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jwinch2
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How can this be? Afterall, drugs are illegal…
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coachkfan1
Guest
Knives are more silent and stealthful and in a dark movie theater an assassin could move about and quietly slit throat after throat. The point is that killers will find a way no matter what!
The other point is that this is America. We are different than any country that has ever existed in human history. We have done things our own way since the beginning. Now that may sound arrogant, but the this is the truth and it always will be. If our gun problem is so bad, why is the rest of the whole world trying their best to get over here??? Guns are associated with America, from the Revolution to the Cowboy to Clint Eastwood. It’s in our DNA and our Constitution and I dare ANYONE to try and change it.
The other point is that this is America. We are different than any country that has ever existed in human history. We have done things our own way since the beginning. Now that may sound arrogant, but the this is the truth and it always will be. If our gun problem is so bad, why is the rest of the whole world trying their best to get over here??? Guns are associated with America, from the Revolution to the Cowboy to Clint Eastwood. It’s in our DNA and our Constitution and I dare ANYONE to try and change it.
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tabycat
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I am pro-gun, pro-life, and Catholic; so, is that why you think I did not vote for someone who is pro-abort?
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jwinch2
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I’ve said it on CAF previously and I will say it again. I deeply wish that guns were not necessary for some people to protect themselves from others. Unfortunately, they do serve a distinct purpose. Prior to the invention of the firearm, it was simply might makes right. If you were smaller in stature and weaker, you were at the mercy of others. If you were a women, the same. And forget about it if there were multiple persons who wanted to do you harm. Firearms allows a smaller, weaker person, who might be injured or in a wheel chair to protect their home and loved ones effectively and that is why until mankind becomes less violent, they will always have a place in society.
The Old West saying that God made man, but Sam Colt made them equal, is unfortunately more true than I would wish.
The Old West saying that God made man, but Sam Colt made them equal, is unfortunately more true than I would wish.
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Zenkai
Guest
If it’s a sneak attack, a gun and a knife will both easily kill you. However, if I see the weapon, it’s a fact that a knife would be easier to defend against or run away from.
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archangel04
Guest
I know! But amazingly it’s rampant in my city.How can this be? Afterall, drugs are illegal…
But I am sure our government will come up with a solution as they have done so in the past.
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Befink
Guest
A few more thoughts:
So gun laws protect us against our own government because they’re impeding on our freedom!? That’s only what FoxNews says, not actually happening in the real world.
How are they tools? You can’t use them for anything other than shooting stuff you want to die. There are sporting uses but not that need to be done on the streets or in the home.
Catholic Church is not all conservative on all issues. They are on abortion and gay rights but not on immigration, the environment, and several other social issues. In this case they seem to favor the right for self-defense with a high level of controls, a typically democratic stance.
Hard to compare us to other countries but I imagine Mexico is so corrupt that of course criminals have no trouble getting guns while normal people suffer. Switzerland is a society with mandatory military service and often accepts controls and structure in their society. If you think America has too many social programs, try moving there.
What I mostly can’t understand is why this group (a predominantly gun-happy conservative sample) can’t even acknowledge that a gun control problem exists despite all the incidents that occur. Some of you are trying to be reasonable while others somehow convinced themselves that the 70 casualties in Aurora would have occurred with knives, bow & arrows etc. There is absolutely no need for advanced weaponry in the home or on the streets (keep it at the hunting/legal shooting ranges). Obviously a lot of guns of all types are getting in the wrong hands. We need better solutions. Feeding the NRA with more money will work for a while but unless more humane solutions are obtained, it’s only a matter of time before the government has to clamp down on it.
So gun laws protect us against our own government because they’re impeding on our freedom!? That’s only what FoxNews says, not actually happening in the real world.
How are they tools? You can’t use them for anything other than shooting stuff you want to die. There are sporting uses but not that need to be done on the streets or in the home.
