Catholics and firearms

[TheHolyTrinity]

It may seem that way, but there are a few other reasons that are legitimate:

1. Self-defence, as has already been described by many posters above, especially in a difficult or dangerous neighbourhood.
2. Hunting.
3. For sport - professional shooting is still a discipline in the Olympics.

I personally don’t own a gun (I prefer hammers or stick-like objects ), but they’re a part of American culture, and they can be legitimate for any of the reasons listed above. “Gun control”, like most “control” schemes, isn’t going to win any popularity contests, and isn’t really necessary. I know that if firearms were more readily available in India, I’d counsel most young women, especially those in big cities and small villages, to get familar with them pronto.

I am not American. I know how to defend my self and get out of sticky situations. Have done it in the past, I doubt my skills are not redundant. If someone else wants my blood on their hands then so be it.

 

[Holly3278]

I don’t own firearms but it is definitely okay to own them. Firearms in and of themselves are not evil. However, the use of firearms can be evil especially if used to murder people or threaten them.

 

[TheDoors]

I have certainly never entertained the thought of owning a gun. My thoughts is that if one owns a gun then one is prepared to seriously maim or kill a another.

Well, forgetting that I’m a target shooter, a hunter, a living historian and that I’m learning to smith my own…

You’ve got a point.

I will and have given the coat off my back and the shoes off my feet when asked. But if you’re in my house, that’s violating a huge chunk of the right/wrong barrier. Entering a locked building means that you’re 1) going somewhere you weren’t invited 2) going somewhere someone clearly does not want you to be and 3) damaging someone’s property to get there. Too many home invasions end in violence. So…

If you knock on my door and ask, I’ll give you anything in the house. If I catch you in my house after dark, I’m forced to assume you’re here to cause harm to me and mine, and I’m obliged to shoot you.

And I’d like to point out that right now, in Chicago, the Black Panthers are having no trouble causing violence and intimidation at voting stations with no guns at all, as they’re illegal in Chi town.

 

[TurboLover336]

I found out from some Englishmen online - to my great surprise - that the right to bear arms thing among Americans originated in Protestant England to protect Protestants against the papists and the Pope of Rome.

Overtime the English reformed their laws but it never really became reformed in the United States.

Personally, I used to own several firearms and I think I’ll own one or more in the near future. I want to get my concealed carry permit too. Really, for certain times I want to carry 2 or 3 pistols on me, a knife (perhaps tanto), and eventually a collapsible police baton. All on my person at once. I don’t trust - nor feel safe - walking through or socializing through much of America.

Through most (not all) the parts of Milwaukee I walk or travel through I cross through terrain inhabited by savages. Sorry, that’s the way I feel. I wish I could live in civilized Qatar but I can’t. So, I must live amongst the serial killers, rapists, bandits, and savages of the Americas.

nice theory but really, we in the US took a good hard look at the Swiss

 

[TurboLover336]

And I’d like to point out that right now, in Chicago, the Black Panthers are having no trouble causing violence and intimidation at voting stations with no guns at all, as they’re illegal in Chi town.

then how are they killing eachother there?
fact is they have them … illegally obtained of course, but the guns they stole dont seem to mind

 

[GEddie]

nice theory but really, we in the US took a good hard look at the Swiss

It has nothing to do with them. Sure, they are armed, but they are also a highly disciplined and heavily militarized society. Here in USA, we want the guns but not the rest of it.

If owning a gun required the kind of military discipline and training that is the norm in Switzerland, I don’t think there’d be the gun control advocacy that there is. The problem is not the guns per se. It is the people who want effortless killing ability in order to feel empowered.

Empowerment implies responsibility as well.

ICXC NIKA

 

[TurboLover336]

It has nothing to do with them. Sure, they are armed, but they are also a highly disciplined and heavily militarized society. Here in USA, we want the guns but not the rest of it.

If owning a gun required the kind of military discipline and training that is the norm in Switzerland, I don’t think there’d be the gun control advocacy that there is. The problem is not the guns per se. It is the people who want effortless killing ability in order to feel empowered.

