At it again.

quote

Students and staff telephoned police, but before officers could arrive, the suspect had shot at two people in a class in the science block. One shot missed its target.

How the *bleep* do you miss with a shotgun... more like it was a warning shot. 

quote thewatermeloncult

quote KINGX2

Removing guns from the people and expecting it to abolish shootings is like duct taping a child's mouth shut and expecting it to stop crying.

But guns shouldn't be more prevalent either. A good guy with a gun may stop a bad guy with a gun, but how do you distinguish a good guy from a bad guy when handing them a gun? A kind face and clear record can fool anybody.

I say if you're going to issue a gun to someone, give them a completely anal and thorough background check, covering mental issues in one section. If you pass, lock the gun in a safe at home when its not in use.

Just out of curiosity, how easy is it to get a gun in the states? I had to take a written and a practical test to get my license and still can't buy a gun until I turn 18.

quote thewatermeloncult

quote Duncan Idaho

My understanding is that even wal-mart sells them, and the ammo, for discount prices.

I've heard that before too but I've also heard it's changed since then.

quote Peutix

quote Paranoid Android

inb4 the radicals come charging in and start advocating the evilness of guns

Okay then, please tell us why taking away guns would not be a net benefit to society.

quote Paranoid Android

quote Paradox

quote Duncan Idaho

quote Paradox

banning guns would have no effect on the US unless the government tries to forcefully take them away from everyone.

Then you have a civil war.

then there is an easy fix of sorts, you can make the government pay the people for the guns they own, afterall greed will always turn to be a usefull tool.

Oh that's great! Let the government have all the weapons and let the population be disarmed. It's not like that stupid decision might not affect anyone 50 or 100 years down the line when the American government could be radically different or more totalitarian. The taking over of a nation by another country, political party, etc is preceded by the disarming of a nation.

Not to mention that said criminals who have firearms could always smuggle them from neighboring countries, and use them against civilians who were disarmed. Yay for more government and criminal power!

100% agree with you. Firearms are often necessary for both authorities and regular civilians. Banning civilians from owning them is a real bad thing the government could do, if you think a little bit. And I don't mean because it's a violation of the second amendment. The economy would be impacted, people whose livelihoods revolve around firearms and hunting would suffer, more people will end up dead or harmed due to a lack of lethal defense, etc.

Like I said countless times, just because something terrible happens involving a particular thing, doesn't mean it should be outlawed. That mentality of thinking is unconstitutional, dangerous, and tyrannic.

quote Paranoid Android

quote Short Circuit

This argument that civilians need guns to protect themselves from criminals is ridiculous. People don't carry them around on themselves 24/7. They might be ambushed without their gun, owning one won't help them in that situation if it's back at home in the cupboard.

Some of you make it sound as though everyone is walking around with gun in hand, and having civilian vs. criminal shootouts.

How could you possibly know that? In the past week, there have been about five gun-related murders in the city I live in. The victims were unarmed and weren't able to do much. Why do you think a law will prevent someone from doing something? As I said above, a no gun law will give criminals the upper hand. Laws aren't entirely effective and people are able to get what they want, when they want it, regardless of its legality.

Bet you didn't hear of the incident that occurred not too long ago where a disgruntled man shot and killed his ex girlfriend in a restaurant, and a bystander who was licensed to own a pistol shot the killer dead before he was able to go on a shooting spree in the place.

According to your logic, you should dispose of your kitchen knives. Even though they serve a perfectly legitimate role, they've been used for murders and shankings. You're a hypocrite if you think you should keep them.