Catholics and firearms

[interestedman]

lol, I find it funny that many Catholics in other countries would completely disagree with this poll, but since republicans like gun rights and hate abortion and gay marriage people tend to agree with all republican stances.

 

[JRKH]

lol, I find it funny that many Catholics in other countries would completely disagree with this poll

You may be right my friend. But then, as has been pointed out, different cultures operate differently…Someone above pointed out that Mexico - where guns are banned - has a very high rate of gun violence while Switzerland - where virtually everyone has a gun in their home - has a very low gun violence rate.
This is what makes these matters so interesting. It takes a lot of analysis of many different statistics as well as considerations of socioeconomic factors to even begin to draw any sort of conclusion. ------ And even then - it’s hard to say that any conclusion would be applicable to a different environment country or culture.

but since republicans like gun rights and hate abortion and gay marriage people tend to agree with all republican stances.

This seems to be a rather odd statement. The Republican party has a platform…some agree with it some don’t. The democratic party has a platform…some agree with it some don’t.
One can’t say “people tend to agree with republican stances” as though “people” is a singular identical group…It just doesn’t work that way…

Peace
James

 

[archangel04]

Most people who hate guns are those who have never used one, let alone seen one be used for self-defense. The sword and knife has it’s purpose which was/is to kill. But a stone also had a purpose for our ancestors, one of them was to kill. Would the world be better off if guns did not exist? Probably yes, but we would use swords and knives if we wanted to kill. No matter what, violence will ALWAYS exist in our world it will only end when our Lord returns, even then he commits a “violent” act against his enemies that is he sends them all to hell. It is through guns that we go our country and they have defended us against every nation that has wanted to invade us. Guns in the right hand have saved innocent lives, protected families, police officers, and others. When evil has greater power, you don’t look for a lesser solution, you look to make the fight even or gain a better advantage over it.

 

[archangel04]

The way I view it is you can have certain firearms, but they need to be regulated and have serious control. I don’t believe that a person realistically needs assault rifles or AK-47’s. America’s Second Amendment was written when rifles took time to load and to fire. There was a greater needs for guns back then as people needed to defend themselves in areas that were fairly lawless because of the lack of a sheriff and people lived on farms and needed to protect their crop from wild animals and also to hunt for food. We don’t live in such times anymore

Our 2nd amendment was written also to make sure the citizen had a way to protect himself from tyranny, in case our government ever turned tyrant, which is a possibility in our present time.

 

[archangel04]

I can’t understand how one can morally be against abortion and not against gun control. The historical context right to bare arms has no basis on modern society. There is no other purpose of guns other than killing, and they are darn effective at it! The only time that’s somewhat moral is when hunting or acting as a police officer or military in public protection. Most other modern countries allow ownership by officials and at hunting sites only.

That self-defense BS is so rare that I’ll bet no average citizen has an honest story about how their gun ownership kept them safe against the baddie that would have harmed them otherwise. How many presidents, other politicians and innocents will be killed before we figure out that this is totally ridiculous!? I don’t know how NRA officials sleep at night being responsible for all the death guns cause because the average citizen has way too easy access to them. Let alone how the NRA convinces so many people that it’s morally good to protect everyone’s right to own them.

Regardless of what’s in the CCC, I can’t imagine Jesus being a fan of modern American practices of gun control.

Are you serious? Wow you seriously need to look around you. There are many incidents were a trained citizen if he had a gun could have survived. But then again I grew up in areas were criminals had the control because our wonderful government made sure we had no guns. What’s the answer from the government to us? Call 911, oh yeah let the police handle it. Guess what the average response time for police officer is 3 minutes, that does not include having to call 911 and explained the situation which can be a total of 5 to 8 minutes!! Do you know what someone with ill intent could do in that time frame?
I honestly wish I could live in your world where these things do not happen, where everyone is nice and you can trust anyone no matter their background, sigh but unfortunately the Lord did not bless me with such a wonderful world.

 

[archangel04]

Spears, knives, etc are not as deadly as guns. Here’s a recent example: do you think that 12 people would have been murdered and another 59 people injured if the movie murderer had knives instead of guns? I would say he would have been lucky to kill 1 person and injure 2 others before being subdued.

