Another idiot with a gun

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

They certainly try and do that. But you'd do better, imo to address the poverty divide that leads to deprived areas and which fuels gang recruitment.

[The Dude 206]

The trivialization of weaponry astounds me. What does a 'Hello Kitty' gun say to you? It says to me that the person wanting such a gun does not understand what a gun is for, and the implication of that is that they have not really understood the value of life and therefore are not truly in a position to take life, be it human or animal. Trivialize weaponry and reap the consequences but it's not 'responsible' in any shape or form. It's not the be all and end all, but it is a starting point for those who wish to posses guns.

Well... what it says to me that the thing itself is being divorced from the meanings with which others imbue it - focusing on its aesthetics rather than its intended use (which doesn't change no matter what color you paint it).

Some dodgy existentialism at work there... Not to mention some pretty grotesque psychology.

I saw those hello kitty and various other guns a couple of years ago. Law enforcement was particularly concerned about them because there were a few of them that were made to look identical to toy guns. Some of them were uncanny in their likeness to a toy gun, down to the orange painted tip to mimic the cap on toy guns that is meant to denote a toy from a real one. It's not so much the production of it that concerns me as who would buy this sort of thing does. Clearly, they are making it to make money as these guns with the customization cost quite a bit. But for what purpose would someoen want or need a gun that looks like it were a plastic toy? I suspect I know why, but would love to hear someone justify some sort of legitimate usage.

[tmma 467]

there is alot of stereotyping of gun owners here. Speaking as an owner-- I'm not Wild Bill Hicock and I am not about to go Segal on people or start popping off my own family. Target shooting is a hobby for us, my dad hunts ( and dresses/processes and cooks the meat) and, yes home/self protection is an important consideration to me too. Other than that I am just a nerdy geek who likes to spout off about the weather.

In case you missed it, the original question was whether or not someone who has had a mental health commitment or has in some way been certified mentally unstable should be forced to surrender their weapons.

So unless that's you or any of the other people in this thread, there's no stereotyping. There are only responses.

I was making a general observation.

[rebeccajo 14]

there is alot of stereotyping of gun owners here. Speaking as an owner-- I'm not Wild Bill Hicock and I am not about to go Segal on people or start popping off my own family. Target shooting is a hobby for us, my dad hunts ( and dresses/processes and cooks the meat) and, yes home/self protection is an important consideration to me too. Other than that I am just a nerdy geek who likes to spout off about the weather.

In case you missed it, the original question was whether or not someone who has had a mental health commitment or has in some way been certified mentally unstable should be forced to surrender their weapons.

So unless that's you or any of the other people in this thread, there's no stereotyping. There are only responses.

I was making a general observation.

Right.

[Peikko 1,575]

No one has stereotyped gun owners at least, I haven't seen a post doing that. Anyone point one out?

[Heracles 417]

They certainly try and do that. But you'd do better, imo to address the poverty divide that leads to deprived areas and which fuels gang recruitment.

Come on six. Look at the money that the UK and Australia pumps into people, into welfare. This argument might hold water in the US but I do not buy it for a second in the UK and certainly not in Australia; a country where a kid will be paid hold hard cash to go to school. What you refuse to acknowledge is that ghetto and thuggery has become cool. Furthermore, kids in various countries and various ethnicities and demographics think it's cool to gang bang. Which is why gun restriction works there, because at least these kids do not have the opportunity to go out and by a semi-automatic.

In comparison just think how easy it is for a thug to purchase a gun here. People realize that if you buy a gun from a private seller, there is no background check period. Just look at the video I posted earlier.

Edited September 9, 2009 by Booyah!

[Peikko 1,575]

The trivialization of weaponry astounds me. What does a 'Hello Kitty' gun say to you? It says to me that the person wanting such a gun does not understand what a gun is for, and the implication of that is that they have not really understood the value of life and therefore are not truly in a position to take life, be it human or animal. Trivialize weaponry and reap the consequences but it's not 'responsible' in any shape or form. It's not the be all and end all, but it is a starting point for those who wish to posses guns.

Well... what it says to me that the thing itself is being divorced from the meanings with which others imbue it - focusing on its aesthetics rather than its intended use (which doesn't change no matter what color you paint it).

Some dodgy existentialism at work there... Not to mention some pretty grotesque psychology.

I saw those hello kitty and various other guns a couple of years ago. Law enforcement was particularly concerned about them because there were a few of them that were made to look identical to toy guns. Some of them were uncanny in their likeness to a toy gun, down to the orange painted tip to mimic the cap on toy guns that is meant to denote a toy from a real one. It's not so much the production of it that concerns me as who would buy this sort of thing does. Clearly, they are making it to make money as these guns with the customization cost quite a bit. But for what purpose would someoen want or need a gun that looks like it were a plastic toy? I suspect I know why, but would love to hear someone justify some sort of legitimate usage.

There are so many things wrong with turning a gun into an accessory and all the murky thinking that leads someone to want to go there. Guns are not toys and should not be trivialised ever, end of story.

[tmma 467]

No one has stereotyped gun owners at least, I haven't seen a post doing that. Anyone point one out?

OK maybe I used the wrong word.... I'm not trying to change anyone's own opinion on ownership or anything...I was just making a general statement about the gun ownership/ threads. I suppose I did a lousey job of making that clear enough.

Edited September 9, 2009 by tmma

[Peikko 1,575]

No one has stereotyped gun owners at least, I haven't seen a post doing that. Anyone point one out?

OK maybe I used the wrong word.... I'm not trying to change anyone's own opinion on ownership or anything...I was just making a general statement about the gun threads. I suppose I did a lousey job of making that clear enough.