Catholic Church is not all conservative on all issues. They are on abortion and gay rights but not on immigration, the environment, and several other social issues. In this case they seem to favor the right for self-defense with a high level of controls, a typically democratic stance.
Hard to compare us to other countries but I imagine Mexico is so corrupt that of course criminals have no trouble getting guns while normal people suffer. Switzerland is a society with mandatory military service and often accepts controls and structure in their society. If you think America has too many social programs, try moving there.
What I mostly can’t understand is why this group (a predominantly gun-happy conservative sample) can’t even acknowledge that a gun control problem exists despite all the incidents that occur. Some of you are trying to be reasonable while others somehow convinced themselves that the 70 casualties in Aurora would have occurred with knives, bow & arrows etc. There is absolutely no need for advanced weaponry in the home or on the streets (keep it at the hunting/legal shooting ranges). Obviously a lot of guns of all types are getting in the wrong hands. We need better solutions. Feeding the NRA with more money will work for a while but unless more humane solutions are obtained, it’s only a matter of time before the government has to clamp down on it.
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JRKH
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jwinch2
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How did that work in Norway a year ago this week?
What you say doesn’t only sound arrogant. It is. Contrary to popular belief…Not everyone wishes to live in the paradise that is the USA.
Most of the world is definitely not trying to get over there.
Most of the world are happy right where they are.
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Corki
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archangel04
Guest
Because there already is gun control in this nation! Most places you need a permit, background check, and waiting period before getting a firearm! Some places only allow certain firearms. Where I live we can’t conceal and carry! Yet all the gangbangers and criminals happily carry handguns and some use it to rob innocent folks on the subways and ****** neighborhoods. The sad part about gun control is that it restricts lawful citizens but does NOTHING and I mean NOTHING to prevent a criminal from attaining one. We live in a world with guns get used to it! One day much more powerful weapons will be available for criminals it’s just a sad fact. As I stated before violence will never end until the Day of our Lord!
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archangel04
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Stick to the topic
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Oneofthewomen
Guest
My husband and I own guns. Mostly for hunting, but also for protection.
Thank God, we have never had to use them for that purpose, and both of us would be ready, willing and able to do so if need be.
The minute you take a gun away from a citizen, he becomes a subjesct.
Our founders realized that, and since this is supposed to be a country “for and by the people” this is a right that should always be protected.
As far a violence is concerned how about we start really enforcing the laws already on the books, instead of passing impossible to enforce, feel good laws?
Thank God, we have never had to use them for that purpose, and both of us would be ready, willing and able to do so if need be.
The minute you take a gun away from a citizen, he becomes a subjesct.
Our founders realized that, and since this is supposed to be a country “for and by the people” this is a right that should always be protected.
As far a violence is concerned how about we start really enforcing the laws already on the books, instead of passing impossible to enforce, feel good laws?
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Corki
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Actually guns have multiple uses.
Shooting is a sport. It is even in the Olympics.
If you are an athelete in that sport, it is reasonable that you will have your sporting equipment in the home and transport it to your place of practice - just like any other sport.But beyond that, having a firearm in the house can also be a deterrant. Many gun owners hope to never fire their weapons at anyone. They are tools in much the same way as a home alarm system is. When the alarm goes off, the cops are notified. But prior to the police arrival, the noise will hopefully stop the break-in and the sign in the front yard may deter the criminal from even attempting it.
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coachkfan1
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Then they need not be concerned with our gun laws.
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Credo_in_Deum
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:clapping:
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jeannetherese
Guest
Greetings,
The sense that I get from many in this thread is that a problem exists, and that individuals want to thin carefully about how to describe that problem. Overall, that problem is not being seen as one that will be solved through additional gun legislation by most posters.
there does seem to be a sense that violence is a problem in the United States. the reasons for that are being discussed. It seems that several posters are familiar with guns and yet do not behave violently with them. Their lived experience a a form a data to be shared.