Lol they actually would be much more painful! And a stab wound in the right place can deadly and very painful.

 

[Zenkai]

Lol they actually would be much more painful! And a stab wound in the right place can deadly and very painful.

True, but they wouldn’t be able to kill as many people. They are also much easier to defend yourself against than a gun.

 

[TimothyH]

Sharon Tate pregnant, the LaBiancas, the recent home invasion where a mother and her two daughters were raped and murdered, and you think that God would be angry at any one of them for protecting themselves IF they had a gun available to them???

There were a number of men in the Aurora theater who put themselves between the shooter and their loved ones. Some of these men were in the service. I have no doubt that if they had their guns, they would have killed the shooter.

My post had absolutely nothing to do with your response.

-Tim-

 

[Arizona_Mike]

How often in Switzerland, England or Australia is there shootings similar to that in Aurora, Columbine or Virginia Tech.

Not often…

Every two to three years in the US.

Guns are designed to kill. They should not be available readily to citizens of any country.

From the National Center for Policy Analysis:

AUSTRALIA: MORE VIOLENT CRIME DESPITE GUN BAN

It is a common fantasy that gun bans make society safer. In 2002 – five years after enacting its gun ban – the Australian Bureau of Criminology acknowledged there is no correlation between gun control and the use of firearms in violent crime. In fact, the percent of murders committed with a firearm was the highest it had ever been in 2006 (16.3 percent), says the D.C. Examiner.

Even Australia’s Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research acknowledges that the gun ban had no significant impact on the amount of gun-involved crime:

In 2006, assault rose 49.2 percent and robbery 6.2 percent.
Sexual assault – Australia’s equivalent term for rape – increased 29.9 percent.
Overall, Australia’s violent crime rate rose 42.2 percent.
Moreover, Australia and the United States – where no gun-ban exists – both experienced similar decreases in murder rates:

Between 1995 and 2007, Australia saw a 31.9 percent decrease; without a gun ban, America’s rate dropped 31.7 percent.
During the same time period, all other violent crime indices increased in Australia: assault rose 49.2 percent and robbery 6.2 percent.
Sexual assault – Australia’s equivalent term for rape – increased 29.9 percent.
Overall, Australia’s violent crime rate rose 42.2 percent.
At the same time, U.S. violent crime decreased 31.8 percent: rape dropped 19.2 percent; robbery decreased 33.2 percent; aggravated assault dropped 32.2 percent.
Australian women are now raped over three times as often as American women.
While this doesn’t prove that more guns would impact crime rates, it does prove that gun control is a flawed policy. Furthermore, this highlights the most important point: gun banners promote failed policy regardless of the consequences to the people who must live with them, says the Examiner.

Source: Howard Nemerov, “Australia experiencing more violent crime despite gun ban,” D.C. Examiner, April 8, 2009.

For text:

examiner.com/x-2879-Austin-Gun-Rights-Examiner~y2009m4d8-Australia-experiencing-more-violent-crime-despite-gun-ban

If there is less murder and assault and rape because we are a well-armed society, that is a Good Thing.

 

[jwinch2]

4 out of 5 of the worst gun massacres ever have occurred outside the US. In countries with strict gun control laws.

guardian.co.uk/world/2012/jul/22/norway-remembers-anders-behring-breivik

Such as this…

 

[april32010]

…Someone above pointed out that Mexico - where guns are banned -PeaceJames

not picking on you JRKH,In Mexico, civilians are not allowed to possess military grade firearms intended for Army, Navy and Air Force use, including: .357 Magnum revolvers and those greater than .38 calibre, handguns greater than 9mm, rifles and carbines of .223, 7mm, 7.62 and .30 calibres, automatic firearms, or shotguns with barrels shorter than 635mm or greater than 12 gauge,those are the prohibitions on ownership.friends of mine how have traveled there have verified this.there might be different state regs.

 

[archangel04]

This is how I feel.

If I don’t own a gun, I’ll never have to stand before Jesus and explain why I shot someone.

If people want to own guns, that’s fine, but it is one less thing I will have to deal with when I stand nose to nose and face to face with Our Lord and have to give an accounting of my life.

