, including myself, who believe that there should be background checks, a waiting period, more regulation on guns like assault weapons(not a ban) etc. So, I guess I advocate common sense gun control.

How does one exactly define an "assault weapon"?

[The Scientific States]

I feel like gun control is a rather vague word. By definition it's government regulation when it comes to firearms. So, there are a lot of people, including myself, who believe that there should be background checks, a waiting period, more regulation on guns like assault weapons(not a ban) etc. So, I guess I advocate common sense gun control.

How does one exactly define an "assault weapon"?

Semi-Automatic weapons, Fully Automatic weapons.

[Llamalandia]

How does one exactly define an "assault weapon"?

Semi-Automatic weapons, Fully Automatic weapons.

Well aside from antique single shot pistols and revolvers that definition would in include just about every modern handgun, you do realize that right?

[Miravium]

Semi-automatic and fully-automatic weapons of any real significance are pretty difficult, logistically anyway, to use. Keep in mind that they use rifle-caliber ammunition; and to be consistent in feeding mechanisms and not jam up a lot, that ammunition is actually pretty expensive. Double that with the fact that machine guns are not really controllable, unless you trained yourself. And to train yourself, you need lots of ammo, etc...

[Gun Manufacturers]

How does one exactly define an "assault weapon"?

Semi-Automatic weapons, Fully Automatic weapons.

This does not meet ANY definition of an "assault weapon".



Neither does this.

[Llamalandia]

How does one exactly define an "assault weapon"?

Semi-Automatic weapons, Fully Automatic weapons.

Also, there is already a preexisting ban still in force on the civilian ownership of modern full autos (which is bs by the way).

[Llamalandia]

Semi-automatic and fully-automatic weapons of any real significance are pretty difficult, logistically anyway, to use. Keep in mind that they use rifle-caliber ammunition; and to be consistent in feeding mechanisms and not jam up a lot, that ammunition is actually pretty expensive. Double that with the fact that machine guns are not really controllable, unless you trained yourself. And to train yourself, you need lots of ammo, etc...

True, but from why I understand full autos are fun to shoot. But yeah not really practical as tool of mass murder even for people trained to use them their role is often restricted more to suppressive fire than to actually engaging targets.

[Vespalia]

Here are the rules.
Unless you're certified...
I do not want you owning firearms.
Especially M27 IARs or other automatic weapons.
I do not want you owning a tank. Screw that, no civilians should have (armed) military vehicles unless they're required to use them to support the nation in a crisis.
Or nukes. Just...no. But you're gonna have to be a Russian trillionaire oligarch to get one.
And no, you will not get mercs to use, either.
That's my gun control.

[The Republic of the Northern Star]

Just sticking my nose in real quick to provide the dictionary definition for assault rifle.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dictionary.com
assault rifle
noun
1.
a military rifle capable of both automatic and semiautomatic fire, utilizing an intermediate-power cartridge.
2.
a nonmilitary weapon modeled on the military assault rifle, usually modified to allow only semiautomatic fire.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World English Dictionary
assault rifle or assault weapon
— n
chiefly ( US ) a semiautomatic firearm with additional features such as a large magazine, a bayonet fitting, etc

[Llamalandia]

Here are the rules.
Unless you're certified...
I do not want you owning firearms.
Especially M27 IARs or other automatic weapons.
I do not want you owning a tank. Screw that, no civilians should have (armed) military vehicles unless they're required to use them to support the nation in a crisis.
Or nukes. Just...no. But you're gonna have to be a Russian trillionaire oligarch to get one.
And no, you will not get mercs to use, either.
That's my gun control.

Well, ok, I think I can live with that, if all I have to do is take a course on auto firearms to be certified to be able to own and use them that doesn't sound to unreasonable (and I assume pass a background check). Yeah, fair enough, I don't think tanks are much of an issue, hand grenades or explosives perhaps could elicit some reasonable debate though.

[Llamalandia]

Just sticking my nose in real quick to provide the dictionary definition for assault rifle.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dictionary.com
assault rifle
noun
1.
a military rifle capable of both automatic and semiautomatic fire, utilizing an intermediate-power cartridge.
2.
a nonmilitary weapon modeled on the military assault rifle, usually modified to allow only semiautomatic fire.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
World English Dictionary
assault rifle or assault weapon
— n
chiefly ( US ) a semiautomatic firearm with additional features such as a large magazine, a bayonet fitting, etc

Helpful, though I see no reason why non military weapons should be banned (of course I also take issue with banning full autos as well). The problem is that it seems far too many gun control advocates are unfamiliar with even much of the basic operation and technical details of firearm operations. Perhaps if there were less ignorance pro 2nd amendment folks would have more faith that the proposals for reasonable gun control would not ultimately be taken to extremes.