i'm all for gun control...only

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My view is a little distorted from the mainstream view. I believe the people should be in control of their guns, not the government. For all those that believe guns are evil, please help me figure this out. Why has Australia's crime rate gone up drastically since law abiding citizens were forced to turn in their guns to be destroyed? Also, why has Florida's crime rate dropped since they lessened the criteria for carrying a concealed weapon? I sure would like to be able to hunt and protect myself, as is my right. A few memorable quotes from our founding father's. Thomas Jefferson - " A strong body makes a strong mind. As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind...Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks...No free man shall ever be disbarred the use of arms..." Patrick Henry - " The militia, sir, is our ultimate safety. We can have no security without it... The great object is, that every man be armed...Everyone who is able may have a gun...No nation ever retained its liberty after the loss of the sword and the purse..." John Adams - " arms in the hands of citizens may be used at individual discretion...in private seld-defence..." George Mason - " to disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them...Who are the militia? They consist now of the whole people, except a few public officers." Last but not least we have the opinion of the most evil man of the century - Adolf Hitler - " The most foolish mistake we could possibly make would be to allow the subjected people to carry arms; history shows that all conquerors who have allowed their subjected people to carry arms have prepared their own fall." If I were all for what the media's definition of "gun control" is, I might as well be marching down the street shouting, "Hail Hitler." Yes, there should be consequences for one's actions, but those consequences should not fall on the heads of the law abiding citizens. The 20,000 laws in effect have proven ineffective. The no guns in Australia has proven crime is greatly increased. Oh-why bother? This is just like trying to talk to people about the importance of being prepared for y2k. I scream and shout and nobody hears me. Gun control, y2k, and religion are subjects which people are very stubborn on. Most are not willing to budge an inch even with mountains of evidence. Sorry OT, but thanks for listening to me vent. I'm glad to see so much support on this board for our second amendment freedom. Thanks to Ed and all who contribute articles and opinions. No thanks to those who name call and try to pick fights. Whoever said to no guns - I hope it's you who comes to get my gun from me - come on now. You hope to shoot one over a difference of opinion? If I didn't know what any better, I might think those evil guns made you say that. I hope to never have to defend myself with a gun, much less wish someone dead over a difference of opinion. Anyway, thanks so much for all who contribute to this board. I've learned a lot! Much thanks to those who are generous and have respect for others.

-.-.-.free

-- our freedom... (can we @ keep.it?), August 16, 1999

Answers

Hoping I never need one, I hope I have one, if I ever need it. Guns are not the problem. The problem is the way some people use them. There is no way to keep guns away from mean people. "They" will always find other mean people to get them from. There is never going to be enough police to protect the innocent. I believe all responsible people should be able to arm themselves, to protect each o

-- Steve Vaughn (vonathills@aol.com), August 16, 1999.

When the whites in Rhodesia were finally forced to cede control of their country, everyone expected retribution; particularly against the minority Mashona Tribe that had supplied so many excellent soldiers in their ongoing war against the communist-backed rebels (Matabele majority). (Murder, rape, arson, atrocities-the usual post conflict/insurrection/civil war "festivities".) The soon to be installed regime headed by Robert Mugabe vigorouly protested the fact that the Mashona troopers had been allowed to keep their FN rifles when their units were disbanded and mustered out. The U.S. and British negotiators wanted to disarm the population to appease Mugabe but were told that somehow all the records had disappeared and anyway, not only were the rifles functional and well maintained, but that every soldier and farmer had been allowed to have as much ammuntion as they wanted. If they really wanted to come collect them, the rifles were never very far away. The negotiators took the hint. The white minority and the Mashona's remain alive.

-- Greg Lawrence (greg@speakeasy.org), August 16, 1999.

Free

If you can take the time to write this post, you can write a letter to the editor. Many papers will print editorial letters depicting both sides of the argument when the controvesy has been stirred up by events. Clean up what you wrote above and send in in to some papers. Most people don't know the other side of the story. Writing to news papers is our best bet for avoiding a second civil war.

Chin up and keep your...

-- eyes_open (best@wishes.net), August 16, 1999.


Events like the Columbine high school, the Atlanta day trading office, and the Jewish center in Los Angeles prove how necessary it is that Americans be allowed to own all the guns they want. This country will one day love its children more than its guns, and then this problem will be resolved.

-- wemust (loveour@children.com), August 16, 1999.

Wemust:

Um, are you being sarcastic? I agree that we should love our children. I'm sure that many of the teachers, administrators and staff at Columbine loved their students, and if even one of them had been carrying a concealed weapon and trained in it's use, this tragedy could have been averted.

When the government absolutely (and credibly) guarantees to protect me and my family from violence, then - and only then - will I surrender my firearms. Which is to say, "never."

Freeman

-- Freeman (free@large.ccp), August 16, 1999.



The Jewish Community Center, Columbine High and the Atlanta day trading offices all had one thing in common, poor security. The nutcase in California said as much when he told the cops he didn't go after his intended targets.

Instead if attacking his true goal, a high-name recognition location, someplace like the B'Nai Brith or the JDL offices he went someplace that DID NOT have security guards. Probably armed security guards at that.

The shooters involved in these incidents chose to commit their acts where they did in part, because nobody was there who could stop them. Yet where there were security personnel, presumably armed, the shooter kept on driving to look for easier prey. Too bad he found the Jewish Community Center with its day care operations.

I'm sure that if he had found the offices Jews for Protection of Firearms Ownership and tried his stunt there the outcome would have been very different. And I'll bet JFPO doesn't have armed guards at their door.

'Cause when law-abiding citizens are armed, you don't need guards at the door to keep criminals out. Their fear of justice will do nicely.

WW

-- Wildweasel (vtmldm@epix.net), August 16, 1999.


Wemust:

I'm sure that your post gives a heartwarming feeling to the predatory aspect of society that prefers unarmed victims. Are you depending upon the police to save you? If the law enforcement system is so great, then why did the Columbine police wait outside for hours while a teacher bled to death? Great job police! Why did the police go running away from the scene of the Rodney King riots? Great job LAPD!!! Why was Buford not in jail when he had already violated numerous firearms laws? Great job law enforcement system!!!

Oh, the wonderful idea of a totally disarmed society. Rwanda was a shining example of the great things that can happen to a society devoid of guns. So is Australia, with its rising violent crime rate. Is this your vision for America, Wemust?

-- cynic (cynic@skeptic.com), August 17, 1999.


Gun control? Use a modified Weaver grip.

-- CT (ct@no.yr), August 17, 1999.

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