The wussifying of America

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

that's entirely her choice. yes, laws vary and that is a pain. along with that is the issue of transporting such on a plane.

I don't think a gun is or should be considered a 'magic solution' to crime.

that's something i've never understood. the ones most likely to be victimized physically are women, and not too many seem to be keen on having one.

I could be wrong here but I think the most likely victims of violent crime are actually young men, rather than women. At least, that was the case in Britain.

[Ban Hammer 14,198]

that's entirely her choice. yes, laws vary and that is a pain. along with that is the issue of transporting such on a plane.

I don't think a gun is or should be considered a 'magic solution' to crime.

i don't think banning them would be either.

that's something i've never understood. the ones most likely to be victimized physically are women, and not too many seem to be keen on having one.

I could be wrong here but I think the most likely victims of violent crime are actually young men, rather than women. At least, that was the case in Britain.

perhaps so. but why take away something that would give a woman a fighting chance against someone larger and heavier than her?

[Alex+R 0]

large enough and heavy enough to take my gun away from me and use it against me?

[Ban Hammer 14,198]

large enough and heavy enough to take my gun away from me and use it against me?

alex, if you have one and are in a situation where you have to pull it out as a presentation of deadly force, use it if things continue to go south instead of having it taken away from you. don't use it for show and tell.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

that's entirely her choice. yes, laws vary and that is a pain. along with that is the issue of transporting such on a plane.

I don't think a gun is or should be considered a 'magic solution' to crime.

i don't think banning them would be either.

that's something i've never understood. the ones most likely to be victimized physically are women, and not too many seem to be keen on having one.

I could be wrong here but I think the most likely victims of violent crime are actually young men, rather than women. At least, that was the case in Britain.

perhaps so. but why take away something that would give a woman a fighting chance against someone larger and heavier than her?

I didn't think we were talking about banning.... The Governor of Texas seems to think, on the basis of the VA Tech massacre that it justifies legalising the broad proliferation of firearms among the general public. Using this incident to push that sort of legislation seems ####### backwards to me - seeing that the greatest threat from gun-related crime is not from the mentally disturbed, but from organised criminals.

I don't think the desire for ownership can be assumed - After all there are more people out there than me who don't want to own a gun. All these questions about using them for 'self-defense' seem to justified on the basis of a "real and imminent" threat that I simply don't see.

[almaty 19]

there are people i know who are not mature enough to handle a gun..or raise a child....they lack insight and are a menace to themselves and others ....there needs to be some restrictions...in illinois, they have has a gun card for decades, and checks ///i have one and never felt it was an infringement on my rights ....

[slim 1,533]

there are people i know who are not mature enough to handle a gun..or raise a child....they lack insight and are a menace to themselves and others ....there needs to be some restrictions...in illinois, they have has a gun card for decades, and checks ///i have one and never felt it was an infringement on my rights ....

I also have a FOID card, and it wasn't an intrusive process at all. It's actually kind of nice to be able to say "here officer, here's my FOID card. I'm LEGALLY posessing this gun."

But the whole deal with guns, and to stay on-topic here, is that most people who are trained to use guns are trained to "defend themselves" in an active way. With a gun, you don't just run away, you shoot, then reposition yourself to a more advantageous spot. That could be running away, or it could be hiding under something. Either way, you're taught to "fight" the aggressor (actively or passively) as opposed to "hide" from them, as are most without weapons training.

That's why it's obvious that someone without gun training would say "large enough and heavy enough to take my gun away from me and use it against me?" They have not been "conditioned" to resist a threat. Only to fear it. So, what does that person do when confronted by someone "large enough and heavy enough to take my gun away from me and use it against me?" do they just cry?

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

But the whole deal with guns, and to stay on-topic here, is that most people who are trained to use guns are trained to "defend themselves" in an active way. With a gun, you don't just run away, you shoot, then reposition yourself to a more advantageous spot. That could be running away, or it could be hiding under something. Either way, you're taught to "fight" the aggressor (actively or passively) as opposed to "hide" from them, as are most without weapons training.

That's why it's obvious that someone without gun training would say "large enough and heavy enough to take my gun away from me and use it against me?" They have not been "conditioned" to resist a threat. Only to fear it. So, what does that person do when confronted by someone "large enough and heavy enough to take my gun away from me and use it against me?" do they just cry?

But does that apply to most people who "own" guns? My FIL has a pistol in the house - but has to my knowledge no formal training in using it.

[slim 1,533]

Formal training is not required to change the mentality. A gun is a force-multiplier that even if posessed, can change someone's attitude on violence. Owning (or posessing) a gun is one step closer to "realizing" the capability of humans to take each other's lives.

Not saying it happens for everyone, and of course, everyone is going to have a different reaction, but gun ownership, and even just shooting a gun can lead someone to draw the conclusion that it is deadly. Upon realizing that, they can own the idea that someone using one can kill them, or them using one, can kill someone else. We hardly ever think about that in the developed world.

The more we do, the more apt we would be to defend ourselves when death was imminent. The mere fact that your FIL owns a gun signifies that he is (or, could be) ready to use it.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Formal training is not required to change the mentality. A gun is a force-multiplier that even if posessed, can change someone's attitude on violence. Owning (or posessing) a gun is one step closer to "realizing" the capability of humans to take each other's lives.

Not saying it happens for everyone, and of course, everyone is going to have a different reaction, but gun ownership, and even just shooting a gun can lead someone to draw the conclusion that it is deadly. Upon realizing that, they can own the idea that someone using one can kill them, or them using one, can kill someone else. We hardly ever think about that in the developed world.

The more we do, the more apt we would be to defend ourselves when death was imminent. The mere fact that your FIL owns a gun signifies that he is (or, could be) ready to use it.

I don't think anyone is really unaware of that - given that guns are a staple feature in most hit movies and TV shows, going back some 70 years...

Owning a gun doesn't mean a person is prepared or willing to use it.

[slim 1,533]

A gun in hand, and especially one that's been used, is an extremely "real" event for most people.

Seeing one on TV or in movies isn't the same.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A gun in hand, and especially one that's been used, is an extremely "real" event for most people.

Seeing one on TV or in movies isn't the same.

TV is a level of detachment seeing as the viewer is not involved directly in the events. But I think most people know enough to be scared if one is pointed in their general direction. After all the outcome affects their general self-interest.