Empowerment implies responsibility as well.

ICXC NIKA

US constitution states “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

at the time of the drafting of this amendment “the well regulated militia” referred to the US gun owners training. The intent differs from the Swiss only in as much as the compulsory service of Swiss doctrine. You could elect to take up arms, … or not.
The framers of the constitution valued freedom and wished to avoid the servitude implication of the Swiss.
so you think people here want the ability to kill to have a sense of empowerment?
your view is a little warped in my estimation. I own guns for many reasons. Mowing down a playground full of kids and knocking over liquor stores aren’t among them.
some of the reasons that I do…
There is a form of inner peace in sending a bullet into a two inch circle at 500 meters. the requisite physical self control to do so is its own form of meditation … something many people could use more of.
PCP is real and its still out there. If you think you can reason with someone under its influence, or subdue them when reason inevitably fails … you have made a fatal error any cop who has had to deal with it could tell you about. I witnessed two such events. in one case I saw people make the mistake of attempting reason. I don’t believe their lives are quite the same for the physical damage they took as a result. “ghoulishly mauled” falls short of an accurate description.
in the second case I witnessed an off duty female officer’s eyes fill with raw abject hopelessness and terror after the slide on her off duty piece locked back with an empty mag. as the subject still advanced.

 

[R1ch4rd]

All one needs to do is look at the results of the poll. 89% say it’s their right or it’s OK and 3% are indifferent. That leaves a whopping 8% who think ownership should be illegal. If you have a problem with guns, stay out of my house unless invited and you’ll be just fine because I believe in firm gun control. I always use both hands.

 

[Angel_Bradford]

All one needs to do is look at the results of the poll. 89% say it’s their right or it’s OK and 3% are indifferent. That leaves a whopping 8% who think ownership should be illegal. If you have a problem with guns, stay out of my house unless invited and you’ll be just fine because I believe in firm gun control. I always use both hands.

 

[liturgyluver]

All one needs to do is look at the results of the poll. 89% say it’s their right or it’s OK and 3% are indifferent. That leaves a whopping 8% who think ownership should be illegal. If you have a problem with guns, stay out of my house unless invited and you’ll be just fine because I believe in firm gun control. I always use both hands.

Is crime so bad in the US that criminals actually break in to people’s houses when people are at home, or is this some kind of urban myth?

 

[TurboLover336]

Is crime so bad in the US that criminals actually break in to people’s houses when people are at home, or is this some kind of urban myth?

yes … it has a name in fact … “Home invasion”
our gang bangers can be quite brazen in their gangsta games.

 

[jwinch2]

Is crime so bad in the US that criminals actually break in to people’s houses when people are at home, or is this some kind of urban myth?

There are thousands of home invasions every year in the United States. But, this hardly an American phenomenon, londoncommunitynews.com/2011/09/pair-charged-in-home-invasion/

 

[oldcatholicguy]

I found out from some Englishmen online - to my great surprise - that the right to bear arms thing among Americans originated in Protestant England to protect Protestants against the papists and the Pope of Rome.

Overtime the English reformed their laws but it never really became reformed in the United States.

Personally, I used to own several firearms and I think I’ll own one or more in the near future. I want to get my concealed carry permit too. Really, for certain times I want to carry 2 or 3 pistols on me, a knife (perhaps tanto), and eventually a collapsible police baton. All on my person at once. I don’t trust - nor feel safe - walking through or socializing through much of America.

Through most (not all) the parts of Milwaukee I walk or travel through I cross through terrain inhabited by savages. Sorry, that’s the way I feel. I wish I could live in civilized Qatar but I can’t. So, I must live amongst the serial killers, rapists, bandits, and savages of the Americas.

Off topic-

The “we need to protect ourselves from papists” doesn’t really match with the realities of the times. I’d suggest you do some more research on that part.

 

[R1ch4rd]

Off topic-

The “we need to protect ourselves from papists” doesn’t really match with the realities of the times. I’d suggest you do some more research on that part.