Other posters are looking critically at other countries that are experiencing varying levels of violence. while they are acknowledging that their cursory studies lack controls, they are not seeing necessary connections between degree of firearms restriction and violence involving firearms. thus, they are suggesting that there may be other factors, or a combination of factors which contribute to the problem we have in this country.
It is possible to state that we have a problem with violence in this country while also suggesting that there seem to be factors other than gun legislationwhich underlie that violence. It is trying to tease out and agree on what those factors might be and how to overcome them that gets difficult.
Perhaps another way to get into this subject would be to ask; why would someone (or many someones) in this country be willing to take the life of another person?
We know that culturally we are told that people are expendable. Our abortion rate underscores values that say that people who inconvenience us or impinge upon our ability to generate material value or live life unencumbered by relationship can be/eliminated.
I would suggest that our ability to think of some people as persons and some people as non-persons is very dangerous to anyone who might be in the next grop of people who receive the non-person designation. It is easier to eliminate those whome we see as lacking value. I would suggest that some of the factors contributing to higher rates of violence in this country include,but are ot limited to: our increasing tendency to value ourselves and each other in relation to value added in the wage labor market and our acceptance that some classes of people are expendable (or relatively more expendable than others).
As I think about these issues, violence involving firearms is noted, but it is the violence that is emphasized. I don’t see gun control as a resolution to the problem, but rather as a distraction from the problem. I think that other posters who have discussed different types of violence (knives etc.) are also grappling with this issue in their own ways. May God bless us all.
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JRKH
Guest
I think that you nail it very well… All of these issue revolve around the idea - the fact - that violence occurs. Also the fact that, once a genie is out of the bottle you can’t shove it back in. By that I mean that guns exist and people own them. In addition, the right to gun ownership is enshrined in out Constitution precisely because of a fear of the government…
Therefore - any solution to the problem of “gun violence” needs to focus on the violence and not on the gun.
Peace
James
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Befink
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Good post Jeanne
It’s true the underlying problem is society in general which is probably why the Church suggests we work towards a world where guns are unnecessary but feels people need to have the right to self-defense but it should be regulated. We could easily fill pages of discussion about the problems in society. I agree that the abortion rate is awful and often wonder if banning them would actually solve the problem much or simply lend to a black market as many here suggest would happen with guns if there were too many controls.
To Adam’s point as well, America is no longer the promised land it used to be. Quality of life is better in many other countries. Not sure how many on this thread besides him and myself have spent significant time living outside the U.S. Other modern countries offer safer, lower-stress lifestyles. They are also far from perfect but one thing that stands out to me is how much more respect people have for each other. It’s not as much of our “what’s in it for me” individualistic society. They don’t mind larger government and higher taxes because they see the benefits of government in society. As a result they tend to enjoy more freedoms than we do (guns being the big exception). Don’t get me wrong, I still love America and keep coming back but if I grew up in another modern country, I wouldn’t feel the need to relocate to the U.S.
I still believe greater gun control is needed but also agree that wouldn’t solve all our problems.
It’s true the underlying problem is society in general which is probably why the Church suggests we work towards a world where guns are unnecessary but feels people need to have the right to self-defense but it should be regulated. We could easily fill pages of discussion about the problems in society. I agree that the abortion rate is awful and often wonder if banning them would actually solve the problem much or simply lend to a black market as many here suggest would happen with guns if there were too many controls.
To Adam’s point as well, America is no longer the promised land it used to be. Quality of life is better in many other countries. Not sure how many on this thread besides him and myself have spent significant time living outside the U.S. Other modern countries offer safer, lower-stress lifestyles. They are also far from perfect but one thing that stands out to me is how much more respect people have for each other. It’s not as much of our “what’s in it for me” individualistic society. They don’t mind larger government and higher taxes because they see the benefits of government in society. As a result they tend to enjoy more freedoms than we do (guns being the big exception). Don’t get me wrong, I still love America and keep coming back but if I grew up in another modern country, I wouldn’t feel the need to relocate to the U.S.
I still believe greater gun control is needed but also agree that wouldn’t solve all our problems.
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