Try again, I am not sure what your point is but I would be interested in it.

[wifebeater 0]

They certainly try and do that. But you'd do better, imo to address the poverty divide that leads to deprived areas and which fuels gang recruitment.

Yeap!!!

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

They certainly try and do that. But you'd do better, imo to address the poverty divide that leads to deprived areas and which fuels gang recruitment.

Come on six. Look at the money that the UK and Australia pumps into people, into welfare. This argument might hold water in the US but I do not buy it for a second in the UK and certainly not in Australia; a country where a kid will be paid hold hard cash to go to school. What you refuse to acknowledge is that ghetto and thuggery has become cool. Furthermore, kids in various countries and various ethnicities and demographics think it's cool to gang bang. Which is why gun restriction works there, because at least these kids do not have the opportunity to go out and by a semi-automatic.

In comparison just think how easy it is for a thug to purchase a gun here. People realize that if you buy a gun from a private seller, there is no background check period. Just look at the video I posted earlier.

Offhand I can think of several really bad areas in the UK that were/are notorious for gang and other crime (a lot of gun related stuff too). Welfare alone isn't the answer - but things could well be worse without ti.

UK has its problems, just as the US does. The US just has it on a larger scale.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

The trivialization of weaponry astounds me. What does a 'Hello Kitty' gun say to you? It says to me that the person wanting such a gun does not understand what a gun is for, and the implication of that is that they have not really understood the value of life and therefore are not truly in a position to take life, be it human or animal. Trivialize weaponry and reap the consequences but it's not 'responsible' in any shape or form. It's not the be all and end all, but it is a starting point for those who wish to posses guns.

Well... what it says to me that the thing itself is being divorced from the meanings with which others imbue it - focusing on its aesthetics rather than its intended use (which doesn't change no matter what color you paint it).

Some dodgy existentialism at work there... Not to mention some pretty grotesque psychology.

I saw those hello kitty and various other guns a couple of years ago. Law enforcement was particularly concerned about them because there were a few of them that were made to look identical to toy guns. Some of them were uncanny in their likeness to a toy gun, down to the orange painted tip to mimic the cap on toy guns that is meant to denote a toy from a real one. It's not so much the production of it that concerns me as who would buy this sort of thing does. Clearly, they are making it to make money as these guns with the customization cost quite a bit. But for what purpose would someoen want or need a gun that looks like it were a plastic toy? I suspect I know why, but would love to hear someone justify some sort of legitimate usage.

There's also one I saw that's disguised as a cell phone - with a barrel in the antenna (also fake bike pumps and pens).

[wifebeater 0]

They certainly try and do that. But you'd do better, imo to address the poverty divide that leads to deprived areas and which fuels gang recruitment.

Come on six. Look at the money that the UK and Australia pumps into people, into welfare. This argument might hold water in the US but I do not buy it for a second in the UK and certainly not in Australia; a country where a kid will be paid hold hard cash to go to school. What you refuse to acknowledge is that ghetto and thuggery has become cool. Furthermore, kids in various countries and various ethnicities and demographics think it's cool to gang bang. Which is why gun restriction works there, because at least these kids do not have the opportunity to go out and by a semi-automatic.

In comparison just think how easy it is for a thug to purchase a gun here. People realize that if you buy a gun from a private seller, there is no background check period. Just look at the video I posted earlier.

Offhand I can think of several really bad areas in the UK that were/are notorious for gang and other crime (a lot of gun related stuff too). Welfare alone isn't the answer - but things could well be worse without ti.

UK has its problems, just as the US does. The US just has it on a larger scale.

Yeap!!!!

[tmma 467]

............

All I come away from this discussion with is this, I guess - some people don't want to learn. They don't want to admit there might be another side to a coin. They want to think that people like me want to take away their guns. We don't. We want a safer society. It's too bad we can't have a flippin' civilized discussion about it without defenses coming up.

Madame Cleo...I missed ^this post^ before--but this actually sums up my point too; just done so much better.

'civilized discussion without defenses coming up' on either side.

That's it, spot on.

[Peikko 1,575]

The trivialization of weaponry astounds me. What does a 'Hello Kitty' gun say to you? It says to me that the person wanting such a gun does not understand what a gun is for, and the implication of that is that they have not really understood the value of life and therefore are not truly in a position to take life, be it human or animal. Trivialize weaponry and reap the consequences but it's not 'responsible' in any shape or form. It's not the be all and end all, but it is a starting point for those who wish to posses guns.

Well... what it says to me that the thing itself is being divorced from the meanings with which others imbue it - focusing on its aesthetics rather than its intended use (which doesn't change no matter what color you paint it).

Some dodgy existentialism at work there... Not to mention some pretty grotesque psychology.

I saw those hello kitty and various other guns a couple of years ago. Law enforcement was particularly concerned about them because there were a few of them that were made to look identical to toy guns. Some of them were uncanny in their likeness to a toy gun, down to the orange painted tip to mimic the cap on toy guns that is meant to denote a toy from a real one. It's not so much the production of it that concerns me as who would buy this sort of thing does. Clearly, they are making it to make money as these guns with the customization cost quite a bit. But for what purpose would someoen want or need a gun that looks like it were a plastic toy? I suspect I know why, but would love to hear someone justify some sort of legitimate usage.

There's also one I saw that's disguised as a cell phone - with a barrel in the antenna (also fake bike pumps and pens).

Some people really do want to live in the worlds created by the Hollywood blockbusters it seems. There is something grotesque about dress up with weaponry in my opinion.