The infallibility of the Pope is second only to the internet. I read that on the internet too…so it must be true
Sorry, let’s get back to guns…

 

[oldcatholicguy]

The infallibility of the Pope is second only to the internet. I read that on the internet too…so it must be true
Sorry, let’s get back to guns…

On guns my views are-

1. If you want to own one (or more), you need to have a license and required to pass a basic safety and usage course (state level).
2. Handguns and anything over a semi-auto rifle should either be heavily restricted or not legal to own.
3. “Well regulated militia” to me means a government controlled one (city, county, state levels) not a private militia.
4. The idea that outlawing all guns or severely restricting the average citizen’s ability to own one will somehow keep guns out of the hands of criminals is idiotic.
5. If you didn’t “clear it” when you picked it up, it’s loaded.

edit-
6. There is no issue between being Catholic and owning a gun.

 

[liturgyluver]

There are thousands of home invasions every year in the United States. But, this hardly an American phenomenon, londoncommunitynews.com/2011/09/pair-charged-in-home-invasion/

It’s not something which I have ever heard of though there are of course exceptions, and no-one in England would ever dream of owning a gun (unless they are nuts or American). I just find it extraordinary that nearly 9000 people were shot and killed in the US last year, compared with 39 in England.

 

[R1ch4rd]

On guns my views are-

1. If you want to own one (or more), you need to have a license and required to pass a basic safety and usage course (state level).
2. Handguns and anything over a semi-auto rifle should either be heavily restricted or not legal to own.
3. “Well regulated militia” to me means a government controlled one (city, county, state levels) not a private militia.
4. The idea that outlawing all guns or severely restricting the average citizen’s ability to own one will somehow keep guns out of the hands of criminals is idiotic.
5. If you didn’t “clear it” when you picked it up, it’s loaded.

edit-
6. There is no issue between being Catholic and owning a gun.

1. I’m OK with a firearms safety class but strongly against licensing or registration.
2. Anything over semi-auto is already illegal in the hands of civilians (Criminals seem to be able to get them)
3. Agree
4. Strongly agree.
5. Very strongly agree
6. See # 5.

 

[oldcatholicguy]

It’s not something which I have ever heard of though there are of course exceptions, and no-one in England would ever dream of owning a gun (unless they are nuts or American). I just find it extraordinary that nearly 9000 people were shot and killed in the US last year, compared with 39 in England.

telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/5712573/UK-is-violent-crime-capital-of-Europe.html

 

[Mar044]

It may seem that way, but there are a few other reasons that are legitimate:

1. Self-defence, as has already been described by many posters above, especially in a difficult or dangerous neighbourhood.
2. Hunting.
3. For sport - professional shooting is still a discipline in the Olympics.

I personally don’t own a gun (I prefer hammers or stick-like objects ), but they’re a part of American culture, and they can be legitimate for any of the reasons listed above. “Gun control”, like most “control” schemes, isn’t going to win any popularity contests, and isn’t really necessary. I know that if firearms were more readily available in India, I’d counsel most young women, especially those in big cities and small villages, to get familar with them pronto.

saved me the trouble, if you live in a area where police can’t come fast enough or has wild animals…have a gun, if you like hunting to feed your family, have a gun, if you have 9000 rounds of Armour piercing ammo, and full automatic PRK heavy machine gun in downtown new york or LA…not ok…

 

[liturgyluver]

telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/5712573/UK-is-violent-crime-capital-of-Europe.html

UK includes Scotland which has much higher murder rates than the rest of the UK - and crime is now at its lowesr level for over 30 years (as it is in the US) Still 39 verses 9000 - I know where I would rather live!

The annual rate of homicide by any means per 100,000 population
United States 4.96
United Kingdom 1.2
Canada 1.8
Switzerland 0.70
Mexico 21.5

The annual rate of firearm homicide per 100,000 population
United States 2.98
United Kingdom 0.03
Canada 0.50
Switzerland 0.52
Mexico 10.0