-Tim-

And that’s your right! Just as long as you don’t take our right to own one, which by the way is also your right. I see it this way
God: “I allowed you to receive training to defend your life and that of the innocent”
Me: But Lord I valued the life of the criminal over that of my family and mine.
God: Wait what?
So, since the Lord allowed me to receive this training, then it’s now my duty to protect it and of my love ones.

 

[archangel04]

True, but they wouldn’t be able to kill as many people. They are also much easier to defend yourself against than a gun.

Not really. The only way to defend your self from a knife is to run even then there are no grantees. Contrary to popular belief, it’s very difficult to shoot someone at close range, especially a moving target. Unless you are fully trained and have experience to remain calm and have a hell of an accuracy, shooting a moving target is difficult. If you are trapped in a corner with some maniac wielding a knife, you might survive if you fight back but you will get cut in the process.

 

[archangel04]

The problem some seem to see is that even with the greatest gun control, the criminals will still find a way to get one. Gun control only takes away the gun from a responsible citizen.

 

[jwinch2]

Not really. The only way to defend your self from a knife is to run even then there are no grantees. Contrary to popular belief, it’s very difficult to shoot someone at close range, especially a moving target. Unless you are fully trained and have experience to remain calm and have a hell of an accuracy, shooting a moving target is difficult. If you are trapped in a corner with some maniac wielding a knife, you might survive if you fight back but you will get cut in the process.

Agreed. I have been dealing with knife combatives for a fair amount of time and also have a large amount of experience with firearms. I would much prefer to have a good knife in my hand at close range than a gun. There is a reason that police have the 21 foot rule.

 

[jwinch2]

The problem some seem to see is that even with the greatest gun control, the criminals will still find a way to get one. Gun control only takes away the gun from a responsible citizen.

How’s that war on drugs going?

 

[Zenkai]

Not really. The only way to defend your self from a knife is to run even then there are no grantees. Contrary to popular belief, it’s very difficult to shoot someone at close range, especially a moving target. Unless you are fully trained and have experience to remain calm and have a hell of an accuracy, shooting a moving target is difficult. If you are trapped in a corner with some maniac wielding a knife, you might survive if you fight back but you will get cut in the process.

If someone attacks me with a knife, I can fight back with a household object and I might survive. If he has a gun, well, I have no chance at all.

Also, I can easily run away from someone with a knife. If he had a gun, my chances of survival are slim.

 

[archangel04]

How’s that war on drugs going?

Oh in Chicago it’s going great. Our youth are still fighting and killing each other over that almost every day. People are still getting mugged by crack-addicts so they can score another hit. Of course this is the city and state that refuses to allow lawful citizens to carry a concealed weapon.

 

[archangel04]

If someone attacks me with a knife, I can fight back with a household object and I might survive. If he has a gun, well, I have no chance at all.

Also, I can easily run away from someone with a knife. If he had a gun, my chances of survival are slim.

And if you can’t grab an object in time, or breaks and does nothing to the other person? As I said even if you fight back you won’t have a chance of coming out unscratched. As another poster said our organs are only couple of inches from our skin, and not too mention our nerves. As I said before it’s hard to shoot a moving target, and most people can’t shoot.
Just yesterday we had a homeless guy stab a lady and was sent to hospital in critical condition. Took just one stab.

 

[jwinch2]

If someone attacks me with a knife, I can fight back with a household object and I might survive. If he has a gun, well, I have no chance at all.

Also, I can easily run away from someone with a knife. If he had a gun, my chances of survival are slim.

If someone attacks you with a knife, you will never see it until you are already bleeding and perhaps dying. I have spent a good deal of time working with law enforcement officers and special operations personnel on knife defense tactics and knife combatives. Your assumptions are simply not accurate. Knife attacks are overwhelmingly ambush attacks.

The overwhelming majority of people become paralyzed when violence happens around them. There was a video going around several years ago of a violent knife attack on a bus. There were 30 people on the bus who could have stopped it had they worked together but they allowed one person to keep going from the front to the back of the bus to stab the same person over and over again while they stood there in horror and did nothing.

People who have never experienced violence nor trained for it, have no idea at all what they would do, period.